Feijoa

Food · Fruit · Food, Typed Supps

A small, fragrant fruit that’s low in calories but a decent source of vitamin C and fibre.

Stage by stage

Intake (Chewing begins): Chewing breaks down the soft, fragrant flesh.
Stomach (Fruit structure broken down): Stomach acid continues breaking down the flesh.
Small intestine (Vitamin C absorbed): Vitamin C is absorbed directly; fibre moves onward to the large intestine.
Bloodstream & gut (Used for immunity & digestion): Vitamin C supports immunity; fibre supports gut bacteria and regularity.

Timing

No particular timing requirement; works well as a low-calorie snack.

Time to effect

Hours: Blood vitamin C levels typically rise within a few hours of eating vitamin C-rich food.

Allergens

None of the fourteen major allergens. Derived from what this food is, not from a product label.

Eating patterns

Fits: Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Halal, Kosher, Gluten-free. Depends on the product: Keto, Low-FODMAP.

Satiety

The satiety index is measured on 240 kcal servings. At 42 kcal per 100 g that is 570 g of this, which is not a serving anyone eats — so the index has nothing to say about it.

Environmental footprint

1.1 kg CO2e and 199 litres of freshwater per kg, matched to "Other fruit" in Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360.

Cost band

Cheap — roughly £3 per kg, as a band midpoint rather than a price.

Key nutrients

Nutrition per 100g

Calories: 42.1
Protein: 0.6g
Carbohydrate: 8g
of which sugars: 7.7g
Fat: 0.4g
of which saturated: 0g
Fibre: 3g
Sodium: 2mg

Food vs. supplement

A 100g feijoa gives roughly a third of the daily vitamin C target for only 42 calories, plus fibre a vitamin C tablet doesn’t contain.

Kitchen tip

Halve and scoop the flesh out with a spoon once ripe — the skin gives slightly to pressure when ready.

Common myth

“Feijoa and guava are basically the same fruit, nutritionally.” In reality: They’re different plants entirely — feijoa is in the myrtle family, native to South America, and generally contains meaningfully less vitamin C than true guava, despite the similar name and flavour.

In the glossary

Absorption