Health Benefits Of Guava

Guava is very common type of fruit in Asian countries, but is also readily available in western countries. The fruit is round or pear-shaped with light green, yellow or maroon skin and white or maroon flesh that contains many small, hard edible seeds. It is soft when ripe with a sweet, musky aroma and creamy in texture.

Apart from the distinctive flavor and fragrance, guava is actually a super fruit because of its numerous health-promoting qualities. Along with the fruit, the bark and leaves of guava trees also provide numerous health benefits.

Maintains Oral Health

Dental plaque is the principal factor in many oral health problems. The anti-plaque properties of guava leaves are effective in preventing and treating oral problems.

• Herbalists recommend the use of tender leaves of guava (in paste form) to maintain oral hygiene.
• The leaves have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties that help reduce gum inflammation and leave your breath fresh and clean.
• Plus, you can use guava leaves to cure toothaches, swollen gums and oral ulcers.
• You can also use the twigs of guava trees like a toothbrush or as a chewing stick for cleaning your teeth.
• To maintain oral health, simply chew 1 or 2 tender guava leaves daily.
• You can also make a homemade mouthwash by boiling 5 to 6 tender guava leaves in water.
• Allow the solution to cool to a warm temperature and add some salt.
• Swish the mouthwash thoroughly around your mouth and teeth once or twice daily.

Improves Heart Health :-

According to a 1993 study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, regular guava fruit intake can help decrease blood pressure and blood lipids.

• This is due to its higher potassium, vitamin C and soluble fiber content.
• Potassium helps maintain a steady heartbeat and control high blood pressure, while vitamin C keeps the small blood vessels healthy.
• In addition, the lycopene found in pink-fleshed guava helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who eat this fruit on a regular basis.
• Drinking guava leaf tea prepared by steeping the dried leaves in hot water helps lower total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol) levels and triglycerides.
• This helps keep your heart and vascular system healthy.

Improves Your Immunity :-

• Due to its high vitamin C content, guava plays an important role in improving your immunity.
• Your immunity is your body’s defense mechanism that protects it from numerous diseases and infections.
• In addition, guava’s anti-inflammatory action and its ability to inhibit inflammatory molecules like prostaglandins help keep you disease free.
• Eat 1 guava daily to develop resistance against common diseases like coughs, colds and the flu.
• You can also enjoy guava in smoothies or salads, or drink a cup of tea made from guava leaves daily.

Help Prevent Cancer :-

• Guavas have anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties, these can be linked to the presence of compounds including lycopene, quercitin, vitamin C, and various polyphenols.
• All of the aforementioned compounds are powerful antioxidants and stunt the growth of free radicals in the body, which can lead to cancerous growth.

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.
• Due to the presence of Vitamin A, guava is well known as a booster for vision health.
• It can not only prevent degradation of eyesight, but even improve eyesight.
• It can help slow down the appearance of cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Even though guavas are not as rich in Vitamin A as carrots, they are still a very good source of the nutrient.

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.

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.

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.

Improves Vision :-

• Vitamin A is essential for good eyesight and guava is a rich source of this vitamin.
• Vitamin A helps maintain a healthy, clear cornea and protects the cells in your eyes.
• Night blindness is one of the diseases associated with vitamin A deficiency. In addition, the vitamin C in guava promotes healthy capillaries and helps maintain proper functioning of retinal cells.
• Regular intake of this fruit will help improve your eyesight.
• It can also help slow down the development of cataracts and macular degeneration, two common vision problems that occur with age.

Keeps Skin Healthy :-

• Guava, especially red guava, contains strong antioxidant properties.
• Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals that can damage your body at the cellular level.
• This can lead to signs of aging like wrinkled and saggy skin, dryness and a dull complexion.
• The vitamin C in guava stimulates production of collagen and elastin, the structural proteins that help keep your skin firm and elastic.
• Moreover, the astringent properties in unripe guava and the guava leaves help improve skin texture, protect it from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays and prevent problems like acne and pimples.

Regulates Thyroid Health :-

• Guava is a good source of copper, which is important for thyroid health, one of the most important glands in the body for regulating hormones and organ system function.
• Copper helps control hormone production and absorption, which in turn regulates thyroid functioning.
• This fruit also has potassium and powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can help improve thyroid functioning. Moreover, guava facilitates weight loss and improves energy.
• To prevent thyroid-related problems, make guava fruit and guava leaf tea an important part of your diet.

Weight Loss :-

• Want to shed a few pounds? Guava is just the ticket.
• Without compromising your intake of proteins, vitamins and fiber, guava helps you lose weight by regulating your metabolism.
• It’s a win-win! Guava makes for a 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 fruits.

Cough and Cold :-

• Guava has one of the highest quantities of vitamin-C and iron among fruits, and both are proven to be preventive against cold and viral infections.
• The juice of raw and immature guavas or a decoction of guava-leaves is very helpful in relieving cough and cold since it helps get rid of mucus and disinfects the respiratory tract, throat and lungs.