Exotic fruits are no longer inaccessible and perfect. Each first institution is replete with the presence of goji berries, rambutan or guava in the menu. Popular smoothies, abstruse dishes are prepared from fruits, or they are sold in whole form. People managed to join the culinary practices of distant countries and calmly introduce previously inaccessible benefits into their daily diet. The price can be high and vary significantly from the price of apples or peaches. Nutritionists argue that the benefits brought to your body should not be measured in money, and every average family can afford exotic once a month. What is good guava and whether the product will work out the money spent?
General characteristic of the ingredient
Guava – an evergreen tree of medium size (height does not exceed 4 meters). The tree gives flowers and, accordingly, the fruits are no more than 2’s once a year, but, at the same time, they are extremely resistant to the wiles of the external environment. Guava calmly endures drought and heat, never for a moment distracting from its main goal – to give a harvest. The main crop is about 100 kilogram. Agree, this amount of fruit is worth a year of waiting.
The period of maturation of the fruit (after the formation of flowers) – 150 day. The shape and size of the guava can vary, so the crop is heterogeneous, and each fruit is special. The exotic fruit resembles our traditional green apple with visible tubercles, thicker skin and a specific yellow-green tinge. The unripe fruit has a sour taste, but after ripening, it acquires a sweet flavor palette.
The habitat of a tree is a tropical climatic zone (America is considered the birthplace). The entire territory, ranging from the tropical regions of Mexico to the northern territorial lands of South America, was littered with exotic trees. Today, the guava was transported to Africa, India, Oceania and Southeast Asia. It is from these geographical points that guava is transported, which humbly awaits the buyer in local supermarkets.
Useful properties of fruit
Nutritionists include guava in the diet of each patient group. Children and pregnant women are no exception. On the contrary, the fruit will provide the body with basic “building” materials for the development and growth of the child’s body. The ingredient perfectly restores strength, improves body tone, strengthens the protective function of the immune system.
Guava contains 10 times more vitamin C than citrus.
Are you sick of lemon for tea, and the period of growth of tangerine causes nothing but disgust? Guava is a worthy replacement for bored citrus. The fruit will not only cover the daily intake of vitamin C, but also provide nutrients in reserve.
How guava affects the human body:
- Strengthens the lymphatic system.
- It acts as a kind of antiseptic that blocks pathogens and creates beneficial microflora for beneficial ones.
- Improves digestion and accelerates metabolism to the maximum rate.
- Stimulates the cardiovascular system, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and prevents diseases of internal organs.
- Normalizes the pressure level.
The local population of the islands of the West Indies use guava as a cure for epileptic seizures. When cramps occur, it is enough to eat a certain amount of guava and wait for the result. It is important to note that this non-standard approach to treatment is not always successful. It is not recommended to move away from classical medicine and go into dangerous experiments on health.
In Brazil, guava is revered as a remedy for problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in the Philippines – as a remedy for pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. Panamanians consume the fruit in the development of asthma, bronchitis, throat disease, pulmonary edema, and the Israelis simply prefer healthy food and inject guava into a diet in reserve.
Exotic fruit is used whole without leaving unnecessary waste. A special tea is prepared from the leaves of the guava, which copes with eating disorders, dysentery and is even able to regulate the menstrual cycle of women. In childhood, we applied plantain to the wound, and the children of the tropics use guava leaves for similar purposes. They really disinfect the wound and help the skin regenerate faster. Leaves are a universal component: they chew with toothache, prepare a decoction for rinsing the oral cavity, and are used as an antiseptic and antipyretic.
Ripe exotic fruits have a pronounced smell. Our sense of smell quotes the smell of guava as pleasant, so the next meal will be a pleasant memory, not smelly torture. The bright smell of fruit is so strong that it can dampen the smell of tobacco.
The chemical composition of the ingredient
Vitamin content (in milligrams based on 100 grams of unprocessed product)
Retinol (A) 0,031 Beta-carotene (A) 0,374 Thiamine (B1) 0,067 Riboflavin (B2) 0,04 Choline (B4) 7,6 Pantothenic acid (B5) 0,451 Pyridoxine (B6) 0,11 Folic acid (B9) 0,49 , 229 Ascorbic acid (C) 0,73 Tocopherol (E) 0,0026 Phylloquinone (K) 1,084 Nicotinic acid (PP) XNUMX
Use in cooking
Cooking options for guava.
Jam or jelly
An exotic fruit contains a large amount of pectin. The substance has the property of combining liquids into a jelly-like structure. An obvious plus – you do not need to add chemical powders and not always useful substances in order to achieve the effect of viscosity or ductility. People who eat a healthy diet need to reduce their intake of sugar and trans fats. Guava jelly / jam is a great option for lunch or dessert for dinner.
Juice
Guava juice is an excellent antioxidant that can replace the now popular detox jars. Do not harass the body, but rejoice with useful and nutritious ingredients.
Mashed potatoes or pasta
The structure of the dish will be traditional, but the taste is exotic. The sweet-spicy flavor palette can be diluted with fruit, vegetables, or spices. Guava puree is a real space for experimentation.
Canned Snack
Canned guava is a bit like our canned peaches. The same viscous, loose and original in terms of taste and aroma.
Syrup, ketchup, sauce, oil
Guava perfectly “fit”, and the consistency depends on the accompanying components and methods of preparation. A blender will provide a liquid spreading liquid, and a regular fork will provide a dense mass with tangible pieces of ingredients.
Специи
You can grind the guava pulp into flakes, cut off the zest as with citrus or grind to a state of powder and add to your favorite dishes.
Guava is perfect for baking. Guava syrup viscosity can be used instead of eggs in cooking desserts. Exotic fruit – suitable for raw food eaters and vegans, who are looking for vegetable substitute products. Residents of the tropics use guava as often as we use apples. Replacing apples in our culinary practice is quite possible, but not everyone will find the new combination to taste.
Guava goes well with all kinds of meat, but it is especially revealed with pork and venison. This combination provides maximum health benefits and pleasure to taste buds. One of the most extraordinary combinations: guava + dairy products. Low-fat cottage cheese with slices of guava or a whole fruit with a glass of fresh milk creates a unique combination of benefits, taste and an unsurpassed aroma.
Strawberry Lemonade Recipe with Guava
Nutritional value (based on the 1 portion of the finished lemonade)
Caloric value
Proteins
Fats
Carbohydrates
226 kcal 2,2 g 0,5 g 52,9 g
We need:
- guava juice – 8 tablespoons;
- strawberries – 8 pieces;
- honey / sweetener to taste;
- lemon juice – 12 tablespoons;
- ice to taste.
Preparation
Take a wide container, pound strawberries in it to the state of liquid porridge. Add sweetener and mix thoroughly until completely dissolved. Introduce lemon juice, then guava juice. If necessary, add water, lemon / guava juice until you get the desired taste.
Prepare glasses. Put the necessary amount of ice on the bottom. Pour the berry mass in glasses and immediately serve to the table. Think over the elements of decoration or just serve a drink in a large decanter. If you minimize or completely remove the sweetener, then this drink can be drunk throughout the day with purified water. Lemonade will increase the tone of the body, improve digestion and beneficial effects on the skin.
Recipe for baked ham in a glaze of guava and rum
Nutritional value (based on the entire finished dish)
Caloric value
Proteins
Fats
Carbohydrates
1633 kcal 83 g 140 g 6,7 g
We need:
- ready-made ham (boiled / smoked) – 2 kg;
- guava jam – ¾ cup (glass – 250 ml);
- Clove – 2 teaspoons;
- rum to taste – 2 tablespoons;
- peach nectar – 1 tablespoon (can be replaced with any other fruit to taste);
- olive oil – 1 tablespoon;
- Dijon mustard – 1 tablespoon.
Preparation
Prepare the oven by preheating it to 180 ° C. Now work your ham: cut off the excess fat from it and cut small holes with a knife. The cuts should be cross-shaped in the form of a lattice. No need to make deep holes – 2 centimeters will be quite enough. At each intersection, insert the desired amount of cloves. Brush the ham with olive oil (a special cooking brush is recommended), cover the baking sheet with parchment and place the prepared meat. Bake at constant temperature 180 ° C 60 minutes.
Cooking sauce: mix jam, alcoholic drink, fruit nectar and mustard. In the process of cooking constantly try the sauce, enter your favorite spices and additional ingredients. Smear the ham and put in the oven again for 30 minutes. After the meat is ready, remove the cut from the oven, put it in a wide container, cover with foil and allow 10-15 to “rest” for minutes. After 15 minutes, cut the meat and serve with your favorite side dish.
The use of guava in cosmetology
Exotic fruit is useful not only for our body, but also for the skin. Guava serves as:
- exfoliant;
- antiseptic;
- astringent;
- healing component;
- actioxidant.
In cosmetology used oil and guava extract. The tool is indicated for rashes on the skin, acne, post-acne. The product removes puffiness, dries out local inflammation, prevents their reappearance, does not clog pores and tones the face. Means with guava are indicated for comedones, atopic dermatitis, various allergic manifestations on the skin.
Guava is the leading ingredient in wrinkle prevention. The tool actively smoothes the skin, evens tone and relieves signs of aging. Leaf extract helps fight hyperpigmentation. In some cases, the patient is sufficient for a course of six months or a year to get rid of spots on the skin without using a laser.
Do not self-medicate acne. To therapy with the use of guava gave the result, you need to contact a qualified dermatologist.
Contraindications and dangerous properties
Each person independently determines the allowable consumption rate. As soon as the body feels full – you need to give up food, focus on physical activity or rest. With guava, the same rules apply. There is a conditional restriction: you can not eat more than 1 kg of fruit per day. Increasing the dose may cause an upset stomach. If you feel the strength to eat 100-200 grams above the norm – do not deny yourself the pleasure, provided that you feel your body and can recognize its brake lights.
Exotic ingredient is forbidden to eat to people with individual intolerance to the product or components that make up. To exclude from the diet of fruit and need patients suffering from kidney disease. It is especially important not to eat over-ripe fruits, since they stimulate secretion and can aggravate the course of the disease.
