Origins and Cultivation
Guava is a wondrous, tropical fruit that outstrips a host of other fruits with its abundant amounts of vitamins and minerals. It is believed to originate in Central America. Next to its one-of-a-kind flavour and taste, guava has been put forward as one of the super fruits owing that to the enormous amount of health benefits it provides.
Fruits are categorised as “super” because of the antioxidants – molecules that ferociously fight against free radicals. Our bodies produce some antioxidant defences on their own, but plants produce much more. Therefore, it is essential to include them in our daily diets.
This succulent fruit is bursting with Vitamin C, lycopene and antioxidants that are very skin-beneficial. The Psidium Guajava (common guava, lemon guava, yellow guava) are the most commonly consumed types also referred to as “the guava”.
Although guavas are native to the Caribbean, Central America and South America, they are also extensively cultivated in other subtropical and tropical areas. Their fruits vary in size from apricot to grapefruit. The guavas’ flesh varies from white through red and yellow to pink, while along with the regular green or yellow skin, it could also feature red colourings.
Culinary Uses of Guava
Guava is very popular for its culinary uses. “Aguas frescas” (from Spanish – “fresh waters”) is a popular Mexican beverage, a variation of which is made with guava juice. Guava is a perfect companion to any fruit salad. Thanks to its plentiful amounts of pectin, guava is ideal for making preserves, jellies and jams. “Chaat” is a popular Indian street food where guava pieces are sprinkled with rock salt. Asian cuisine boasts a drink which is made of raw guava and its leaves. The leaves are also used as a medicine.
Health Benefits
It is a very well-known fact that fruits are the best medicine. Here are 8 amazing health benefits of the guava:
- Guavas are low in calories, but abundant in vitamins, minerals and antioxidant phenolics that play an essential role in the prevention of different types of cancers.
- Guava powder is very rich in dietary fibre, meaning that it is a good bulk laxative, and possesses radical scavenging activity.
- The fruit is an amazing source of the antioxidant Vitamin C. 100 g fresh fruit provide flabbergasting 228.3 mg of Vitamin C which is 3 times more than the required recommended dietary allowance (RDA).
- Guavas contain a good amount of manganese which aids our bodies with the absorption of other vital nutrients from the food intake.
- The wondrous fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin A which keeps the mucusa and skin healthy.
- Guavas are regarded as super nutritious, owing that to the copious amount of ascorbic acid, and have many carotenoids – lycopene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, cryptoflavin. Fruits that have plentiful levels of carotenes are believed to prevent oral cavity and lung cancers.
- Psidium Guajava is an active antidiarrheal agent as infectious diarrhoea is accountable for around 3% of all deaths worldwide – a big health concern in developing countries. It is also used to treat dysentery, indigestion, stomach aches and gastroenteritis.
- Fresh guavas have generous amounts of potassium containing more than the hailed potassium-rich banana weight per weight.
To conclude, in regards to the mouth-watering fruit you just read about, I have a question:
Do you know which American city is called “The Big Guava”?