The health benefits of guava include the treatment of diarrhea,
dysentery, constipation, cough, cold, skin care, high blood pressure,
weight loss and scurvy. Many of you may have tasted this mouth-watering treat, or have at
least seen or heard about it. Guava is very common in Asian countries,
but is increasingly available in the western world, particularly as more
of its health benefits are revealed. It is a somewhat round or
pear-shaped seasonal fruit, and is light green, yellow, or maroon in
color on the outside when it is ripe. Guava also has white or maroon
flesh and lots of small hard seeds enveloped in very soft, sweet pulp.
It is eaten raw (ripe or semi-ripe) or in the form of jams and jellies.
This popular fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients. If the traditional
adage says that “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” in Europe and
Americas, the phrase is probably changed to “A few guavas in the season
keeps the doctor away for the whole year” in the Indian Subcontinent and
places where guavas typically grow. Its scientific name is Psidium Guajava. What makes guava special is that protecting the fruit does not require
excessive use of chemical pesticides as in the case of grapes, apple,
and other so-called “exotic” fruits. It is one of the least chemically
treated and sprayed fruits.
Health Benefits of Guava
Some of the surprising and brilliant health benefits are listed below.
Weight loss: Guava is very helpful for those who want to lose weight
without compromising their intake of proteins, vitamins and fiber.
Guava is very high in roughage and rich in vitamins, proteins and
minerals, but it has no cholesterol and a low number of digestible
carbohydrates. It is a is very filling snack and satisfies the appetite
very easily. Guava, especially raw guava, also has far less sugar as
compared to apples, oranges, grapes, and other fruit. Adding a
medium-sized guava to your lunch and you will not feel hungry again
until the evening. Ironically, it can also help with weight gain in
lean, thin people. This is probably due to its wealth of nutrients,
which keep the metabolism regulates and helps to promote the proper
absorption of nutrients.
Eyesight: Guavas are extremely good sources of vitamin-A, which is well known as a booster for vision health.
It can help slow down the appearance of cataracts, macular
degeneration, and general health of the eyes. It can not only prevent
degradation of eyesight, but even an improvement in eyesight once it has
begun to degrade.
Cancer Prevention: One of the most celebrated and
important benefits of adding guava to your diet is its ability to
inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancerous cells. There have been
numerous studies done in recent years on guava’s effects primarily on prostate cancer,
breast cancer, and oral cancers. Guava leaf oil is extremely successful
as an anti-proliferative substance, and has actually been shown to be
more effective than some leading modern medicines in reducing cancerous
growth. Guavas are also rich in lycopene,
a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to be wildly successful in
reducing prostate cancer risk. That same antioxidant has also shown to
inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, although further human trials
need to be done.
Finally, the naturally high levels of vitamin-C in guavas, which are
four times higher than the levels found in oranges (the traditional
vitamin-C powerhouse), provides the immune system a huge boost in antioxidants.
Antioxidants are the major lines of defense against the proliferation
of free radicals in the body, which are one of the main causes of
serious conditions like cancer and heart disease. Therefore, adding
guava to your diet has numerous ways in which it helps you stay health
and cancer-free.
Diarrhea & dysentery: Guava is very rich in
astringents (compounds that make your gums feel tighter and fresher).
After you chew guava leaves, eat a raw guava, or use some guava-based
toothpaste), your mouth feels healthier, and the astringent qualities
also add substance to loose bowels and reduce symptoms of diarrhea.
These astringents are alkaline in nature and have disinfectant and
anti-bacterial properties, thus helping to cure dysentery by inhibiting
microbial growth and removing extra mucus from the intestines.
Furthermore, other nutrients in guava such as vitamin-C, Carotenoids and
potassium, strengthen and tone the digestive system while
simultaneously disinfecting it. Guava is also beneficial in treating
gastroenteritis for the same reasons stated above.
Thyroid Health: Guavas are a good source for copper,
which is an important part of regulating thyroid metabolism by helping
to control hormone production and absorption. The thyroid gland is one
of the most important glands in the body for regulating hormones and
organ system function, so guava can help balance your health in many
ways.
Constipation: Guava is one of the richest sources of dietary fiber
in terms of fruit. Its seeds, if ingested whole or chewed, serve as
excellent laxatives. These two properties of guava help the formation of
healthy bowel movements, and aid the body in retaining water and
thoroughly cleaning your intestines and excretory system. It is said
that constipation alone can lead to 72 different types of ailments, so
any help with constipation is beneficial. Your total health is
undeniably affected by proper digestion, and more importantly, proper
excretion. Frequent consumption of guava can ensure both.
Brain Health: Another of the tremendous positive benefits of guavas is the presence of B3 and B6 vitamins.
B3 (also known as niacin) can increase blood flow and stimulates
cognitive function. B6 is a great nutrient for brain and nerve function.
Therefore, eating guava can help you increase brain function and
sharpen you focus.
Cough & cold: Juice of raw and immature guavas or a decoction of guava-leaves is very helpful in relieving coughs and colds
by reducing mucus, disinfecting the respiratory tract, throat and
lungs, and inhibiting microbial activity with its astringent properties.
Guava has one of the highest quantities of vitamin-C and iron among
fruits, and both are proven to be preventive against colds and viral
infections. In some areas of India, roasted ripe guava is used as a
remedy against extreme cases of cough, cold, and congestion. Ripe
guava should be avoided by people who are suffering from cough and
cold, as it can exacerbate the problem, and one should also avoid
drinking water immedaitely after eating guava as it can lead to a soar
throat.
High blood pressure: Guava helps reduce cholesterol in the blood and prevents it from thickening, thereby maintaining the fluidity of blood and reducing blood pressure.
Studies have shown that food lacking fiber (such as refined flour) add
to blood pressure, due to its quick conversion to sugar. Guava, being
very rich in fiber and hypoglycemic in nature, helps reduce blood
pressure.
Diabetes: In a related benefit to blood pressure mentioned above, an intake of guava can also help those patients who suffer from diabetes.
The high level of dietary fiber in guava helps to regulate the
absorption of sugar by the body, which decreases the chances of major
spikes and drops in insulin and glucose in the body. Studies have shown
that consuming guava can help prevent the appearance of type-2 diabetes.
Scurvy: Guava can outdo many other fruits, including orange and other citrus fruits, in terms of its concentration of vitamin-C. A deficiency of vitamin-C can cause scurvy,
and proper intake of vitamin-C is the only known remedy for that
dangerous disease. In fact, guavas contain 5X more vitamin-C than
oranges, which are often heralded as the absolute best source of that
beneficial vitamin.
Other benefits: There are so many health benefits
of guava, it is hard to know where to begin. It is important to know
that guava helps control diabetes and protects the prostate. The juice
of guava leaves has been known to cure toothaches, swollen gums &
oral ulcers, and the juice speeds up the healing process of wounds when
applied externally. Finally, it reduces the frequency of convulsions,
epilepsy, and bacterial infections.
As with many alternative foods and supplements, there is little risk
in eating them in natural form, but you must do your due diligence when
taking it in medical forms. Be cautious when adding any new medicinal
form of guava into your diet, and it is better to stick to eating guava
in its natural form as a raw fruit.
Source : Health Benefits of Guava
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