Guava: what is this fruit, useful properties and contraindications

The first time people see guava, they may assume that it is some rare variety of pears or apples, but this is only at first glance. It has its own unique flavor and type of pulp. So what is this amazing fruit? What is it good for health and what can it do to harm? Let's read further.

What is guava and where does it grow?

Guava is the fruit of a plant of the same name belonging to the Myrtle family. The tree is evergreen and resistant to prolonged droughts. It blooms a couple of times a year and produces very large harvests.

The first evidence of guavas dates back to the Middle Ages. The fruit was found in Peru, and later became widespread in Africa, Asia and the southern United States. In Russia, guava comes from Thailand, where it is also a very famous and popular fruit.

There are more than 100 varieties of guavas. The fruits are somewhat similar to apples and weigh about 100 g. The length of the fruit can vary between 15 cm. The surface of the guava comes in various shades, from pale green to bright crimson.

The rind of the fruit, despite its appearance, is quite thin. The color of the flesh is very diverse: it comes in bright yellow, raspberry, cherry and peach. Inside there are a lot of small and hard seeds, the number of which reaches 500, but you can find absolutely boneless varieties.

Composition and calories

Guava is ideal for weight loss. The caloric value of the fresh fruit is about 68 kcal. At the same time it contains (g):

• proteins - 2.75;
• carbohydrates - 10;
• fats - 1.

If used in moderation, guavas will help to lose weight. The main thing is not to overdo it. An adult can eat up to 4 ripe fruits without harming the body.

Guava is extremely generous with vitamins and minerals:

1. Minerals (per fruit): 235 mg copper, 420 mg potassium, lots of iron, sodium and zinc.
2. Leaves and fruits are very rich in pectin, fatty acids and essential oils.
3. Vitamins of group A, B, C (in higher amounts than citrus fruits), E, K and many others.

The unique flavor of the fruit is the merit of carbonyl compounds.

Useful properties of the guava fruit

General benefits

1. Guava has more vitamin C than any other food. In this, it surpasses even citrus fruits. Vitamin C is essential for adults and children on a daily basis. It helps build immunity and restore strength after physical and mental stress.
2. Potassium and vitamin C together help strengthen the cardiovascular system and help fight disease. Consistent consumption of guava can help normalize heart rhythms, improve myocardial nutrition and make blood vessels more flexible and elastic.
3. The leaves of the plant are used to treat wounds and cuts, relieve pain in the teeth and ease the symptoms of colds. Tea made from guava leaves helps strengthen teeth, heal mouth ulcers and get rid of bleeding gums. A mixture of leaves and fruit helps to cure diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases.
4. Guava is good for the intestines and stomach because of the presence of dietary fiber. The fruit helps to satiate the body and give it a boost of energy for the whole day.
5. One guava fruit, eaten before going to bed, will allow you to sleep soundly all night, and when you wake up in the morning, you will feel just great.
6. The flesh of the fruit contains a huge amount of thiamine, which plays an important role in the normal functioning of the nervous system, and pectin helps to improve digestion and restore intestinal function.
7. The red guava fruit is rich in beta-carotene, which plays an active part in the metabolic process. It will help people with eating disorders to restore the body's functioning.
8. In diabetes, guava, due to its high fiber content, will help regulate glucose absorption by the body. The fruit helps prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.
9. Such a source of vitamin A as guava can slow the development of cataracts of the eyes, yellow spot degeneration and in general improve eye health.
10. The most important and important property of guavas is their ability to inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Studies by scientific institutions have proven that guavas have a positive effect in the treatment of prostate, breast and oral cancers. The oil from the plant's leaves prevents cancer cells from multiplying and is often used in folk medicine.
11. Copper in guavas stimulates the thyroid gland, controls metabolism and controls the production and absorption of hormones by the body.
12. Guava seeds are helpful in treating constipation because they are an excellent laxative.
13. For colds, the juice of the green fruits and tea from the leaves of the plant can help reduce coughs and slow down the activity of germs. However, you should not eat ripe fruit during illness, as this can only make the situation worse.

For women

The consumption of guava helps women to achieve the effect of rejuvenation and maintain the result obtained due to the presence of amino acids and vitamins in the structure of the fruit. The tea and fruit of the fruit serve as an excellent remedy for the restoration of the menstrual cycle.

For men

Consumption of the fruit of guava in food will get rid of frequent cramps, strengthen the vascular walls and lower blood cholesterol levels. All this will contribute to the good functioning of the cardiovascular system, which is the key to an excellent potency.

If you are pregnant

Guava fruits contain a huge amount of folic acid, which is necessary during pregnancy. It affects the overall condition of pregnant women, contributes to the proper development of the fetus and reduces the risk of disease.

When breastfeeding

The table of breastfeeding mothers necessarily includes fruit. The large amount of vitamins and minerals available in the fruit makes guava an ideal helper for the immune system of mothers. However, you should use the fruit with caution, and it is better to consult with your doctor beforehand.

For kids

The vitamins contained in guavas contribute to the mental development of children, strengthen their bodies and lead the fight against colds.

For weight loss.

Guava is just perfect for dieting. Its low calorie and high nutritional value is a godsend for slimmers. The fruit has no contraindications, and a pleasant sweet taste will help discourage cravings for unhealthy foods.

Is guava juice useful?

Guava juice is used to prepare various dishes, syrups and drinks. But what are its health benefits? Can it be consumed in its pure form?

1. Guava juice has excellent bactericidal properties. The fruit contains substances that lead an active fight against harmful bacteria and viruses, and also help to eliminate harmful toxins from the human body.
2. Natural juice is an excellent aid in losing weight. The high fiber content allows the removal of fats from the body, while saturating it and giving a reserve of strength and energy. To achieve success, it is important to exercise together with the consumption of juice.
3. Patients with type 2 diabetes can drink guava juice without harming the body. It helps glucose to be properly absorbed in the blood and thus lowers its content. Juice should be diluted with water before drinking.
4. Guava juice helps stop the development of cancer and cancerous tumors due to its high lycopene content, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body eliminate harmful free radicals. These radicals are what lead to cancer.
5. Influenza can also be cured by drinking guava juice. The large amount of vitamins helps the immune system to recover and promotes a speedy recovery.
6. Guava juice, like fruit and syrup, helps to improve the condition of the skin and get rid of wrinkles, pimples and black spots. It tightens skin and muscles due to its astringent properties.

The benefits of guava syrup

Guava syrup is a very pleasant smelling and excellent tasting tropical delicacy. It is loved by adults and children alike. The syrup is made from guava juice with pink pulp. It is very common in cooking, but not many people know that it is also very useful in the treatment of diseases.

Even after a long heat treatment, the vitamins and minerals do not disappear. Guava in the form of syrup is actively used to treat colds and coughs. It contains many esters of beneficial acids as well as arabinose.

Consumption of guava syrup and fruit reduces the risks of developing chronic diseases. Guava syrup kills germs and relieves pain by reducing throat cramps. After a couple of days of taking it, colds begin to recede.

Decoction based on guava leaves also helps with a bad cough, and they are also extremely useful to gargle the throat for disinfection. Tea from these leaves saturates the body with vitamins. If you drink it before going to bed, you can significantly reduce the risk of disease and help the body to recover if it has already been infected.

Guava has practically no contraindications and side effects, so the syrup from it is allowed to drink even during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and also it can be given to children from 3 years old to treat colds.

The daily use of the syrup helps to improve the condition of the skin, gets rid of wrinkles, gives overall tone. The vitamins in the drink, slowing the aging of the skin.

Excessive consumption of syrup can lead to diarrhea and stomach upsets, so you should not overdo it either.

Folk Medicine Applications

Guava has no use in official medicine, but this does not mean that it does not have any useful qualities.

1. The fruit is a very valuable food product, normalizing digestion and improving the heart and vascular system. Guava helps to increase the general tonus of the body and strengthens the lymphatic system.
2. The tannins in the guava fruit help to maintain a firming effect, so it can be consumed in digestive disorders. The fruit makes breathing easier by liquefying and removing phlegm from the bronchi.
3. Guava is widely used in folk medicine. For example, guava oil is used for aromatherapy, as it has a strong antimicrobial effect.
4. Folk healers use literally all parts of the guava tree, from the fruit to the bark and leaves. Decoctions from the fruit support the body, help bring down fevers and treat skin conditions.
5. Brazilians use guava to treat diarrhea, Panamanians treat asthma, bronchial diseases, pneumonia of various types and colds. In East India, guava is used to treat epileptic seizures and convulsions, and in the Philippines it relieves diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
6. Guava tea can relieve dizziness, cure stomach and intestinal disorders, help with dysentery, and have a positive effect on menstrual cycle recovery.
7. Crushed guava leaves and juice treat open fresh and festering wounds. Chewing the leaves of the plant reduces dental pain and restores gums.

Harms and contraindications

Guava brings the human body simply incredible help, the fruit is allowed to eat even pregnant women. But like any other product, it has a number of contraindications:

1. The harm of guava can manifest itself in case of its excessive consumption. It can cause diarrhea and stomach upsets.
2. Some people may have an individual intolerance, manifested in the appearance of allergic reactions.
3. Despite the benefits in the treatment of diabetes, you should still not eat guavas in large quantities, because it is still a source of fructose.
4. People with kidney problems prone to stone formation should not eat unripe guava fruit.
5. In case of colds, you should not eat red sweet fruits, in order not to make things worse, because germs tend to multiply faster in a sweet environment.

It is best to eat guavas after first peeling and thoroughly rinsing them, since the rind can contain toxins that can cause food poisoning. Toxins come from the chemical treatment of the fruit before it is transported over great distances to preserve its freshness.

European residents are not used to tropical fruits, so an unaccustomed body may simply not accept very large amounts of guavas.

It is important to eat the fruit with caution, because the hard pips of the fruit can damage tooth enamel or even break or chip off a tooth.

How to Pick and Store

Guavas are fairly unpretentious to store. Fresh it can be bought quite cheaply from street vendors in Thailand, but in Russia the fruit is also no longer a rarity. It is very easy to choose it, following the following recommendations:

1. The fruit should be smooth in appearance, have an even yellowish color without spots.
2. To the touch the fruit is firm but not hard; it has a slightly soft texture.
3. Guava smells like ripe juicy strawberries and musk at the same time.
4. A bright but fresh aroma, the guava is odorless, most likely overripe.
5. Overripe fruit can easily be distinguished by the presence of brown spots and overly soft flesh.
6. Unripe fruits are very hard and sour and can only be eaten with sugar, salt or pepper, which is what Asians do.
7. The ripe fruit has a very loose, soft and pleasant-tasting flesh.
8. If you can, it is best to eat freshly picked guavas.

The tropical fruit should be stored in plastic containers or cellophane bags at 8°C to three weeks. Higher air temperatures shorten the storage time!

Overcooling or exposing the fruit to the sun is fraught with:

fungal diseases of the fruit;

Sunburn on the surface;

Discoloration.

At room temperature the fruit can be stored for a few days and then begin to spoil. For longer storage, guavas can be frozen, and they will not lose their useful properties.

How to eat guava correctly

Guava is traditionally eaten raw. Fresh fruit has a pleasant taste. The flesh has a sugary consistency suitable for cooking, drinks and confectionery.

In Asian countries, guavas are as common as apples in our country. The ripest fruit has the slightest amount of acid, a loose flesh and a pleasant smell. Unripe fruit should not be eaten so as not to harm the kidneys. Freshly sliced pieces of guava are added to salads, served separately as a separate dish, or as a dessert.

Some people dislike the smell of the fruit, so they are boiled. Seedless guava stew is one of the most popular dishes in South America. Canned and frozen fruits can often be found in stores, either whole or in pieces.

Fresh guavas can be eaten with salt, sugar, spices, and even soy sauce. The fruit may be cut in four pieces and eaten like watermelon, leaving only the rind.

Can you eat the seeds?

It's worth remembering that the fruit has a lot of seeds, they are quite edible, but you shouldn't chew them, because they are very hard and can damage the health of your teeth. When chewing and biting the fruit one should not make any sudden movements just because of the seeds.

In general, the seeds do not interfere in any way and are even good for your health. In guava dishes, they are so heavily ground that they are not even noticeable. Some guavas come in seedless varieties.

How to Peel

Guavas with peels can only be eaten in Asian countries, where they are not processed for shipping. Sellers in Thailand suggest peeling the fruit.

If you peel it yourself, you need to peel the fruit from the dense thin peel and, if desired, remove the part with pips.

What to make with guavas

Guava, because of the high pectin content of the fruit, is great for creating jellies and jams. Guava jams can be used as an accompaniment to a second meat dish or as a spread on sandwiches or served with tea. They require sugar, lemon juice and guava fruit.

The fruit is used to make various purées, jams and jams, ideal for adding to pies. Drinks with the addition of guava juice have a refined taste, it can be:

• compotes;
• milkshakes;
• alcoholic cocktails;
• Fruit juices (with the addition of other fruit juices);
• tonics;
• drinking yoghurts;
• fruit cocktails.

Guava pulp is a raw material for the production of various bars, confitures, ketchup, oils, fruit syrups. It is used to add to puddings, cakes and ice cream. Caramel is a great addition to guavas.

This fruit is in many cakes, sauces, garnishes, sherbets and pastries. It is used to make food for young children, and guavas are used to fortify soft drinks and various foods with vitamins. The fruit can be quickly frozen, dried and canned.

Guava pairs well with beef and tuna, ham, tomatoes, red bell peppers and a variety of herbs. Jelly made from it would be perfect as a garnish to venison.

In African countries, guavas are used to make wine, and in India a special seasoning for various dishes - chutney.

Interesting Facts about the Guava Fruit

Guava is a very unusual fruit, which has a huge number of useful properties and qualities. Here are some interesting facts about this miraculous plant:

1. Guava is nicknamed the "apple of the tropics" because it is shaped like an apple and has many small seeds inside.
2. The unripe fruit is highly prized in Asian countries. The local population produces medicinal decoctions and juices from them.
3. The essential oil of the plant is involved in the production of aromatizers for car interiors.
4. The guava plant looks like an evergreen shrub or small tree. Varieties used in cultivation can grow up to 4 meters tall.
5. The plant's glossy leaves, which are dark green in color, are most often oval. They are arranged opposite each other on the branches.
6. Guava flowers are white, appearing most often individually or arranged in clusters. The flowers have very many stamens and tiny pistils.
7. The fruits are oval, round, and pear-shaped. The ripe fruit has a yellowish, pale green or dark maroon skin. The flesh is mostly white, yellow, red or pink.
8. Fruiting does not begin until 2-8 years after planting. The fruit has a very strong smell of strawberries, musk, and lemon. The flesh is creamy, sweet, slightly tart to the taste. Under favorable climatic conditions, the trees are capable of bearing fruit up to twice a year.
9. Fruits, according to researchers' calculations, contain from 120 to 546 small seeds, which are in the core of the fruit. They are quite edible.
10. Birds that live in the tropics, as well as mammals, are very fond of guava and help in the distribution of the seeds.
11. Guava, because of its high content of various minerals and vitamins, contains many phytochemicals and has beneficial effects on human health.
12. You often hear it referred to as the "superfruit" because it holds the record for vitamin C content, surpassing citrus. It also has more fiber than pineapples, much more lycopene than tomatoes, and more potassium than bananas.
13. Guava can be consumed raw or cooked without losing its health benefits.
14. The green leaves of the plant are a source of black pigment, used by the local population in the manufacture of textiles.
15. Guava fruits help in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, treat constipation and diarrhea, respiratory diseases.
16. Tea from the leaves of the plant alleviates the symptoms of colds, fevers and dysentery.
17. The plant can live and bear fruit for up to 40 years.

Guava photo