12 Advantages and Disadvantages of Guava Fruit

You might have actually tasted the mouth-watering guava fruit or have at least heard about or seen it. Basically, this fruit comes from a plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family that is commonly found tropical and sub-tropical regions. While it is usually eaten raw, it is also used in cooking, where it has been popular for making jellies, jams and juices. As more of its health benefits are revealed, this fruit is also increasingly becoming available in the western world. However, there are also drawbacks that you should know about when eating it. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of guava fruit:

List of Advantages of Guava Fruit

1. It reduces the risk of developing cancer.
This fruit has an anti-tumor property that has been linked to the presence of compounds, including quercitin, lycopene, vitamin C and various polyphenols, which act as potent antioxidants that neutralize free radicals generated in your body that can cause cancerous growth. In fact, there is strong evidence that demonstrates the potential of guava extract in preventing breast, prostate, colon, lung and skin cancer.

2. It will help improve your immune system.
As a rich sources of vitamin C—even richer than oranges—guava is said to have two times the circadian claim of vitamin C, which is carefully associated with bigger attention and amnesty in helping to deal with pathogens and infections. Its role in this aspect is also well attributed to its anti-inflammatory qualities and its adeptness to arrest anarchic molecules, such as prostaglandins, appearing in rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

3. It contains anti-aging properties.
This fruit is also getting affluent in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants, such as carotene and lycopene that helps with protecting your skin from accomplished lines and wrinkles. While old-age is a natural stage that we reach in life, we can prolong the process by consuming guava on a regular basis.

4. It is good for those suffering from diabetes.
Guavas are believed to have anti-diabetic properties, which have been mentioned way aback in Chinese medicine. An abstraction actually shows that the fruit can lower sugar levels in diabetic patients. Aside from this, the insulin-like action that guavas possess makes such fruits acutely acceptable for diabetic patients.

5. It helps with treating constipation.
It is said that a single guava fruit can fulfill about 12% of your circadian-recommended assimilation of fiber in the body, which is good for your digestive health. Its fiber can help with freeing up blocked digestive tracks, eventually abating constipation.

6. It improves heart health.
An article in the “Journal of Human Hypertension” shows that consuming guavas can improve the potassium and sodium antithesis of your body, which means that it is good for patients suffering from hypertension. Moreover, it is said to lower the levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides, which are leading contributors to the development of heart disease, while increasing the levels of HDL or acceptable cholesterol.

7. It is good for the brain.
This fruit contains vitamins B3 and B6, as well as niacin and pyridoxine, which are known to help in improving your nerves and the brain.

v

List of Disadvantages of Guava Fruit

1. It can make you feeling frequently bloated.
Like other fruits, guavas are a classic trigger for bloating, as it is rich in a type of sugar, known as fructose. Unfortunately, our body is not well equipped to digest and absorb huge amounts of fructose. In fact, researchers believe that up to 40% of people are suffering from a condition referred to as fructose malabsorption, where this sugar is inefficiently absorbed in the small intestine. So, overconsumption of this fruit will make it just sitting in our stomach and cause bloating, which is caused by the gas produced by bacteria feasting on the fructose.

2. It can cause diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome.
Due to fructose malabsorption, you would also experience diarrhea or messed-up digestion issues. As guavas carry seeds to make new plants, it is natural for them not to be fully digested by humans, as seeds are designed to survive transit and get deposited in new locations to grow new plants or trees.

3. It will cause you to always crave for sugar.
Overconsumption of this fruit will not only spike your blood sugar, but it will also make you unable to sustain it for very long. As you may have notice, your stomach would start growling again not long after you get a fill of this fruit. The reason for this is that it is not packed with much fat or protein that keeps us sated. While it helps us with fiber, it is not sufficient to prevent a crash in our blood sugar after eating it.

4. It is prone to bacterial contamination.
Like other fruits on display, guavas could be exposed to a plethora of bacteria, such as listeria, E. coli and salmonella, which can attach to the fruits from the wind, water and soil. While they may have a tough exterior to keep bacteria out, it can be penetrated and contaminated if the skin is broken. And for the case of the guava, you would eat it raw with the skin, so your chance of ingesting bacteria can be high.

5. It is not always available.
According to experts, many people eat sufficient amounts of fruits in their daily diets to reduce their risk of developing certain health conditions, with the help of their healthy contents. Unfortunately, fresh fruits, including guavas, are not always available in many places, and if they are, they would be expensive to buy. This is especially true for guavas, considering that they are only grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions, making them scarce in other parts of the world.

As with many other fruits, eating guava fruit in its natural form is very healthy, though it also comes with some risks. With these lists, you will be able to build a well-informed opinion whether the fruit is entirely good for you, or not.

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.