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Super Fruits - Guava

Guava is another tropical fruit rich in high-profile nutrients. With its unique flavor, taste, and health-promoting qualities, the fruit easily fits into the category of new functional foods, often labelled as “super-fruits.”

Pictures sourced from wikipedia.org

It is an evergreen, tropical low-growing tree probably originated in the central Americas. Guavas actually thrive well under both humid and dry climates.

The fruit is soft when ripe with sweet musky aroma and creamy texture flesh. Internally, its flesh varies in color depending up on the cultivar and may be white, pink, yellow, or red. Each fruit contains numerous tiny, semi-hard edible seeds, concentrated especially at its center.

Nutrition content

Guava has a high content of vitamins C and A. In fact, one guava fruit contains 4 times more vitamin C than an average-size orange and 10 times more vitamin A than a lemon.

It also contains vitamins B2, E and K, fiber, calcium, copper, folate, iron, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. With all the nutrition that it provides, guava hardly contains any fats. Moreover, Guava is one of the least chemically treated and sprayed fruits in the world.

Guava Preparation

Here are some serving tips:

• Eat fresh guava as it is, to enjoy its natural flavor and unique taste.
• Guava fruit juice is a popular delicious drink in many parts.
• Sliced guava-cubes are a great addition to fruit salads.
• The fruit is also extensively used to make candies, preserves, jellies, jams, marmalade, etc.

Information sourced from www.nutrition-and-you.com

Health benefits of Guava

1. Guava is low in calories and fats but carry several vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant that play a pivotal role in the prevention of cancers, aging, infections, etc.

2. The fruit is very rich source of soluble dietary fiber which makes it a good bulk laxative and reduce cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.

3. Guava-fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-C. 100 g fresh fruit provides 228 mg of this vitamin, more than three times the required DRI. Helping the human body develop resistance against infectious agents

4. Guava is a very good source of Vitamin-A and Flavonoids, these compounds are essential for good health. Further, Vitamin-A is also required for maintaining healthy skin and good eye sight.

5. Studies suggest that pink guavas prevents skin damage from UV rays and offer protection from prostate cancer.

6. Fresh fruit is a very rich source of potassium. It contains more potassium than other fruits like banana weight per weight. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.

7. Guava has a moderate source of B-complex vitamins, vitamin E and K, as well as minerals like magnesium, copper, and manganese.

8. Guava fruit is good for the digestive track. Its antibacterial property helps clean the digestive track. Discouraging bacteria growth and promotes digestion and excretion.

9. The hypoglycemic effect of Guava juice is useful in the treatment of diabetes.

10. The rich fiber content of Guava is extremely beneficial for diabetic people. Regulating sugar levels and reducing sudden spikes in sugar levels.

11. Due to the high levels of Vit C, Guava is excellent for improving your immunity and keep you disease free. Eat 1 Guava daily builds up immunity against coughs, colds and the flu.

12. Guava rich in vitamin C, A, antioxidants, and lycopene helps in prevention of prostate and other types of cancers.

13. Regularly eating guava can help reduce bad cholesterol.

Health Benefits of Guava Leaves

1. Maintains Oral Health: 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.

2. Keeps your heart healthy: Drinking Guava leaf tea, prepared by steeping the dried leaves in hot water lowers cholesterol and improves your vascular system and reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

3. Treats Diarrhea: Guava leaves are herbal remedy for diarrhea and dysentery. For treating diarrhea, boil 30 grams of guava leaves with a handful of rice flour in 1-2 glasses of water and drink twice a day.

4. Reduces the risk of diabetes: To help prevent diabetes drink Guava tea. Dry the washed, clean Guava leaves in the shade, crush the dried leaves into a powder. Add 1 teaspoon of the powder to a cup of boiled water. Cover and allow to steep for 5 min, stain and drink once daily.

5. Builds up your immunity: Drinking Guava tea daily builds up immunity against coughs, colds and the flu.

6. Prevent type 2 diabetes: Guava leaf tea can managing blood sugar levels helping to prevent type 2 diabetes.

7. Reduces cholesterol: Regularly taking guava leaf for months can help reduce bad cholesterol

8. Treats stomach cancer: Guava leaf extract is so potent that it has the potential to treat patients with gastric (stomach) cancer.

9. Treats cancer: Guava leaves’ high lycopene content is vital to fighting cancers, such as breast, prostate and oral cancer.

10. Treats dengue fever: Guava leaves are considered a natural remedy for dengue fever. This is because guava leaf extract can increase the number of platelets in the blood and is not toxic at all. For this purpose 9 pieces of guava leaves should be boiled in 5 cups of water until 3 cups of water is left. After straining and cooling, a cup of this concoction should be given to the patient three times a day.

Medical disclaimer:

This information is intended solely for the general information of the reader.The contents is not intended to offer personal medical advice, diagnose health problems or for treatment purposes. It is not a substitute for medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. Please consult your health care provider for any advice on medications.

References:
www.stylecraze.com
www.medicaldaily.com
www.stylecraze.com

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