The Amazing Health Benefits of Guava
Have you ever eaten guava? Guava is not only delicious but also full of health benefits that you probably didn’t know about before.
Learn more about the amazing health benefits of guava in this article, and try out some recipes using guava in your next meal!
What are the health benefits of guava?
Guavas are tropical fruits with a sweet flavor and distinctive aroma. It is also known as guayabas in Spanish, which means snake fruit due to its snake-like appearance.
The botanical name for guava is Psidium guajava and it belongs to the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae). The fruit can be red, yellow or green depending on variety.
One cup of fresh guavas contains about 60 calories and provides Vitamin C, vitamin A, folate and dietary fiber among other essential nutrients.
In addition to being delicious, there are many health benefits associated with eating guavas regularlyregularly . This article will provide you with an overview of these benefits.
1) Healthy Heart: Eating guavas may help reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation.
According to research published in Current Pharmaceutical Design, guava extract reduces hypertension by preventing oxidative stress induced by high cholesterol levels.
In another study published in Phytotherapy Research, researchers found that consuming guava juice lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular function over time.
2) Protects Against Cancer: Antioxidants like carotenoids found in fruits like guavas have been shown to help prevent cancer growth and progression.
According to research published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, carotenoids from foods like guavas protect against DNA damage caused by cigarette smoke.
3) Prevents Diabetes: High consumption of fruits has been linked to lower diabetes risk according to several studies including one published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Research shows that people who eat plenty of whole grains, vegetables and fruits have lower risks of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume fewer servings per day.
4) Good Source Of Fiber: Fruits contain both soluble and insoluble fibers that promote healthy digestion and regularity when consumed daily.
Soluble fibers dissolve easily in water while insoluble fibers do not dissolve easily but they both play important roles in promoting good digestive health.
Insoluble fibers add bulk to stool and move food through your intestines more quickly so you feel full faster. 5) Helps Fight Infections: Some species of guava have antimicrobial properties that help fight infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi.
For example, extracts from some species of guava have been shown to inhibit H1N1 influenza virus replication in vitro according to research published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
6) Reduces Cholesterol Levels: Consuming foods rich in soluble fiber like guavas helps lower total cholesterol levels according to a review published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
7) Promotes Weight Loss: Guavas are low calorie fruits with only 61 calories per cup! They are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without adding extra calories to your diet.
8) Boosts Immunity: Guavas are packed with antioxidants that help support immune system health. They are a great source of vitamins A and C, two antioxidants that help boost immunity.
9) Improves Digestion: The fiber content in guavas helps improve digestion by helping you feel fuller longer and aiding in the elimination of waste products from the body.
10) Treats Urinary Tract Infections: Guava leaves have been used for centuries to treat urinary tract infections according to research published in International Journal of Pharmacology and Biopharmaceutics.
What are the side effects?
Guavas are generally safe to eat and cause no major side effects in most people. However, like other foods, they do have a few minor side effects that may be worth knowing about.
For example, eating large amounts of guavas can lead to bloating or gas in some people This effect is usually only noticed by those who eat them regularly as a part of their diet.
Although not everyone will experience these effects, it’s still important to keep them in mind when adding guavas to your diet for health benefits.
They are often used in juices and smoothies because of their ability to give these drinks a sweet flavor without adding sugar.
This makes them an ideal fruit for weight loss diets since they contain very little sugar but provide enough sweetness to make food more enjoyable.
In addition, unlike many fruits, guavas don’t have any known allergies associated with them. So there isn’t any risk of experiencing an allergic reaction if you choose to add them to your diet on a regular basis.
While they aren’t likely to cause problems, there are a few things you should know before adding guavas to your diet. Eating too much of them at once can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea in some people.
If you notice either of these symptoms after eating a lot of guavas at once, try cutting back on how much you eat until your body adjusts to having them as part of your daily routine.
Also, avoid eating unripe or overripe guavas. Ripe ones are fine but both under-ripe and over-ripe ones tend to be sour tasting and unpleasant for most people.
Finally, while guavas are considered safe during pregnancy, they shouldn’t be eaten raw. Cooking them first helps reduce their levels of oxalic acid which can cause complications during pregnancy.
This is especially true during early stages when risks are highest. So while pregnant women can safely eat cooked guavas, they should avoid eating raw ones unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
Overall, guavas are one of nature’s greatest gifts to us. Their rich taste and numerous health benefits make them a great choice for anyone looking to improve their overall nutrition without losing out on flavor.
And even though they aren’t perfect, there really isn’t anything wrong with them aside from being slightly high in calories (which is normal for fruits).
The good news is that even though they have more calories than some other common fruits, they also offer plenty of vitamins and minerals so they won't leave you feeling hungry after eating them.
As long as you watch your portion sizes and eat ripe ones instead of under-ripe or over-ripe ones, chances are good that you'll never regret including guavas in your diet!
Is there anything else in it?
Many people wonder about how many calories are in guava, but other than its calorie content, what does it offer? It’s a tropical fruit that is high in vitamin C and a great source of fiber.
This can lead to better digestive health, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and lower cholesterol levels. In addition to fiber, guava also contains tannins, which can help control blood sugar levels and are known to protect against cancer.
And while it might be tempting to just add it on top of yogurt or your morning cereal to reap these benefits, researchers found that ingesting whole guavas leads to greater nutrient absorption than when it’s blended into a smoothie.
This is especially true when it comes to soluble fiber. So if you want to take advantage of all that guava has to offer, try eating it as nature intended: fresh.
To do so, simply wash off any dirt and peel off any waxy skin before slicing open and digging in. If you don’t feel like eating them raw, then go ahead and make a salad with guava instead of tomatoes or mangoes.
You could even enjoy it over some rice or quinoa! Or just snack on some slices throughout the day—guava tastes delicious no matter how you eat it! Whatever way you choose to include guava in your diet, remember that moderation is key.
Since they are such a good source of nutrients, they should not be eaten excessively. There’s no reason why anyone should have more than two servings per week at most.
But hey, we won’t tell if you decide to indulge once in awhile too! That’s one benefit of being an adult—you get to decide what works best for you!