THE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF GUAVA AND ITS LEAVES

If the pineapple is the king of the fruits, guava should be the queen.

According to Dr. Mercola, when compared with the same amount of pineapple, guava has three times more protein, four times more fiber and almost five times more vitamin C.1 It also has more potassium than bananas and five times more vitamin A than oranges!1

When they’re ripe, they should be soft, sweet and fragrant, and yet they actually lower your blood glucose levels! Let’s look at all the properties locked inside this little fruit, and help you take your health to the next level.

A Strong Immunity Boost

The immunity-boosting effects of guava are directly related to its vitamin C content. A serving of guava provides over 350% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C, says Dr. Axe.2 Since this water-soluble vitamin can´t be stored in the body, eat a little guava every day for a heightened effect.

Your Personal Guard against Coughs and Colds

Guava reduces mucus, helps ease sore throats and keep the respiratory tract infection free.3 The vitamin C content does wonders for the body when you´re experiencing viral infections, but guava´s iron content acts as the last nail in the coffin.3 Drink the tea, too, for extra guava power.4 Goodbye sniffles!

Better Eyesight

Research in India into the effects of specific fruits and vegetables suggests that guavas, black grapes, coriander and mint leaves should be the doctor´s prescription for good eyesight.5 Why guava? Well the vitamin-A content is thought to help slow down the appearance of cataracts, macular degeneration and improve general eye health.6

Controlling Diabetes

Guava has been used to treat diabetes mellitus in Chinese Medicine for centuries and studies have now been carried out to back up this ancient knowledge. The Taiwanese researchers Cheng and Yang looked at the effect of guava on diabetes and found that it effectively and gently reduces blood glucose in humans and may be employed to improve and/or prevent the disease.7

In 2013, another group of researchers reported in Phytotherapy Research that the guava leaf polyphenol present in guava leaf tea helps regulate the absorption of dietary carbohydrate within the intestines, helping to suppress a rapid increase in blood sugar after meals. They also found no drug interactions, suggesting guava leaf tea is a useful complementary medicine for medicated diabetics.8

Hair Loss Prevention

If you´ve been experiencing hair loss due to elevated stress levels or other reasons, you´re not alone. These days, around seven out of ten people suffer from this problem, but a guava remedy can help boost growth and prevent further hair loss, according to experts.9 It´s one of the many hair loss remedies esteemed by Ayurvedic medicine practitioners.10

You´ll need to boil a handful of guava leaves in a liter of water for 20 minutes, let it cool and then massage it into the scalp. Leave it on for 3 hours, then wash it off, or leave it on during the night underneath a shower cap. If the situation is critical, you can also apply it to clean, wet hair roots after washing. Do this regularly, and the leaf preparation will strengthen both follicles and roots.9

Protecting You Against Cancer

Several studies have been carried out on the anti-cancer effects of guava leaf extracts, guava seed, and the whole plant.11 They have found that it can fight human cancer cell lines, including prostate, colon, and epidermal cancers, as well as leukemia and melanoma.11 Not bad for a humble tree!

Beneficial During Pregnancy

Many of the benefits discussed above make guava a great pregnancy food. Guava contains folic acid, or vitamin B-9 (which is great for baby´s nervous system), iron, calcium, thiamine, magnesium, and phosphorus making it a beneficial food during this important time. It also maintains blood pressure, which pregnant women are more susceptible to. One guava daily is recommended to keep it stable.12 It also relieves stress, helps ease gastric reflux, and aids digestion.12

It Relaxes You

Yes, if you´re stressed out, guava can help. The magnesium content acts as a muscle and nerve relaxant, and many are deficient.13 Why not add a handful of spinach, 2 frozen bananas, and a guava fruit to a blender jug with a little water to make a great anti-stress smoothie.

Did you know that guavas were so cool? Most people don´t – but guavas are well worth adding to your daily nutritional routine, even just for their flavor! Don´t forget to make sure your guava is ripe!

http://well.org/medicine/medicinal-guava/