AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF GUAVA

photo credit - tourismandfood

There are fruits that I don't like taking and Guava falls in the category of those fruits I barely take. So it’s not really one of my best but then I started taking it when I came to find out the health benefits and I am actually enjoying it now. Guava is a common fruit in Nigeria. So the next time you come across it, grab as much as you can.

Guava has a high content of Vitamins C, A, B2, E and K, Fiber, Calcium, Copper, Folate, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorus and Potassium. Below are benefits of Guava and why you should take eating it seriously.

1.  Treatment of DIARRHEA

When suffering from diarrhea, drink guava leaf tea a few times a day. This tea will cause fewer stools, lessen abdominal pain, lessen watery stools and promote a quick recovery.

Guava fruit is also good for the digestive tract. Its antibacterial property helps clean the digestive tract, discouraging bacterial and microbial growth and its fiber content promotes digestion and proper excretion.

To prevent stomach-related problems, chew guava leaves or eat a guava daily.

2.   DIABETES Control

The rich fiber content and low glycemic index of guava are extremely beneficial for diabetic people. While fiber helps regulate sugar levels, the low glycemic index inhibits a sudden spike in sugar levels.

Eating 1 to 2 guavas can be helpful in maintaining your blood sugar level. Those who are at risk of developing diabetes can help prevent it by drinking guava leaf tea. To make the tea:

Dry the tender guava leaves and crush them into a powder.
Add 1 tablespoon of crushed guava leaves to a cup of hot water.
Cover and allow it to steep for 5 minutes, and then strain it.
Drink this tea once daily.

3.  IMMUNITY Improvement

Due to its high vitamin C content, guava plays an important role in improving your immunity. In addition, guava’s anti-inflammatory action and its ability to inhibit inflammatory molecules like prostaglandins help keep you disease free.

Eat 1 guava daily to develop resistance against common diseases like coughs, colds and the flu. You can also enjoy guava in smoothies or drink a cup of tea made from guava leaves daily. 

4.   Lowers Risk of CANCER

The anticancer properties of guava come from the compounds like lycopene, quercetin, vitamin C and various polyphenols present in it. These compounds work as potent antioxidants that help neutralize free-radical damage in the body, which can cause cancer.

According to a study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, researchers concluded that guava extract could help reduce the size of prostate tumors. In fact, regular intake of guava extract can help reduce the incidence of prostate cancer in men.

Regular intake of guava can also help prevent other types of cancer, including breast, mouth, skin, stomach, colon and lung cancer.

5.   Guava is a rich source of Vitamin A that helps maintain a healthy, clear cornea and protects the cells in your eyes. In addition, the vitamin C in guava promotes healthy capillaries and helps maintain proper functioning of retinal cells.

Regular intake of this fruit will help improve your eyesight. It can also help slow down the development of cataracts and macular degeneration, two common vision problems that occur with age.

6.  Improves SKIN health

Guava, especially red guava, contains strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals that can damage your body at the cellular level.

This can lead to signs of aging like wrinkled and saggy skin, dryness and a dull complexion. The vitamin C in guava stimulates production of collagen and elastin, the structural proteins that help keep your skin firm and elastic.

Moreover, the astringent properties in unripe guava and the guava leaves help improve skin texture, protect it from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays and prevent problems like acne and pimples.

7.  Regulates THYROID HEALTH

Guava is a good source of copper, which is important for thyroid health, one of the most important glands in the body for regulating hormones and organ system function. Copper helps control hormone production and absorption, which in turn regulates thyroid functioning.

This fruit also has potassium and powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can help improve thyroid functioning. Moreover, guava facilitates weight loss and improves energy.

8.  Oral Health 

The Guava leaves have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties that help reduce gum inflammation and leave your breath fresh and clean.

You can use guava leaves to cure toothaches, swollen gums and oral ulcers. You can also use the twigs of guava trees like a toothbrush or as a chewing stick for cleaning your teeth.

To maintain oral health, simply chew 1 or 2 tender guava leaves daily. You can also make a homemade mouthwash by boiling 5 to 6 tender guava leaves in water. Allow the solution to cool to a warm temperature and add some salt. Swish the mouthwash thoroughly around your mouth and teeth once or twice daily.

Source

Top10 Home Remedies 

OFADA STEW (AYAMASE)

Talk about foods I enjoy delicacies a lot and I also enjoy trying out different kinds of foods :). This particular stew is popular with the Yorubas. I actually got this recipe from a good friend Chioma Obiefuna (CEO of Kristafield events). You might love to try this out if you haven’t and you won’t regret it :) enjoy!

Ayamase Stew

  

INGREDIENTS FOR OFADA STEW (AYAMASE)

·        Large Green bell peppers

·        Green peppers (atarodo) (It's okay if it has some red spots)

·        Assorted meat(beef, kpomo, cow leg, tripe (shaki)... or as desired)

·        dry Fish (stock fish or dried fish)(optional)

·        Crayfish(about a handful)

·        1 wrap OR 1 tablespoonful Iru/dawadawa OR ogiri

·        large Onions

·        Stock cube/seasoning cube

·        Salt to taste

·        Palm oil

GARNISH:

·        4 Hard Boiled eggs (without shell)

Tip: in the absence of stockfish (dried codfish), you can make use of fresh cod fish.

COOKING DIRECTIONS

·        Grind the iru and the crayfish together and set aside

·        If you're using stock fish and dried fish, wash and cook until tender, and set aside

·        Wash and Cut the meat into bite sizes; season with onions, one stock cube and salt to taste. You can season the meat as you like :)

Cook until tender. It is always better to cook the tougher meat first, which in my case is the cow foot and the tripe (shaki). Then after 20 minutes, add the beef and kpomo (cow skin).

When the meat is done cooking, you can grill or fry or simply set aside for later use.

Tip: the natives fry the meat in palm oil or grill it on homemade grill.

Assorted meat & fish (I used fresh cod fish)

·        Coarsely blend all the peppers&1 large onion together in a blender. You can add a LITTLE water to help move the blender blades.

Pour the blended mixture into a dry pot and heat up to dry out excess liquid from the peppers.

TIP: Another method is to pour the pepper mixture through a sieve (with a tight mesh), press down with a cooking spoon to make sure that you get out, as much liquid as possible, then set aside until needed.

·        Now, place the palm oil on heat, add some onion rings (adding the onions is optional but it gives extra flavor).

Cover the pot and bleach the palm oil on medium heat until the onions are completely burnt black and the palm oil changes from red to light brown in color.

If you didn't add onions, the color will be light yellow (just like the color of vegetable oil).

Put off the heat, and let the oil cool completely without opening it. If you don't cover it, THE OIL WILL SMOKE A LOT AND WILL SMELL ALL OVER THE HOUSE,.

·        Place the bleached oil back on the stove-top (remove the burnt onions) and heat up a little, then add chopped onions, and the dried out peppers.

Cook for about 20 minutes and add the assorted meat and fish, ground iru, crayfish, the second stock cube and salt to taste. Mix thoroughly and simmer for 10 minutes.

Then add the peeled hard boiled eggs.

And your Ofada stew (Ayamase) is ready. Serve with Ofada rice (or any rice of choice), boiled yams,

TIPS TO LOSE WEIGHT

Phote Credit: life-weight.com

Now that most of use have chopulated (eaten) enough gym registration go don increase. So if you no fit get time to gym make we start from house with wetin we get.....:)

 

* Drinking a cup of hot green tea every morning on an empty stomach can cleanse the toxins in your body. It can also help reduce the problem of constipation.

 

* Warm water with Lemon and Honey. Yes we are used to Lemon in water but here's another trick for weight loss: Mix a spoon of lemon juice (in the absence you can use lime) and half a spoon of honey to warm or hot water, drink this every morning on an empty stomach to aid weight loss in 10 days its not magic so you also have to eat right :)

 

* And we are used to those "reduce the intake of carbs and increase the intake of protein." lines Yes for eg reduce rice and increase your beans intake :D

 

* Over-eating is a sin. No matter how sweet it is try to know when you're full.

 

* Okay avoid junk foods.  Although most of us can't avoid it because most times the environment at work won't let us get something healthy to eat. This is where you'll need to try harder to prepare your food at home (even if it means waking up earlier. I know it ain't easy but we have a target right?) If you can avoid junk foods for two weeks, you'll so love the feeling inside.

 

* Eat healthy to avoid craving unhealthy foods. Okay this one worked for me. I noticed each time I drink minerals (especially mirinda/fanta those are my favorites) and snacks I crave more for unhealthy foods like biscuits, more snacks and sweetened drinks. But when I eat right, snack on veggies: carrots, cucumbers etc I crave more healthy foods than junk foods. You can try it out and see.

 

* Exercise is not left out. You can start at home with simple exercises like jumping ropes (skipping), house chores are also good, jogging or walking in the mornings and evenings are good ways to increase weight loss.

 

* Don't forget to add fruits with high water contents eg watermelon, cucumbers and papayas (aka paw-paw) to your daily intakes as they have more water and lesser calories

 

 

 

Still wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.