Fun fact: The guava goes by many names. Ranging from jambu batu, ryaba and goyave to kuawa
Guava (scientific name: Psidium guajava) is a tropical fruit being grown in humid or dry regions. The different cultivars of guava, while generally evergreen on the outside, vary in the color of the flesh like white, yellow, pink, and red. It also contains tiny edible seeds, usually found at the core of the fruit. This fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients such as vitamins A and C.
This superfruit has only 68 calories per 100 grams, with zero cholesterol and only 3.5 percent daily-recommended allowance of fat. It also contains 14% DRA dietary fiber. Foods high in fiber fill up while controlling hunger. Aside from its weight loss advantage, dietary fiber also protects the colon mucous membrane from toxins.
Guava is also an abundant source of carbohydrates, an essential nutrient that provides energy for your body. Carbohydrates from food are turned into sugar that is fed to the cells, tissues, and various body organs as energy.
Guavas are also rich in vitamins and minerals. Topping the list of vitamins with the highest DRA found in guavas is vitamin C. This fruit has higher supply of vitamin C, about five times higher than oranges, with 396% DRA per 100 grams of guava. Vitamin C is vital to achieve overall health as it plays several key functions in the body including the protection of the cells for normal growth and development. It also guards the body from infectious agents that may result to certain diseases.
It is also a good source of vitamin A and B-complex vitamins. Vitamin A is essential for a healthy vision. Flavonoids like B-carotene and lycopene found in guavas are transformed into vitamin A to function as antioxidant protecting the body from harmful free radicals. On the other hand B-complex vitamins assists the body to make red blood cells and energy from the food you intake. Guava is abundant in vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) with 9% and 9.5% DRA, respectively.
Aside from such vitamins, guavas are also filled with various minerals like magnesium, manganese and iron. Magnesium functions to normalize blood pressure and muscle and nerve functions. Manganese, meanwhile, is normally found in kidney, liver and bones. It helps in the metabolism of fat and carbohydrates as well as in the absorption of calcium.
Guavas also contain 9% RDA of potassium, which helps control blood pressure and heart rate. This fruit even has higher amount of potassium than banana.
The Important Health Benefits of Guavas
Guavas are termed to be the “superfruits” because of the wide array of vitamins and minerals they can offer to the body. You will be amazed with how guava can optimize human health. It is round and small yet it brings the body good more than you can imagine. As time goes by, guava continuously awes medical experts because of its high-level nutrient content. This fruit is jam-packed with minerals that regulates overall optimal health. Presented below are guava’s healthy properties and their related importance to have a desirable health condition.
Rich in Antioxidants
Vitamin C acts as antioxidants that benefit various body parts and systems. Vitamin C plays an important role in the overall human health and the body needs Vitamin C on a daily basis. It is important to eat as much food that is high in Vitamin C because this mineral is washed out time to time through excretion of water. It is important that the body receives Vitamin C everyday for it to function accordingly. Guavas are excellent source of Vitamin C. In fact it contains 228 mg of Vitamin C sufficient for the body’s daily Vitamin C need. This antioxidant effectively clears the body of harmful toxins that causes various types of disease and illnesses.
Strengthens the Immune System
Vitamin C boosts the immune system in so many levels. It is a powerful antioxidant that removes toxins in the body to avoid easily getting sick. It repairs dead cells and promotes growth of healthy ones. If you want to live your days cough, cold, or flu free, Vitamin C effectively build a strong resistance against – but not limited – to these common diseases. Eat guava regularly to have an effective disease-fighting immune system.
Rejuvenates the Skin
Vitamin C also repairs and nourishes the skin on a cellular level resulting to a fairer, younger looking, and more beautiful skin. Vitamin C regulates the production of collagen which is an important property to have a healthy skin inside out. Enjoy a damage-free flawless skin by eating guava regularly.
Helps in Curing Wounds
Vitamin C also helps in treating and repairing wounds and scars. Vitamin C plays vital part in repairing and growing healthy tissues in the body. If you have wounds and you want them to heal quickly and leave no visible scars, eating guava will greatly help.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Eating Guava reduces risks of having cancer specifically prostate, breast, lung, skin and oral cancer. This fruit is rich in anti-tumor compounds that can possibly develop to the types of cancer mentioned. It has lycopene which is a special type of carotenoid phytonutrients that prevent development of free radicals. Free radicals primarily cause many types of serious disease and illnesses such as cancer, heart ailments, diabetes, hypertension and the likes. Guava contains 5204 microgram of lycopene sufficient enough to fight development of free radicals.
Good for the Heart
Lycopene is also known to be good for the heart. This powerful antioxidant effectively regulates blood circulation and strengthens blood vessels to avoid blood clots and the likes. This antioxidant also eliminates excess body cholesterol that can trigger many heart ailments.
Aids Weight Loss
Eating guava also promotes weight loss. On top of its lycopene content, it is also rich in fiber that regulates digestion and bowel movement. If you want a healthy weight loss supplement, guava is a much preferable choice.
Boosts the Body’s Energy Levels
Potassium is needed in the body everyday for it to optimally function. Another perk of eating guava is that it fills the body’s daily potassium requirement up to 90%. Potassium is essential to regulate body’s fluid and sodium levels. Guava, being high in Potassium, acts as electrolytes that boost the body’s energy levels. Electrolytes are the substances responsible for transmission of electrical impulse throughout the body. If you want to keep your energy and strength high either for sports or any other intense physical activities, eating guava before and after would significantly help. Eating guava will help prevent cramping. Cramping is in fact an effect of insufficient electrolytes in the system.
Improved Cardiac Health
Potassium, combined with Vitamin C, is very important for an optimal cardiac health. Potassium assures that the muscles in the body, including heart muscles, are properly functioning. With proper amount of potassium in the body, proper muscle contraction is regulated that effects to normal beating of the heart. This allows proper blood circulation from and to the heart. Eating a lot of guava maintains a healthy heart and prevents high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart-related issues.
Guava is also a source of Vitamin A which is good for eye and skin health. On top of those vitamins and minerals mentioned above, this “superfruit” has vitamin K, vitamin B6, Folate, and Manganese that betters body’s ability for iron absorption and blood formation.