If you’ve been ignoring guava all this while, then it’s time to give this ‘wonder fruit’ the attention it deserves.
Read on to know more about its amazing benefits – guava health benefits.
Common Facts About Guava
Guava, a tropical fruit produced in Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia is usually eaten fresh or made into beverages, while its skin and leaf are used as a home remedy during various conditions.[mfn]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-guavas[/mfn]
Most people think that guava is associated with a person getting cold and this may be true. Moreover, these fruits also have health benefits.
Guava is also helpful during dangerous health problems such as high blood pressure, diarrhea, diabetes, cough, and different types of cancer. In fact, it is so good for diabetes that it can be included in your diabetes diet plan.
Well, how does guava do all of this? The answer to this question is that guava has a high source of vitamin C and fibers that act as antioxidants. These antioxidants have the tendency to reduce or stop harmful effects pertaining to oxidation.
Read on to know more.
Guava is a fruit with medicinal properties and helps with many health problems such as diarrhea, high blood pressure, and so on.
Here are some facts about guava that you need to know:
- Guava usually grows to about 20 feet in height.
- Guava produces white flowers.
- Guava begins producing fruit only 2 to 8 years after planting and produces fruits only twice a year.
- Guava contains 100 to 500 miniature seeds inside the middle of the fruit. However, there are some varieties that are seedless.
- Guava is a rich source of vitamins C, A, and E.
- Guava is called the super fruit because it is said to contain four times more vitamin C than orange, three times more proteins, and four times more fiber than pineapple. It is also said to have more potassium than a banana.
- Guava leaves are used as a black pigment in the textile industry
- The Guava plant lives for not less than 40 years.
- Guava is the best weight loss aid.
According to Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD in PharmEasy; “Based on my experience, I have observed that water extracts of guava may have liver-protective activity. They have been found to significantly reduce elevated levels of liver enzymes and bilirubin in the blood. Guava extract may have a protective effect on the liver, promoting its health and function.”
Nutritional Facts About Guava
If pineapple is called the king of fruits, then guava is called the queen of fruits all because of its medical properties and capabilities.
Guava was first sold in the market in Florida in 1847 and between 1948 and 1969, 21 cultivators of guava were introduced in Hawaii.
One major threat to the growth of this fruit is that a sudden dip in temperature can cause guava trees to die.
Here are some nutritional facts you need to know about guavas:
- Guava contains 21% vitamin A which helps brighten up your skin and maintains mucous membranes.
- This fruit also contains 20% folate which works well for pregnant women and prevents neural tube damage.
- Lycopene, found in pink-coloured guavas is good for protecting skin against ultraviolet rays (UV) and also prevents prostate cancer.
- Guavas have potassium more than bananas and this helps regulate high blood pressure.
| Guava contents per 100g | Amount |
| Calories | 68 |
| Carbohydrates | 14.32g |
| Fibre | 5.4g |
| Fats | 0.95g |
| Protein | 2.55g |
| Vitamin C | 275% of the daily recommended intake |
| Folate | 12% of the daily recommended intake |
| Vitamin B5 | 9% of the daily recommended intake |
| Vitamin B6 | 8% of the daily recommended intake |
| Niacin | 7% of the daily recommended intake |
| Magnesium | 6% of the daily recommended intake |
| Potassium | 9% of the daily recommended intake |
| Phosphorus | 6% of the daily recommended intake |
| Manganese | 5% of the daily recommended intake |
Note: Guava has great medicinal benefits, but it must be consumed within the limit. Guava contains fructose, which may be harmful to your health if consumed in large quantities.
“In my experience, I have observed that water extracts of guava may have anti-proliferative activity against KB cells. This means that the extracts have the ability to inhibit the growth and division of certain harmful cells”. – Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Types of Guavas
Most guava trees have similar characteristics, while there are some that grow in colder climates and grow to a maximum of 12 feet. Others grown in warmer climates reach up to 201 feet.
Guava plants must be well taken care of during winter. However, for all those fitness enthusiasts, guava can be a weight loss agent.
Here is a list of the different types of guavas:
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Pink and Red Varieties of Guavas
These guavas are also called desert guavas and usually taste sweet and appear to be pink in color. This breed of guavas is easily available in the market around you. This is often sold in Hong Kong and they have a smooth texture with fewer seeds. This breed is considered high quality.
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White and Yellow Coloured Guavas
This breed tastes typically acidic and mild with no fragrance. The inside layer appears to be pale white or yellow while the skin looks green when ripe. This variety may also turn pinkish when ripe.
Note: Though there are many different varieties of guavas, all of them are said to be powerhouses of healthy nutrients.
“Over the years, I have observed that the leaf of Psidium guajava, commonly known as guava, has a spasmolytic effect. This means that it can help relieve spasms or involuntary contractions of certain muscles. The main component responsible for this effect is a compound called quercetin, which is found in its leaf and the plant extract.” – Dr. Smita Barode, BAMS.
12 Guava Health Benefits
Guava fruits are called the queen of all fruits because of their high level of medicinal value. Any 100-gram serving of guava fruit contains 68 calories and 8.92 grams of sugar.
It is also rich in calcium and contains 18 grams of minerals for every 100 grams. This shows that the fruit has the capability to aid in different diseases.
However, in order for you to have more insight into the topic, let’s take a peek into the health benefits of guava:
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Guava helps boost your immunity
Guava is rich in vitamin C and is said to contain four times the content of vitamin C found in oranges. Vitamin C helps boost immunity levels that prepare your body to fight common infections and pathogens. Also, more vitamin C helps in good eyesight.
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May reduce the risk of developing Cancer
Vitamin C, lycopene, and other types of polyphenols act as antioxidants that help in neutralizing infections in the body and prevent the growth of cancerous cells. Guava fruit has been shown to prevent prostate cancer and also prevent the growth of breast cancer cells.
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Helps to manage blood sugar levels
Guava has a high content of fiber and glycaemic index that helps prevent the development of diabetes. You may refer to the Glycemic Index Food Chart to find out the GIs of other foods and modify your diet accordingly. Fiber content regulates blood sugar levels from spiking, while glycemic index also restricts your blood sugar to rise at a short rate.
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Guavas help in keeping your heart healthy
Guava contains high amounts of sodium and potassium that help the body balance and regulate high blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension. Guavas help reduce cholesterol which is one of the primary reasons for heart diseases. However, this fruit increases the levels of good cholesterol and substitutes this with bad cholesterol.
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Helps during constipation
Guavas contain high amounts of good dietary fiber when compared to other fruits. One guava a day contains 12 percent of fiber intake which makes it highly beneficial for digestive health.[mfn]https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/superfoods/7-health-benefits-of-guava-you-need-to-know-about/[/mfn] It also helps in healthy bowel movements. This reduces your risk of constipation.
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Helps in better eyesight
Guava fruit contains vitamin A which helps boost an individual’s eyesight. Eating guava not only prevents bad eyesight but also prevents you from developing cataracts and macular degeneration.
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Guava is an anti-stress agent
Guava contains magnesium in the fruit that helps relax your muscles and nerves. So, this means that after a hard workout or a long day at the office, you need just one guava to get you relaxed. This fruit helps you combat stress and provides a good energy boost to your system.
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Guava helps women during pregnancy
Guavas benefit pregnant women such that it contain folic acid and vitamin B-9 which is recommended to be given for women since it helps in developing the baby’s nervous system and protects the baby from neurological disorders.
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One of the best solutions for toothaches
Guava leaves have anti-inflammatory action and antibacterial ability that fight infections and kill germs. Consuming guava leaves at home will help curb toothaches. The juice from the guava leaves is also said to provide relief from swollen gums and oral ulcers.
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Aids in weight loss
If you are a fitness enthusiast, or if you feel that you are on the heavier side, then you need to eat guava which aids in weight loss. Guava regulates your body’s metabolism. Raw guava is said to have less sugar when compared to apples, grapes, and oranges.
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Helps with colds & cough
Guava has a very high content of vitamin C and iron when compared to other fruits. However, guava is proven to prevent you from getting a bad cold or any viral infection. The juice from raw guavas is very beneficial in curing cough and cold. It gets rid of mucus and disinfects the respiratory tract, throat, and lungs.
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May help with menstruation pain
Many women experience bad and painful cramps as period symptoms. There is a study that suggests guava leaf extract can help reduce pain during menstruation. This study involved 197 women consuming the guava leaf extract (6 mg) and found that it greatly helped in reducing the pain and that it works better than many painkillers as well!
You can watch the video below to know more:
What About Guava Leaves? Do They Have Any Benefits?
We all depend on Western medicine for simple problems like fever, cold, cough etc. But, don’t forget that guava leaves are very healthy too.
If guava fruit is healthy, then its leaves are super healthy. Here are some of the benefits of guava leaves that you need to know:
- Helps in stopping diarrhea
- Helps to reduce cholesterol levels
- Helps in losing weight
- Helps to manage blood sugar levels
- Helps to fight cancer
- Helps in good vision
- Used for healing acne
- Helps in improving your skin texture
Note: Guava leaves can either be boiled in hot water and consumed or made tea using them. Either of these will benefit you in many ways.
Did You Know that Guava Leaves Promote Healthy Hair?
Hair fall is a result of an unhealthy scalp. Guava leaves can help stop hair fall and strengthen your scalp because of their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. It is also being used in scalp-related problems and dandruff.[mfn]https://pharmeasy.in/blog/guava-fruit-benefits-amazing-uses-of-guava-leaves/[/mfn]
It is also rich in vitamin B & C which helps in nourishing and aiding in hair growth. So if you have a guava tree in your garden, then don’t pile up those leaves or burn them, instead make it a point to make a paste out of it and gently apply it on your scalp. This will fight hair fall and help strengthen your scalp.
Have You Heard of Guava Leaves Tea?
If green tea is considered healthy and ayurvedic, then guava leaf tea is even healthier and this can be consumed if you are having abdominal pain, watery stools, etc.
All you need to do is add guava leaves to boiling water and boil for 20 minutes. Then strain the water and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Make sure it is at least lukewarm when you are consuming it.
Also, this must be consumed on an empty stomach and you may find instant relief once you’ve followed the steps carefully.
The Takeaway
You see, our ancestors were always right when they told us to eat guava every single day. After all, it is rich in nutrients and tastes delicious too. No wonder, it is called the ‘queen of fruits’.
This not-so-ordinary-looking fruit has a unique flavor and texture that many love. Guava has also been hailed as one of the best superfoods when it comes to offering health benefits.
And we’re sure, after knowing all the benefits, even if you don’t like this fruit you’ll develop a taste for it. So how about saying: a guava a day keeps the doctor away?
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