Top 5 Health Benefits of Guava!

The southern/central American and Mexican originated Guava may be difficult to source in a commercial supermarket, but the host of health benefits offered from this sweetly aromatic, tropical fruit make it worthy of the journey to the specialist grocers!  From the Myrtace family who also brought us cloves, allspice, and eucalyptus – the Guava’s ability to adapt to a variety of climates means it’s commonly cultivated in Asia, as well as America. From Cuban style pasta, to sweet and sour seasoned roadside Indian snacks, the range of possibilities for culturally authentic culinary exploration allows for this fruit to be consumed as a vitamin enriched addition to the diet of even the fussiest of eaters. Discover reasons to liven up your plate while nourishing your body below in our Top 5 Health Benefits of Guava!

1. Reduces stress and anxiety
A 1 cup serving of guava contains over 600% of the RDA of vitamin C. In addition to the more well known qualities of vitamin C, such as improved immunity/antibacterial properties, it also aids in the production of norepinephrine – a neurotransmitter chemical naturally released into the bloodstream to curb fear and trauma. An increased level of norepinephrine may lead to an overall sense of feeling calmer.

2. May improve asthma symptoms
Another lesser known property of vitamin C is its potential to relieve some of the suffering caused by respiratory conditions such as asthma. While also aiding in the prevention of chest infections, increased vitamin C can reduce ‘Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction’ (narrowing of lungs that restricts breathing after exercise), commonly experienced by asthmatics.

3. Relieves toothache
If you’ve got your hands on some fresh guava, be sure to keep hold of the leaves! Much like its family friend, the clove, Guava leaves have a long history of being used as a traditional medicinal agent for toothache due to its high concentration of antioxidant flavonoids and its anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Reduces risk of stroke
A one cup serving of guava contains over 20% of the RDA of potassium, known to assist in the control of blood pressure, and linked with reducing the likelihood of strokes. Pink guava is also high in an antioxidant known as ‘lycopene’, also known to for reducing the risk of strokes and improving cholesterol levels.

5. Prostate health
The lycopene present in pink Guava (and other red/pink coloured fruit and vegetables) has also been connected with reducing risks of prostate cancer. A German study found that men consuming lycopene daily for 6 months resulted in a reduced prostate size, and a decrease in ‘PSA’ – an indicator of prostate cancer risk.

If you’re going out for cocktails at the weekend, opting for those made with the vitamin C-rich guava may make the morning after a little more tolerable! Whether you’re hoping to liven up your culinary ventures, improve your respiratory functioning after cardio, keep fit exercise, or create an insurance policy against future illness – you can be sure that Guava will have you covered. Fascinated by these wondrous fruits and what they can do for you? Tell us below or @ KeepfitKingdom ! 

Adam McDade

Adam is interested in how exercise regime, diet and lifestyle can contribute to optimum physical and spiritual growth. With a background as a creative, he passionately experiments with new exercise techniques for strength and conditioning, yoga asanas and meditation methods. He's also into new exotic ingredients that create simultaneously delicious and nutritionally-conscious meals. Adam has been vegan for 2 years (vegetarian for 10 years) and is fascinated by Asian philosophies, culture, and cuisine.

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