9 Health Benefits of Guava Leaves That Will Surprise You + Tips
7 minute read
The guava is a delicious, sweet fruit cultivated in tropical climates. It also happens to be one of the least chemically treated and sprayed fruits because they are not required to extend the shelf life of the fruit.
Not only does the guava fruit have a unique flavor and fragrance, but it recently has been hailed as a super fruit due to its many essential nutrients and numerous health benefits.
The guava is a powerhouse of nutrients, providing fiber, energy, and vitamins, like vitamin A, C and numerous members of the B-complex group. You will also find healthy doses of the essential minerals calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
In the tropical areas of the world where the fruit is cultivated, people highly value the guava because of the health benefits they experience.
The Surprise Benefits of Guava
1. Supports Weight Loss
You can make juice from the leaves of a guava that helps prevent complex sugars from being converted into fat within your body. Guava is high in fiber, has no cholesterol, and a low number of digestible carbohydrates, making it an ideal dieting snack.
You can lose weight without compromising your protein intake, and it has far less sugar than apples, oranges, grapes, and many other fruits.
2. Helpful for Diabetics
Tea made with guava leaves is effective for lowering blood glucose levels in diabetics. The guava leaves reduce the alpha-glucosidease enzyme activity and prevent the absorption of sucrose and maltose, both mechanisms reducing blood sugar levels.
Diabetics who drink guava leaf tea for 12 weeks found lower blood sugar levels without an increase in insulin production.
3. Lowers Risk of Cancer
Compounds within guava, like lycopene, vitamin C, quercetin, and polyphenols, act as anti-cancer and anti-tumor agents. They work to neutralize free radicals, which can cause cancer throughout your body.
4. Boosts Immune System
The high vitamin C content in guava helps it play an essential role in improving your overall immune system. Guava also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help to inhibit any inflammatory molecules, such as prostaglandins, helping prevent disease.
Regular guava consumption can help to reduce the risk of prostate, breast, mouth, skin, lung, stomach, and colon cancers. The oil from a guava leaf acts as an antiproliferative, which has been shown to have some effect in reducing cancer cell growth.
5. Improves Digestion
Guava leaf tea helps digestive processes by stimulating digestive enzyme production. The super fruit also contains compounds that act as strong antibacterial agents.
Guava leaves are also beneficial for treating cases of food poisoning, nausea, and vomiting. When you experience an upset stomach, simply boil eight pieces of guava leaves and drink the tea three times a day.
6. Promotes Healthy Skin
Guava contains strong antioxidant powers, especially red guava. These compounds help to neutralize free radicals, which can cause damage to skin cells and premature aging.
Guava tea every day will reduce your chances of wrinkles, saggy or dry skin, and leave you with a healthy complexion and glow. The vitamin C in guava leaves, found in oranges and other foods as well, also helps to stimulate the production of collagen, which keeps your skin firm and elastic.
Unripe guava and the leaves also act as a powerful astringent to protect your skin from damaging UV rays and to prevent skin breakouts.
7. Improves Eyesight
Guava has a high vitamin A content, which is known to be a booster for vision health. This vitamin helps to slow the appearance of cataracts, macular degeneration, and can improve the overall health of your eyes.
| Related: 8 Things Your Eyes Are Trying to Tell You About Your Health |
It's important to spot any signs of vitamin A deficiency, and guava leaves can ensure they aren't something you need to worry about.
8. Provides Dental Care
The leaves of the guava can make a beneficial juice known to soothe toothaches, oral ulcers and swollen gums. The juice speeds up the healing process of any oral wounds when applied topically and also reduces the risks of bacterial infections within the mouth.
9. Lowers Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that drinking guava leaf tea causes a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. At the same time there are no adverse effects on HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
| Related: Keep High Cholesterol In Check With Krill Oil |
Guava also helps to improve sodium and potassium balance within your body which keeps blood pressure regulated. This makes it ideal for individuals suffering from hypertension.
Foods lacking in fiber, such as processed and high-sugar foods, contribute to high blood pressure, so switching to a high-fiber guava each day instead of sugary snacks will help to regulate blood pressure levels.
The Bottom Line
The guava fruit and its leaves provide many health benefits that can be seen throughout your whole body. Daily consumption can help mitigate diarrhea, symptoms of diabetes, obesity, and numerous infections, not to mention reduce your risks for cancer and heart disease.
Not only does your immune system get a boost, but your digestive tract can be maintained, you can experience increased energy and relaxed nerves, and all those essential vitamins and minerals are delivered throughout your body. As a low-calorie fruit, it is an ideal snack, providing fiber and nutrients without increasing calories.
Guava leaves are sold in health food stores and can be found as tea, herbal, and supplemental options. If you need a boost in immuno-health, or just want eat healthy, guava could be a great addition to your routine.
