Guavas nutrition and health benefits include its ability to help in preventing cancer, regulating blood pressure and treating diarrhea. The high contents of nutrition in guavas gave it an upper hand when health benefits are being discussed. More of guavas nutrition and health benefits are also aiding weight loss, improving the skin, treating cough and cold, constipation, dysentery and scurvy.
What Is Guava.
Guava is a sweet and delicious fruit cultivated in tropical climates. This seasonal fruit, scientifically known as Psidium guajava, is round or pear shaped and is light green, yellow or maroon in color when it ripens.
Guavas are native to Mexico and South America. Asian countries joined in on the cultivation later on and became one of the largest producers. Guava is not only delicious and healthy but it is also one of the least chemically treated fruits and is as close to organically grown as a non organically grown fruit can be.
Even though Guavas nutrition and health benefits are high, they are very susceptible to weather conditions and cannot bear high temperatures. Its chemical composition makes it highly beneficial in treating and preventing various diseases, especially skin related ones. Guavas are rich in minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants which can benefit the body in many ways.
Guavas Nutrition And Health Benefits.
Macro-Nutrition In Guavas:
One guava fruit contains 45 calories, 1 gram of protein and 10 grams of carbohydrate, including 5 grams of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber helps to keep your digestive tract clean and makes your food more filling. It may also lower your risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol.
Vitamins In Guavas:
Guavas are an excellent source of vitamin C, with one fruit providing 280 percent of the daily value for this nutrient. A guava will also provide you with 15 percent of the daily value for vitamin A and smaller amounts of niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, thiamine and riboflavin. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that your body needs for the growth and repair of tissues, and vitamin A is essential for good vision and immune system function and cell division.
Minerals In Guavas:
Guava may not be a great source of minerals, but a guava provides 2 percent of the daily value for calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. Calcium helps with muscle and nerve function and strengthens your bones.
Magnesium helps keep your bones and your immune system strong and regulates blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Iron is essential for forming red blood cells, and phosphorus helps turn your food into energy and forms proteins in the body for forming new cells and tissues.
Am still going to a breakdown of guavas nutrition on table..
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Percentage of RDA |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 68 Kcal | 3.5% |
| Carbohydrates | 14.3 g | 11.5% |
| Protein | 2.55 g | 5% |
| Total Fat | 0.95 g | 3% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.4 g | 14% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 49 µg | 12.5% |
| Niacin | 1.084 mg | 7% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.451 mg | 9% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.110 mg | 8.5% |
| Riboflavin | 0.040 mg | 3% |
| Thiamin | 0.067 mg | 5.5% |
| Vitamin A | 624 IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 228 mg | 396% |
| Vitamin E | 0.73 mg | 5% |
| Vitamin K | 2.6 µg | 2% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 2 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 417 mg | 9% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 18 mg | 2% |
| Copper | 0.230 mg | 2.5% |
| Iron | 0.26 mg | 3% |
| Magnesium | 22 mg | 5.5% |
| Manganese | 0.150 mg | 6.5% |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg | 2% |
| Selenium | 0.6 mcg | 1% |
| Zinc | 0.23 mg | 2% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ß | 374 µg | — |
| Crypto-xanthin-ß | 0 µg | — |
| Lycopene | 5204 µg | — |
More Of Guavas Health Benefits:
Scurvy:
Scurvy is a severe health condition that can lead to other health problems. The main identified reason for scurvy is the deficiency of vitamin C. Guavas are a rich source of vitamin C, so much so that they are four times more potent than citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. Guava is deemed to be the best source of vitamin C in fruits.
Anti-Aging:
As time passes the body ages both internally and externally, as much as we would like it not to be, aging is irreversible. However, eating a diet rich in antioxidants and vitamin C can protect the body and skin from oxidative damage and also from the effects of aging. Vitamin C is said to aid the production of collagen, especially in the skin cells. Guava face masks can also give the face a tightening and firming effect.
Antioxidant Properties:
The naturally high content of vitamin C in guavas, which is four times higher than the content found in oranges, helps boost the immune system. According to a study published in 2006, the antioxidants in guava defend your body against the proliferation of free radicals in the body, which are one of the main causes of serious conditions like cancer and heart diseases. Therefore, adding guava to your diet helps you stay healthy.
Eliminates Diarrhea & Dysentery:
Guava has astringent properties that help treat a number of digestive disorders like diarrhea and dysentery. Whether you chew guava leaves or eat a raw guava, the astringent qualities add substance to lose bowels and reduce the symptoms of diarrhea.
These astringents are alkaline in nature and have disinfectant and anti-bacterial properties, thus helping cure dysentery by inhibiting microbial growth and removing extra mucus from the intestines. Furthermore, other nutrients in guava such as vitamin C, carotenoids and potassium, strengthen the digestive system while simultaneously disinfecting it. Guava is also beneficial in treating gastroenteritis for the same reasons stated above.
