Guavas are tropical trees originating in Central America. Now grown in America, Asia, and West Africa.
Their fruits are oval in shape with light green or yellow skin and contain edible seeds.
Health benefits of guava fruits and leaves.
The nutritional values of guava are so many because every part of the guava plant is used in herbal medicine while the fruit is eaten as food. Guavas also have side effects since it is very potent in the human body.
What’s more, guava leaves are used as a herbal tea and leaf extract as a supplement.
Guava fruits are amazingly rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and fibre. This remarkable nutrient content gives them many health benefits, and today you are going to hear about all the amazing nutritional values of Guava.
Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels:
Some evidence suggests that guava can improve blood sugar control.
According to our trusted source, several test-tube and animal studies found that guava leaf extract improved blood sugar levels, long-term blood sugar control, and insulin resistance. This is good news for people with diabetes or those at risk. A few studies involving humans have also shown impressive results.
One study in 19 people noted that the nutritional value of guava leaf tea is that it lowered blood sugar levels after a meal. The effects lasted up to two hours.
Another study in 20 people with type 2 diabetes found that drinking guava leaf tea reduced blood sugar levels after a meal by more than 10%.
Guava extract may help improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes or those at risk.
Boosts Heart Health:
Guavas may help boost heart health in a number of ways.
Many scientists believe that the high levels of antioxidants and vitamins in guava leaves may help protect your heart from damage by free radicals.
The higher levels of potassium and soluble fibre in guavas as a nutritional value are also thought to contribute to improved heart health.
Additionally, guava leaf extract has been linked to lower blood pressure, a decrease in “bad” LDL cholesterol, and a rise in “good” HDL cholesterol.
Since high blood pressure and high levels of LDL cholesterol are linked to higher risks of heart disease and stroke, taking guava leaf extract could lead to valuable benefits.
What’s more, the fruit has benefits for heart health as well.
A 12-week study in 120 people found that eating ripe guava before meals caused an overall decrease in blood pressure by 8–9 points, a reduction in total cholesterol by 9.9% and an increase in “good” HDL cholesterol by 8%.
Guava fruit or leaf extract may have a positive effect on heart health by lowering blood pressure, decreasing bad cholesterol, and increasing good cholesterol. This is just one of the many nutritional values of Guava
Helps Relieve Painful Symptoms of Menstruation
Many women experience dysmenorrhea — painful symptoms of menstruation, such as stomach cramps. However, there is some evidence that guava leaf extract may reduce the pain intensity of menstrual cramps.
A study in 197 women who experienced painful symptoms found that taking 6 mg of guava leaf extract daily resulted in reduced pain intensity. It appeared to be even more powerful than some painkillers. One nutritional value of Guava leaf extract is that it helps relieve uterine cramps.
Taking guava leaf extract daily may help decrease symptoms of painful menstruation, including cramps.
May Benefit Your Digestive System
Another nutritional value of Guava is that they are an excellent source of dietary fibre. Therefore, eating more guavas may aid healthy bowel movements and prevent constipation. Just one guava can provide 12% of your recommended daily intake of fibre.
Additionally, guava leaf extract may benefit digestive health. Studies suggest that it may reduce the intensity and duration of diarrhoea. Several studies have also shown that guava leaf extract is antimicrobial. This means that it can neutralize harmful microbes in your gut that can cause diarrhoea. Consuming guavas or guava leaf extract may prevent or reduce diarrhoea and constipation.
May Aid Weight Loss
Guavas are weight-loss-friendly food. With only 37 calories in one fruit and 12% of your recommended daily fibre intake, they are a filling, low-calorie snack. Unlike some other low-calorie snacks, they are packed with vitamins and minerals — so you aren’t missing important nutrients.
Guavas are full of fibre and low in calories, meaning that they may help you feel full and aid in weight loss. This is an important health benefit of guava.
May Have an Anticancer Effect
Another nutritional value of Guava is its anti-cancer effect. Test-tube and animal studies show that guava extract can prevent and even stop the growth of cancer cells this is likely due to the high levels of powerful antioxidants that prevent free radicals from damaging cells, one of the main causes of cancer.
One test-tube study found that guava leaf oil was four times more effective at stopping cancer cell growth than certain cancer drugs. Although the results of test-tube experiments are promising, it doesn’t mean that guava leaf extract helps treat cancer in people. Further studies are needed before any claims can be made.
The high levels of antioxidants in guava may help prevent the development and growth of cancer cells.
May Help Boost Your Immunity
Low levels of vitamin C are linked to an increased risk of infections and illness. Guavas are a fantastic way to get this nutrient, as one of the nutritional values of guava is that it is packed in Vitamin C. In fact, one guava provides about double the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for vitamin C. This is almost twice the amount you would get from eating an orange. Vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system.
Although it’s not proven to prevent the common cold, vitamin C has been shown to reduce a cold’s duration. It’s also linked to antimicrobial benefits. This means that it helps kill off bad bacteria and viruses that can lead to infections. Because vitamin C can easily be flushed out of your body, it is important to regularly get enough through your diet. Guavas are one of the richest food sources of vitamin C. Maintaining adequate levels of this vitamin is important for protecting against illness and infections.
Eating Guavas May Be Good for Your Skin
The wide range of vitamins and antioxidants packed into guava may work wonders for your skin. Its antioxidants may protect your skin from damage, which can slow down its ageing process, helping prevent wrinkles. What’s more, guava leaf extract may even help treat acne when applied directly to your skin. One test-tube study found that guava leaf extract was effective at killing acne-causing bacteria — likely due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
More studies are needed to confirm the role of guavas and guava extract in maintaining healthy skin. The antioxidants and vitamins in guavas can help slow down the ageing of your skin, while guava leaf extract may help treat acne. Guavas are incredibly delicious and packed with nutrients and the nutritional values of Guavas are innumerable
This tropical fruit is low in calories, loaded with fibre, and an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Many studies also support the benefits of guava leaf extracts, which are taken as dietary supplements. Together, guava fruit and leaf extracts may boost your heart health, digestion, and immune system, in addition to other benefits.
Let us look at some of the side effects of Guava.
Side Effects of guava
When taken by mouth: Guava fruit is LIKELY SAFE when eaten as food. Guava fruit and guava leaf extract are POSSIBLY SAFE when used as a medicine, short-term. Guava leaf extract might cause temporary nausea or stomach pain in some people.
When applied to the skin: Guava leaf extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin or inside the mouth as a rinse. It might cause skin irritation in some people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Guava is LIKELY SAFE when eaten as food. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if guava is safe to use as a medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick with food amounts until more is known.
Eczema: Guava leaf extract might make eczema worse. Guava leaf extract contains chemicals that can cause skin irritation, especially in people with skin conditions like eczema. If you have eczema, use guava leaf extract with caution. (It is only good for acne).
Diabetes: Guava might lower blood sugar. If you have diabetes and use guava, check your blood sugar carefully.
Surgery: Guava might lower blood sugar. In theory, guava might increase the risk for bleeding or interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using guava as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.