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Health Benefits of Guava

The guava fruits are round, oval or pear shaped, dark green and hard when unripe and the skin is a little yellowish green or with a tinge of pink and softer when ripened. Depending of the species, the flesh is pink or white with small tough seeds and produces a fragrant. There are also seedless guava fruits cultivated.

You can eat it raw with or without the skin or make it into guava juice or guava nectar. It is a nice addition to fruit salads and fruit punch. In some locality the fruit is made into guava sauce, guava jam, chutney and pickle.

Guava Nutrition Facts

Data from the USDA Nutrient database shows that a 100g of pink guava contains 80g of water, 2.5g protein, 14.3g of carbohydrates, 5.4g of dietary fiber, 8.9g of sugar and 68kcal. Among the vitamins and minerals present in the guava fruits are vitamin C, beta carotene, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus. A high amount of lycopene which is a carotene and an antioxidant, is present in the pink guava giving it the pinkish or reddish color and several health benefits.

Health Benefits of Guava

The presence of the powerful antioxidant Lycopene particularly in the pink guava helps in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and fight free radicals. Men will benefit from drinking the guava juice or guava nectar as it helps maintain a healthy prostrate.

The dietary fiber present in guava helps in lessening problems such as diarrhea, constipation and stomach upsets. Drinking guava juice helps increase bulk and softens stool. And one of the other health benefits of guava is it may help lower cholesterol levels in the body. This happens when the fiber binds to the bile acids in the small intestine, thus disallowing it to enter your body. Eating the fresh guava fruit or drinking guava nectar may also help in weight loss because since it adds bulk, it will make you feel full and thus eat lesser.

The vitamins and minerals present in guava provides many health benefits such as preventing damage and harmful effects to your organs, enhances your immune system, for eye health, stabilize blood pressure and guava leaf extract aids in energy production.

Traditional, Medicinal and Herbal Use of Guava

1. Women who have a problem with vagina discharge can try the home remedy of boiling guava leaves and use the lukewarm solution to wash or rinse off the private part.
   
   
   
2. You can also make your own infusion of guava tea by boiling the leaves and adding in rock sugar or what some people call rock candy to it and drink the concoction. It is used to ease diarrhea and gastric.
   
   
   
3. The extract from the leaves have been used as a disinfectant and to heal wounds.

Studies and research are still ongoing to determine the other health benefits of guava and the possibility of lowering the risk of cancer and diabetes.