Are you familiar with a species of tropical fruit named guava? If not, here is some useful and interesting information that will help you learn more about this miraculous fruit.
Guava fruit is a type of berry with a phenomenal effect on our health. It belongs to the myrtle family of shrubs and trees, shredded in tropical areas. What makes these kinds of plants recognizable are their leathery leaves with oil glands. The benefits of using guava are multiple, whether you consume it by making tea from guava leaves, eating it fresh, or using its by-products.
The Origin of Guayaba
The English word guava is made from the Spanish word guajava and the Portuguese term for this fruit is goiaba.
The fruit originates from Central America, Mexico. Today it is cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas, around Central and South America, throughout the Caribbean region and even southwestern Europe, where it can be found in parts of Spain and Greece. There is some evidence of farming this fruit long back in 2500 BC.
How Do You Recognize Guava?
The usual shape of this fruit is oval or pear-like. It grows on a small guava tree and comes in several colors, such as yellow, maroon, or green. Guava trees can grow up to 20ft. When fully grown, the guava tree has a rich and branched crown. Guava leaves are oval-shaped. The color is dull green and like all plants from the myrtle family, has a stiff and leathery texture. The fruits are not the only edible thing; there are a lot of benefits from consuming tea from guava leaf. The average length of leaves is seven to fifteen centimeters, and they are three to five centimeters wide. This plant has white flowers.
How Do You Take Care of the Guava Tree?
As mentioned, guava is a plant cultivated in tropical areas. It is frost tender to a degree where young trees could freeze when not taken care of appropriately, while the older ones may survive, but for a short period. Besides keeping the plants protected from cold weather, you should fertilize and frequently water them.
Guava trees produce fruit after two to eight years after planting. In most cases, there are two crops per year.
How to Use Guava Fruit and Leaves?
Both guava leaves and fruit can be an alternative way of maintaining or improving your health.
How to make guava leaf tea? After drying guava leaves, compress them into powder. Pour a cup of boiled water over a tablespoon of powder you’ve made and leave it for five minutes, after which you can strain it and drink it as a regular tea.
You can eat guava fruit the same as an apple. Slice it up and serve it on a plate or eat it with a spoon like you would eat a grapefruit.
Nutritional and Health Benefits
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, yet occasionally eating guavas gets and keeps your health in a superb shape without any need for visiting a doctor. Guayaba is not just a great source of Vitamin C compared to other fruit. It is also rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.
For instance, this fruit contains twice as much fiber as oranges and has 4.3 times more Vitamin C. Potassium, which is required for normal cell functioning can be found in bananas, yet, guavas contain a larger concentration of it, as well as protein.
Guava leaf tea benefits are: treating cold and flu, helping pre-diabetic and diabetic patients since it lowers blood glucose.
What is known is that this fruit was used as a traditional remedy in countries like Mexico. People have treated wounds with the flesh of the fruit.
- Helps in Cancer Treatment
Some medical studies have shown that guava leaves contain compounds that can hold back cancer cell growth. Those compounds are acting as drugs which doctors use when treating cancer. Just by learning how to properly use the guava plant and how to make a guava leaf tea, patients can make a tremendous change in their health.
- Regulates Blood Pressure
As mentioned, guava is rich in antioxidants. Since the antioxidants help to expand blood vessels, guava leaves can help reduce blood pressure. Also, it contains a lot of potassium and one of the causes of high blood pressure, known as hypertension, is potassium deficiency.
Experiment with this plant and its influence in decreasing blood pressure has been carried out only on animals and is yet to be confirmed on people.
- Improves Digestion
By finding out how to make a guava leaf tea, you can control your daily value of fiber. The plant has high fiber content and is low in calories which is great for losing weight. Moreover, it helps maintain bowel health. It is useful in easing the symptoms of constipation as well as diarrhea. People who have irritable bowel syndrome should use guayaba because of its effect on bad digestion.
- Prevents and Helps With type2 Diabetes
Guava consumption may help moderate glucose after eating a meal. It prevents blood sugar spikes due to its low glycemic index. Being rich in fiber, it also regulates sugar levels.
- Relieves Menstrual Cramps
Instead of taking painkillers, an alternative way of relieving painful periods is using guava leaf. The extract of guava leaf can give relief from uterine cramps too. A study showed that taking 6mg of extract every day had more impact in reducing the pain than some painkillers.
- Folic Acid Advantages
Folic acid is known to be of great importance in protecting the baby from neurological disorders. It plays a crucial role in developing a baby’s nervous system too. That is the reason why guava is greatly suggested for usage during pregnancy.
- Improves Immune System
Five recommended servings of fruit per day can be replaced by eating only one guayaba. It is full of Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, and Potassium, thus keeping you healthy and preventing colds and flues. Since the reason for a common cold is consuming less amount of Vitamin C, having guavas on your menu makes you stronger and helps you fight viruses and bacteria that cause infections.
- Boosts Your Vision
Next to carrots, guava fruit is rich in Vitamin A. It may slow down the first signs of macular degeneration and cataracts. Besides helping with these disorders, it can even have an impact on improving and maintaining healthy eyesight. If you think your vision is getting weaker, guayaba has proven effective in preventing that.
Have you tried this amazing fruit? We, at Medina Baking and Powder Products, are proud to provide you with the best quality guava whenever needed. With our first-rate supplies, you can rest assured your daily meals will be as healthy as they are delicious.
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