Guavas: A poor man’s superfood

Guavas which are considered a poor man’s fruit are so incredibly rich in nutrients that they can be termed ‘superfood’. This round or pear shaped low calorie fruit is a treasure trove which contains high doses of soluble dietary fibre, Vitamin C almost four times that of an orange, Vitamin A, E, and K, B-complex, antioxidants, iron, pectin, folic acid, dietary minerals, manganese, potassium, copper, flavonoids, magnesium and carotenoids. 

 Some of the reported health benefits of guavas are:

- anti-aging, prevents cancers, and boosts immunity

- blood pressure regulation

- good for healthy thyroid

- helps to relax nerves and muscles

- can promote fertility

- reduces risk of diabetes

- good for the eyes

- good for the skin

- fights coughs and colds

- weight reducing food

- prevents constipation

- makes the brain work better.

There are many varieties of Guavas. They grow wild and are also commercially cultivated in many tropical countries. Not only the fruit but the leaves and bark of the plant have also been used in folk medicine from ancient times. Modern research is taking a deeper look into these.

The scientific name of guava is psidium guajava. It belongs to the psidium genus of the Myrtaceae family.

Eat guavas whenever you can and keep the doctor away.

Given below are some photos relating to guavas. Click on them to enlarge. The second last picture was taken by me at Olavipe. The rest are from Wikimedia Commons.

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Was health providing pomegranate the fruit in Paradise lost?