Benefits, Uses & Side Effects of Guava
Guava is the name given to a small tree that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. The botanical name of Guava is Psidium guajava L. It is natively grown in Mexico and South America.
Guava is associated with many medicinal properties.
It is now mostly grown in several countries around the world. The use of Guava has been widely discussed in traditional medicines.
Ayurveda and Chinese medicine are two of the fields of ancient medicines that have considered it.
The Tree of the guava is overall beneficial for health. The positive effects are not just limited to the fruit but are also found in its leaves, stems, roots, etc.
Depending on the condition that you have, traditional medicines ask you to either eat it or apply it. The guava fruit is green to yellow in color.
It has many seeds right in the core. These seeds are edible because they are tiny in size. Herbal tea made out of guava leaves extract has many potential medicinal effects.
Health Benefits of Guava
Guava is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. The presence of these nutrients produces some health benefits;
1. Cardiovascular health
Guava is helpful for the cardiovascular system. It provides its positive effects with the help of antioxidants and vitamins.
Optimum levels of potassium are also one of the reasons behind this. Extract from guava leaf help to lower levels of bad cholesterol in the body.
2. Anti-infective
Guavas have a higher quantity of vitamin C when compared with oranges. Vitamin C helps the tendency of the body to fight off infections.
3. Hormonal balance
Guava helps with the endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for the regulation of hormones.
This means that the bodily processes are regulated with the help of guava.
4. Anti-aging
Vitamin C and antioxidants present in guava is helpful for antioxidant properties. These antioxidants also help to maintain good skin and reduce signs of aging.
5. Healthy mother and baby
It is healthy for pregnant women. Guava contains folic acid. And vitamin B9, which helps in the development of the nervous system of the fetus.
MEDICAL USES
1. Diabetes
Guava has a relatively lower glycemic index as compared to other fruits. A glycemic index is a ranking of foods according to carbohydrate present in food.
A glycemic index is also an indication of how it affects glucose levels in the blood. It means that guava helps in the prevention of diabetes.
Being low in sugar helps in reducing the chances of sugar spikes in the blood. This is one of the significant reasons guava is suitable for people who already have diabetes Mellitus.
2. EyeSight
Guava is rich in Vitamin. One of the significant health benefits of Vitamin A is that it improves eyesight.
It also prevents damaging eyesight. Furthermore, cataracts and macular degeneration can also be prevented with the help of Guava.
3. Menstrual Cramps and Dysmenorrhea
For people who suffer from extreme menstrual cramps, Guava might just be the solution for you.
People have claimed to get relief from menstrual cramps from drinking the extract of guava leaves.
Another study also suggests that the same guava leaf extract helps relieve symptoms of dysmenorrhea.
A dose of 6mg per day is sufficient to alleviate the effects of painful menstruation.
4. Diarrhea
The use of guava leaf extract for the treatment of diarrhea is used all over the world.
Many researchers believe that it might be due to the anti-infective properties of guava.
Another study suggests that the same extract also treated diarrhea caused by Escherichia Coli infection.
However, there are no conclusive researches as to how this effect is produced. Further in-depth research might help to answer the question.
5. Hypertension
Extract from guava leaf helps in lowering blood pressure. It consists of the antioxidant properties of the leaf.
Antioxidants have a tendency to dilate blood vessels, which might lower the pressure of blood flow in vessels. Further research on this topic is required to find a definitive conclusion.
6. Gastroenteritis
Guava leaf tea is used in the form of medicine to treat children suffering from gastroenteritis.
This is more common in countries that lack proper health care systems.
According to research, the extract from guava leaf is effective against staphylococcus Aureus, which is the most common causative agent of diarrhea.
Some of the strains that were successfully restricted with the help of guava leaf extract were resistant to some antibiotics as well.
7. Arthritis
Many regions of Africa are known to utilize maximum benefits from Guava. This is because they are still into treating several conditions with the help of herbs.
According to the research, Leaf extracts from guava possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. These effects were tested in mice.
Diclofenac and morphine were kept as standards; these are two of the most powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines.
Therefore, people often use guava leaf extracts for the management of arthritis. These properties of guava are due to flavonoids, triterpenoid, and many other chemical compounds.
Side Effects of Guava
1. For people who are in healthy condition and consume it in the normally prescribed quantity of fruits, Guava fruit does not produce any side effects.
However, it may cause bloating and abdominal gases.
2. This is because some people might develop digestive effects due to high amounts of fibers in fruit.
In order to counteract this, the person should start drinking more glasses of water.
3. Consult your doctor. This is in case if you are someone who is suffering from a health condition that requires lower potassium and fiber.
CONCLUSION
Guava is a beneficial tree. The fruit from the tree is helpful for the digestive system. But in comparison to the leaves, the fruit has fewer benefits.
The Guava tree leaf extract has a wide range of health benefits, be it for the relief of pain, inflammation, or infection.
Therefore, if you are tired of suffering from any of these conditions, you can add guava leaf tea to your diet. This might improve your overall health conditions.