Health Benefits of Guava

What is Guava?

Guava is a traditional remedy for a range of health conditions. Research suggests that guava fruits and leaves may have a number of benefits. Guavas are tropical fruits with yellowish-green skin, and they grow on trees in Central America. The Latin name for the common guava tree is Psidium guajava. People use guava leaf tea as a treatment for diarrhea in several countries, including India and China. In other countries, such as Mexico, people have traditionally used the flesh of the fruit to heal wounds.

Many of us know about the benefits of guava fruit but we might not be aware of the fact that even its leaves have several medicinal properties and thus offers many health benefits. Fresh guava leaves contain antioxidants, antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties and helpful tannins, therefore is considered as a natural pain reliever. The chemicals in guava leaves like carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids & tannins can be very effective in treating different diseases.Due to the side effects of medicines & drugs, herbal plants are being increasingly used for the treatment of various diseases & guava leaf is one of them. Nowadays, guava leaf supplements are available in the form of capsules & guava leaf tea.

Guava Leaves Benefits

Have a look at the amazing health benefits of guava leaves.

Lowers Cholesterol Level

According to research, if you drink guava leaf tea for three months then it can lead to reduction in LDL / bad cholesterol & triglycerides without any bad effect on the good cholesterol. Also the guava leaves are a great tonic for liver.

Helps in Weight Loss

Guava leaves help in weight loss by preventing the complex starches from being converted into sugars. For this, the carbs should be broken down in the liver for use by body & guava leaves will prevent the transition of carbohydrates to usable compounds.

Treats Diarrhea & Dysentery

Guava leaves are herbal medicine for dysentery & diarrhea. To treat diarrhea, you will have to boil 30 grams of guava leaves with a handful of rice flour in one glass water and drink this solution twice a day. For dysentery, just cut the roots & leaves of guava plant & boil them for 15 minutes at 90 degrees Celsius temperature. Strain the water & drink in moderation.

Good for Diabetics

As per research conducted by Yakult Central Institute, Japan, tea made of guava leaf can effectively lower blood glucose in diabetics by decreasing the alpha-glucosidease enzyme activity. In addition, it averts the absorption of sucrose & maltose by the body, thus lowering blood sugar levels. If you drink guava leaf tea for 10-12 weeks then it will lower the blood sugar levels without raising insulin production.

Aids in Digestion

Guava leaf tea helps in digestion by stimulating production of digestive enzyme. The strong antibacterial agents kill bacteria in the lining of the gut & stop proliferation of toxic enzymes by bacteria. Guava leaves are mainly useful in case of food poisoning and soothing, vomiting & nausea. To ease stomach pain, just boil 6-7 pieces of guava leaves in 1.5 liters of water & drink twice or thrice a day.

Helpful in Dengue Fever

Guava leaves are very helpful in curing dengue fever. Guava leaf extract can raise the number of platelets in the blood and is not at all poisonous. Boil 8-9 pieces of guava leaves in 5 cups of water until it becomes half. Then strain and cool it. Give a cup of this concoction to dengue patients thrice a day.

Treats Acne & Black spots

Guava leaves are very useful for people with acne and black spots problem. It effectively removes acne and black spots from the skin. Guava leaves contain an antiseptic that kills acne causing bacteria. All you need to do is mash or grind some guava leaves and apply it on your acne and dark spots. Do this for few days.

Anti-ageing Benefits

Guava leaves has antioxidants that destroy free radicals, which usually damages the skin. In this way it protects your skin from ageing and also improves skin tone & texture. A decoction of grown-up guava leaves can be applied on skin for tightening it.

Guava leaves for hair

Guava leaves are very rich in nutrients as well as antioxidants, thus help in promoting healthy hair growth. If you apply guava leaves on your hair it will makethem soft and lustrous and also increase its volume.

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