Health Benefits Of Guavas

Guavas are tropical fruits that originate from Central America and Mexico, and perhaps bring back childhood memories of standing on the roadside waiting for the fruit seller to cut open the light-green-on-the-outside and pink-on-the-inside fruit garnished with chilli powder and salt to add some zing. As do all fruits, guavas also have a glorified list of beneficial health benefits and properties that are good for our overall well-being, skin and hair.

Now that we are aware of its origin and pattern, here are some of the highly regarded guava fruit benefits that might interest you:

1. Lowers Diabetes

2. Improves Hormonal Function

One of the major reasons why guava is instrumental in maintaining any hormonal imbalances is its low glycemic index. It is also rich in folate which promotes fertility and is also beneficial to women suffering from PCOS. Copper, on the other hand, that’s also abundantly present in guava is the key ingredient that helps in the production and absorption of hormones. Therefore, this property helps in the way your body metabolises food and subsequently uses energy.

3. Improves Vision

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This fleshy, pink fruit does more than just add a pop of colour to your fruit bowl. Although not as rich in vitamins A as carrots are, guavas are still a potent source of vitamin A that is responsible for enhancing one’s vision. Regular consumption of guava in your meals will also keep you off the radar from contracting night blindness – another vision-impairing condition caused by the deficiency of vitamin A.

4. Optimises Brain Function

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A study by the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University in Newcastle states that the B vitamins comprising a group of eight water-soluble vitamins perform essential roles in cellular functioning. Their collective effects are particularly prevalent in aspects of brain function like energy production, DNA synthesis and repair that eventually enable to optimise one’s brain function. Guavas contain vitamins B3 and B6, known as niacin and pyridoxine, enhancing blood circulation to the brain and relaxing your nerves.

5. Helps In Pregnancy

6. Protects Skin From Damage

Consuming the fruit either as is or in the form of juices has its own health benefits and the predominant being its effects on the skin. It comes packed with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that protect your skin from free radicals that cause early ageing and other serious conditions like asthma, diabetes, atherosclerosis and many others. Guava benefits for the skin are not only limited to the fruit, its leaves have also proven to be great players in treating acne when extracted and applied to the skin regularly.

Guava need not be consumed only as a fruit alone, you can also use it in various ways that entice you. For instance, you can make guava chutney, guava jams, jellies, juice mixes and even a health drink. You can even use guava as a beauty hack and make DIY face and hair masks for healthier skin and hair.

Guava Recipes To Try

Here are two recipes you can quickly whip up if you are not a fruit person but still wish to hang on to guava benefits:

1. Guava Fruit Jam Recipe

Prep time: 4 hours
Serves: 4

Nutritional Value:
Calories – 50 kcal
Total fat – 0
Sodium – 0
Carbohydrates – 12 g
Protein – 0

Ingredients:

• 500 g guava fruit
• 5 cups of water
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Method:

1. Take the guava fruits place them in a saucepan and cover them with water until all of them are submerged.
2. Turn the heat to medium and cook until they turn soft, for about 15 minutes.
3. Once they have softened, use a spoon to scoop the seeds out.
4. Now, take the cooked guava fruits, water and sugar in a blender and blend them until they attain the consistency of a puree.
5. Put the puree back into the saucepan and cook the mixture on low flame for 30 minutes. If you want you can add the cinnamon stick to the pan. Ensure you constantly keep stirring the mixture.
6. Once you start seeing the bottom of the saucepan, that’s your queue.
7. Pour the hot jam immediately into clean, dry containers and close the lids tightly. Cover it with either a kitchen towel or a napkin and let it rest on the kitchen counter.
8. After three hours, you’ll hear the lid pop. Let them cool completely and store it in your pantry or refrigerator.
9. You can use this jam for as long as a year!

2. Guava Fruit Milkshake

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Those who do not want to invest their time in preparing a jam (although you definitely should!), can quickly make a guava fruit milkshake which is as good and replete with its health benefits as it would be on consumption as a fruit. Here’s a simple recipe for a guava fruit milkshake.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2
Nutrition:
Vitamin C – 228 g
Dietary fibre – 5.4 g

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe guavas
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Method:

1. First, start with peeling the guava fruits.
2. Dice the fruits in sizes that will easily blend in your blender.
3. If you want, you can also scoop out the seeds but that’s optional.
4. Put the peeled and diced guava fruits in the blender with sugar and milk.
5. Blend until the mixture is as smooth as possible.
6. If you haven’t seeded the fruits and have directly blended in the mixer, you can now strain the mixture as it will sieve all the seeds and give you a smooth milkshake.
7. – Pour the milkshake into glasses add ice cubes for that cooling touch and enjoy!