Guava health benefits and side effects
Fruits and vegetables are extremely good and beneficial for your health, and there are a lot of reasons why you should consume them. Guava is one of the fruits that grow in tropical regions, and it is common in Nigeria. Learn about guava health benefits and side effects in our next post.
Health benefits of guava fruit
Nowadays, guavas can be bought at any large supermarket in Nigeria, but some people are still hesitant about these fruits and would like to learn more about them. Guava is low in calories and high in fiber. It contains a lot of nutrients and usually grows in the tropical areas. While this fruit might not be really popular among people or eaten every day, it still deserves recognition, because it has a huge number of health benefits. For instance, it contains the following substances:
- Carotenoids. These antioxidants can be usually found in certain types of fruits and vegetables. Except for guava, it is contained in carrots, potatoes, and cantaloupe. Beta-carotene, which is one of the specific carotenoids, is also viewed as a form of the vitamin A. According to the research, one guava contains about 6% of daily value of vitamin A. This vitamin is important when it comes to eye health, skin care, and immune system. Consequently, when we consume foods which are high in beta-carotene, like guavas, our body will automatically convert beta-carotene to the vitamin A and give us as much of it as our body needs. The carotenoids are strongly recommended to be received from guavas and other fruits or vegetables, instead of taking supplements.
- Vitamin C. As we know, a lot of fruits and vegetables contain a rich amount of vitamin C. However, guavas are one of the biggest sources of the said vitamin. If you eat only one guava, it will provide you about 209% daily value of vitamin C. It acts like a powerful antioxidant, which helps you to protect your cells from damage, done by chronic illnesses. It is also necessary for the development of collagen, which is a layer under your skin. According to scientists, most adult people are not getting the amount of vitamin C they are supposed to get. This is related to them not consuming the recommended intake of vegetables and fruits. If you eat more foods like guava, it will help you receive the recommended amount of vitamin C.
- Fiber. If you are not getting enough fiber, it could easily lead to frequent constipations, cardiovascular disease, and even some kinds of cancer. The easiest way to add fiber to your diet is eating more fruit and vegetables, including guava. One guava provides about 3g of fiber, while the recommended daily norm for women is 25g and for men 38g. The other effective sources of fiber are nuts, grains, and seeds.
- Potassium. If you eat more guava fruits, it can increase the intake of potassium in your body. This nutrient is incredibly important for the balance of body fluids. It also helps with signaling of muscles and nerves. It is known that one guava will provide you with 230 mg of potassium, and this is about 6% of daily value. Eating a cup of guavas will provide 20% of potassium daily value! If you combine the consumption of guava with the other vegetables and fruits, you can easily reach the recommended value of potassium, which estimates 4700 mg.
- Folate. The guava fruits contain not only A and C vitamins but also the B group. From one cup of guava, you can get about 20% of folate daily intake. Folate is needed in the body for the formation of new cells, RNA, and DNA. If a person does not get enough of it, there are risks of sores in the mouth, megaloblastic anemia, and problems with hair, skin, and nails. By the way, the extra folate is good for people who used to struggle with alcoholism, women of childbearing age and people who have absorption issues in the digestive tract.
Guava fruit can be effective when it comes to:
- Acne – if you eat a lot of guavas, you have less chance to get acne, pimples, wrinkles, and other skin disorders. These fruits are rich in the astringents, which help tighten the skin and muscles of the face.
- Diabetes – guavas make the sugar absorption in human’s body slower, which is the reason why diabetic patients might need it. The fiber contained in guavas prevents the patients against developing type-2 diabetes.
- Piles – the medical experts believe that guavas cute piles. Again, it is because of fiber – the high levels of this substance soften the stools and boost metabolism, which treats and prevents piles.
- Weight balance – guavas will help you to maintain the healthy weight.
- Sore throat – the guava tea is a common cure for sore throat. Guava juice will help you ease the soreness as well. This is because guava contains pectin, which is a very effective cure for throat illnesses.
- Fertility – the regular intake of guavas makes your fertility better because of folate contained in it.
- Hair growth – the guava fruit promotes the healthy hair growth, and we can thank rich amounts of vitamin C for that. It also works against hair loss.
- Stomach issues – guava is known to be helpful with various digestive tract disorders, among which are constipation, diarrhea, acidity, indigestion, kidney stones, and stomach pain. By the way, guavas are also good for women who are on their period and have severe pains in their stomach.
- Pregnancy – guavas are extremely beneficial for ladies who are pregnant. They are loaded with calcium, folic acid, and lots of vitamins that can be extremely useful for the future mother and her child.
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Health benefits of guava leaves
We now know about the benefits of guava fruit, but what about guava leaves? Turns out they are quite good for health, just like their fruit counterpart. Here is how you can benefit from using guava leaves in your drinks:
- Guava leaves help to lose weight.
- They are especially beneficial for diabetic people, as they lower the level of glucose in their body.
- People who drink tea with guava leaves have their cholesterol significantly lowered in just a couple of months.
- Guava leaves treat diarrhea and dysentery.
- They help a person in digestion.
- You can effectively and easily treat bronchitis with these leaves – they help in opening up lungs, soothing the coughs, and loosening mucus.
- Fresh guava leaves are helpful in relieving toothache, treating sore throat, and gum disease.
- Guava leaves are a perfect remedy against dengue fever.
- They help out against such a serious disease as prostate cancer.
- The leaves of guava reduce a chance of allergy and block the reactions.
- Guava leaves can treat any kinds of wounds and infections. For instance, ear infections can be easily cured by them.
- You will get rid of acne and black spots on your skin if you apply some mashed guava leaves on the places you need to cure.
- The guava leaves in combination with water will work as an excellent scrub to remove blackheads.
- Guava leaves have the antioxidants which protect your skin from aging, tightens it, and improves its texture and tone. For this, you should apply the decoction of leaves on your skin.
- They also relieve itching, which, by the way, can lead to serious issues if left untreated. Guava leaves are a perfect cure for itchiness because they block the allergic reactions.
- Also, mature guava leaves are great against hair loss. You can boil them in the water, and then apply them on your head and do massaging moves.
Side effects of guava fruit
There are no negative side issues from eating guavas that are known. However, you should avoid eating too much guava, because it is not healthy to overeat. The rapid increase of fiber in your body could lead to the digestion-related side issues, for example, gas and bloating. So, when you rapidly increase your intake of fiber, you should also increase the intake of fluids.
If you have got a condition where you are not recommended to take high amounts of fiber or potassium, you should consult your health provider before the regular consumption of guavas. Also, pregnant women and breastfeeding young mothers should be careful with the amounts of guava they take – there is a chance it results in diarrhea.
You have learned all the information about the health benefits of guava and side effects of this fruit. As you can see, there are a lot of reasons to start adding guavas to your diet, because they help against a plenty of illnesses and health conditions. Of course, like with any other foods, the excess amounts can lead to the unexpected effects, but overall the guavas are really beneficial and can improve your health.
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Source: Legit.ng
