When it comes to health benefits, the guava fruit receives a lot of attentions and praises for the goodness it brings to our body. How not? Guavas are a rich source of vitamins A and C, lycopene, potassium, as well as essential dietary fibres.
Indeed, dengue patients are suggested to consume guava to regain their electrolyte and thrombosis levels. Despite so, guava leaves are often overlooked at when it comes to benefits, but the reality is that they also contain plenty resources of valuable nutrients. Anyway, what are the health benefits of guava leaves for diabetes?
What are Guava Leaves?
The guava leaf are leaves of the guava fruit, which carries the scientific name of “Psidium guajava” and are one component of the whole guava plant that sees the most medicinal advantages. Guava leaves are composed of the following nutrients;
- Polyphenolic Compounds
- Antioxidants
- Flavonoids
- Tannins
- Saponins
- Eugenol
- Other Active Compounds
How Do Guava Leaves Treat Diabetes?
Diabetes can be treated with the help of guava leaves because it naturally helps the body to regulate blood sugar levels without rising the insulin levels in return. What’s more, there are absolutely no side effects if guava leaf extracts are used for diabetes medication.
A study published in the journal “Nutrition and Metabolism” proposes that guava leaf extract can block out alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that breaks down starch and other carbohydrate into glucose from reacting. Furthermore, the study also compared guava leaf extract to that of voglibose, which is more commonly used for diabetes treatment. However, the outcomes prove that guava leaf extract has a milder result to curing diabetes compared to voglibose.
Guava leaves can effectively treat diabetes if made into tea. Guava leaf teas are available in several health-food stores or you can prepare one DIY. Should you prefer to do-it-yourself, guava leaf tea is made by steeping leaves in hot water for five to ten minutes, to be added with 2 tea spoons of tincture, and consume it like how you normally consume a cup of tea. Also read: Health Benefits of Cherry for Diabetic Patients
Other Health Benefits of Guava Leaves
- Supports Weight Loss
The leaves of guava prevent complex carbohydrates from transforming into sugars, which stimulates your appetite and therefore an increase in body weight. In order for the whole weight loss program to be optimal, the carbohydrates must be broken down in the liver for use by the body and converts the same carbohydrate again into other useful compounds.
- Heals Gastrointestinal Diseases
Guava leaves also contain anti-bacterial properties that halts further microbial growth within the intestinal system and make the area more sterile. They also possess the ability to decrease the production of mucus that can irritate the whole digestive system. Two common digestive diseases that can be cured with the help of guava leaf extract are dysentery and diarrhea. Also read: How to Prevent Diarrhea in Toddlers and Adults
- Fights Against Cancer Effectively
Since guava also contains high antioxidant concentration, such as lycopene, cancer-causing free radicals can be avoided at best. In the long run, you don’t need to worry about the life-threatening risks of breast cancer, prostate cancer or even oral cancers. As for prostate cancer, guava leaves block the production of androgen, a male hormone that stimulates the production of prostate cancer cells.
- Treats Cold and Bronchitis
Bronchitis as well as common cold can be treated with the help of guava leaf extracts. The high concentration of vitamin C and iron help the prevention of mucus production as well as the spread of any microbial activities. While then, guava leaves treat bronchitis by opening up the lungs, soothing mucus as well as reducing coughs. It is very important to take note that only unripe guavas have the potential to do these, while in the meantime ripe guavas can pose opposite effects which is by prolonging the diseases.
- Eliminates the Side Effects of Allergies
Histamines of the guava leaves can also reduce the side effects of allergies. Guava leaves can also heal insect bites and rashes, which may pose other problems when not treated on time.
- Cures Oral Inflammation
Oral inflammation and discomfort can be cured by as simple as chewing the leaves. By chewing them, inflamed gums, sore throat, oral sores or toothaches can be gone as quick as possible. Guava leaves are also efficient antibacterial ingredients that protect the gum and teeth as a whole, and indeed it has also been incorporated into toothpastes.
- Can also Act as an Anti-acne Agent
Due to their high vitamin C and antibacterial content, guava leaves can treat acne and black spots when treated to the affected area. You can easily get rid of acne and black spots by crushing the leaves and apply it to the affected area. Leave it for sometime before you rinse it again. This should be practiced for several sessions until the skin impurities vanish completely. These are the other 10 Benefits of Guava for Skin.
- Defies Premature Aging
Guava leaves can prevent premature aging through the presence of antioxidants such as flavonoids, tannins, and others. With that way, there will be less wrinkles, age spots, and an increased skin elasticity
- Prevents Hair Loss
Hair loss can also be prevented with the help of guava leaves as a natural remedy. Being a wealthy source of antioxidants and nutrients, benefits of guava for hair health promote a healthy hair growth. To terminate hair loss, you can boil guava leaves with a litre of water for about 20 minutes and let it cool down for some time. After that, apply the mixture on your scalp and massage thoroughly.
- Promotes a Healthy Digestion
Guava leaves have a very high content of dietary fibres, which supports an ideal yet healthy digestion. It serves as a wonderful laxative and it helps the body gradually restore the digestive system into its most pristine condition.
- Helps to Improve Eyesight
Guava leaves help to enhance eyesight thanks to vitamin A. Aside from improving the overall health of your vision, guava leaves also reduce the risk of cataracts plus macular degeneration.
- Friendly for Dengue Patients
Guava leaves are considered as a natural remedy for dengue fever. This is because benefits guava dengue fever can increase the number of platelets inside someone’s bloodstream without having to worry being toxic. Simultaneously, the rate of electrolytes and thrombosis inside the body increase as well.
Those are basically the health benefits of guava leaves for diabetes and for your whole body. If you are diabetic and would like to treat it organically, perhaps you should give a try on guava leaf products. Hope it works!