Guava

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Guava / Psidium guajava / is a sweet and aromatic tropical fruit that has amazing health and nutritional qualities. Guava is actually the fruit of the Psidium guajava tree, which belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes more than 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. Homeland of the delicious fruit is South America, it is distributed in all tropical areas. It can also be grown as a houseplant.

Nowadays for the biggest guava manufacturers Hawaii, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, the state of Florida and Africa are considered.

The guava tree is a relatively low tree that has dark colored leaves. Depending on weather conditions, it blooms almost all year round. The flowers are white, very fragrant and with many stamens. The fruits are formed only on annual twigs, so the branches grown to the ground should not be cut.

The guava fruit has a spherical shape, delicate and fragrant core, which is colored yellow, but depending on the species can be colored not only yellow but also red and white.

Composition of guava

Guava is a low-calorie fruit that is rich in a number of nutrients. Guava contains a large amount of fiber, vitamins A and C, folic acid and the minerals copper, manganese and calcium, selenium and lycopene, phosphorus and choline.

Through guava consumption The body obtains vitamins B1, B3, B6, E and K and as many as 13 amino acids, among which the most common are leucine, alanine, valine and isoleucine, glutamic and aspartic acid. Last but not least, the important omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids should be noted.

100 g of guava contains 80 ml of water, 69 calories, 1 g of fat, 17 g of carbohydrates, 5 g of fiber, 1 g of protein, 0 g of cholesterol and sugars.

Selection and storage of guava

Guava fruit are tasty and juicy, and when choosing them, all the rules that apply to other fruits apply. First of all, you need to buy guava with a fresh look, a healthy surface and a weight that corresponds to the size of the individual fruit.

It is preferable guava to be stored in the refrigerator, in the fruit compartment. It is possible to freeze guava in the freezer, but it depends more on the taste of the individual. Guava can be stored for up to 4 months, but after thawing the nutritional qualities will not be the same as in the young and juicy fruit. Therefore, we recommend direct consumption of purchased guava.

Guava in cooking

The most common way to consumption of guava is raw. You can eat the fruit alone or in combination with different fruits. In addition to fruit salads, you can consume guava in combination with muesli, which is a really healthy breakfast. Guava juice is also very useful and nutritious.

Experienced chefs say that guava can be used to make delicious and very fragrant marmalades and jams, while others claim that sprinkled with hot red pepper is an excellent dish. This is now strictly individual and depends on the personal taste preferences of each person, but one thing is for sure - do not forget to try guava, because in addition to delicious, it is also very useful.

Benefits of guava

Guava has a large amount of soluble fiber, which is very useful for digestion and the lining of the colon. The high content of vitamin C turns the fruit into a strong immunostimulant. In addition, this vitamin takes an active part in redox processes, in the disposal of toxic accumulations in the body. Vitamin C stimulates the recovery and formation of tissues, as well as in the biosynthesis of hormones. It is needed for the synthesis of collagen in the body - the main structural protein in the body.

Guava has ingredients, which have strong antioxidant properties and are important for maintaining normal health. According to some studies, lycopene protects the skin from the effects of harmful ultraviolet rays.

It is believed to significantly reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. The high content of antioxidants and lycopene makes guava a great tool to fight another, very insidious type of cancer - breast cancer.

Guava contains honey, which is very important for the formation of red blood cells. It has almost no fat and sodium, it is cholesterol-free. It cleanses the body of accumulated toxins, helps to lose weight.

It is clear that the exotic fruit contains useful ingredients that are found in green tea and wine. Guava also has a very beneficial effect on the skin - it reduces the visible signs of aging and clarifies its color. It lowers blood pressure and levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. Guava juice helps with toothache and cough.

Guava is very useful and in people with diabetes because it lowers blood sugar levels. However, its consumption should not be overdone, because the opposite effect can occur.