You probably heard about Guava which is well known tropical fruit throughout the world. However, have you heard about its leaves which show even more benefits? The young leaves of the guava evergreen tree have been used for ages in traditional medicine in tropical countries for a variety of health conditions. The leaves of guava are even more beneficial than the fruit. In fact, according to research issued in the Journal of Food and Chemistry in 2007, the antioxidant properties of guava leaf extracts may be even greater than those of dried guava fruits.
People in Asian countries steep guava leaves in boiling water and drink the extract as a folk remedy for diabetes. These leaves contain many beneficial substances, including powerful antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids such as quercetin. It contains a number of other Phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, carotenoids (especially lycopene), essential oils, fatty acids, flavonoids, phenols, lectins, tannins, saponins and triterpenes, and vitamins.
Drinking a tea made by infusing guava leaves in boiling water may be helpful in treating diarrhea, cold and flu, lowering cholesterol, preventing diabetes, and it even exhibits anti-cancer properties. Herbalists around the world uses this tea to treat everything from diabetes and digestive problems to toothaches, acne, wrinkles, cough, inflammation, arthritis, gout but also to prevent hair loss. Traditional medicine recommends drinking a cup of guava leaf tea daily to develop protection against common colds and the flu.
And now let’s take a look at top 8 Guava Leaf Tea Health Benefits:
1. ANTI-DIABETIC
The regular drinking of Guava Leaf Tea with every meal helps pre-diabetic and diabetic patients. Japan has approved guava leaf tea for specified health uses to aid in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. In fact, Japan has conducted several clinical trials that support guava tea’s anti-diabetic properties; drinking the tea frequently helped lower blood glucose (after-eating) in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Components in the tea hinder the absorption of two types of sugars, maltose, and sucrose, thus helping to control blood sugar levels after eating. Two studies were performed to explain the effects (both published in ‘Nutrition & Metabolism’).
2. CANCER SUPPORT
Guava Leaf extracts, but also leaf oil, the seeds, and whole plant extracts have been evaluated for possible chemotherapeutic utilization. It displays activity against different human cancer cell lines including colon, prostate, and epidermal cancers, but also melanoma and leukemia. Specifically, guava leaves are able to inhibit different human carcinoma cell lines.
The leaves are quite high in two compounds, powerful antioxidant lycopene, and flavonoid quercetin. Numerous studies have shown that lycopene represents an important role in lowering the potential risk of cancer. Quercetin has anti-cancer properties as well. Guava leaves, in fact, may lower the risk of cancer; particularly breast, prostate and oral cancer.
3. ANTI-VIRAL, ANTIBACTERIAL
Guava leaf tea presents strong anti-bacterial activities, and several studies confirm it. Also, traditional medicine uses dried leaves to treat viral infections such as common cold and flu. Furthermore, it helps with a critical condition such as Dengue Virus Infection.
A laboratory research published in the issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 1999 proclaimed that extracts of dried guava leaves effectively restrained the growth of Staphylococcus aureus; Staph A. is a common cause of skin infections, respiratory diseases, and food poisoning. Actually, 90% of eczema victims are carrying Staph A on their skin. That is why guava leaves are so great for your skin problems as well.
4. CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS
According to a few studies and laboratory research, Guava leaf tea may benefit your whole cardiovascular system. The tea helps lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while keeping the good cholesterol in balance. Composites in the leaves may contribute to reducing blood pressure and heart rate, according to an article published in 2005 in “Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology.” They found that lab animals with high blood pressure fed guava leaf extract had reduced heart rates and blood pressure.
5. MENSTRUAL PAIN
Guava pain relieves pain in general, but it is particularly useful in dysmenorrhea, which is pain during menstruation, painful periods, or menstrual cramps. There was a larger study in Mexico in 2007 which shows a significant reduction in menstrual pain compared to ibuprofen.
6. INTESTINAL BENEFITS, DIARRHEA
Guava leaves are commonly used as an antidiarrheal globally. They contain specific compounds which have a natural antibiotic activity that helps kill certain types of pathogens. In fact, Guava leaf tea may help to inhibit a variety of diarrhea-causing bacteria. People with diarrhea who drink this type of tea may experience stools improvements, less abdominal pain, less watery stools and experience a faster recovery.
7. TOPICALLY – HAIR LOSS, SKIN HEALTH, ORAL CARE
Skin Health
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine published research which showed that guava leaves are helpful against specific bacteria causing acne. The leaves also alleviate itching. In addition, they are beneficial in enhancing the quality of the skin such as wrinkles. Another guava leaves use in skin problems includes treatments of blemishes such as dark and red spots on your face. And as mentioned earlier, it is even helpful in conditions like eczema.
Oral Health
Herbalists around the world recommend the use of guava leaves paste to maintain good oral hygiene. They exhibit anti-plaque properties and are effective in preventing and healing oral problems. Guava leaf tea works as a wonderful home remedy for a toothache, swollen gums, and also oral ulcers. You can grind the leaves into a paste and apply it to your teeth and gums to treat these problems.
Hair Health
Guava leaves are a popular natural remedy for Hair Loss. In fact, Guava leaves have taken the internet by storm with claims of it being a wonder remedy for hair loss. It is also gaining popularity as a hair thickening component that supports fast hair growth. There are no studies to back this up, so you can try it and see for yourself. Due to the potent compounds and vitamins in the guava leaves, I am quite sure your scalp can only benefit from this hair mask.
8. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ARTHRITIS
Guava leaf extract has potent anti-inflammatory properties thanks to its high flavonoid content, especially quercetin. Inflammation is at the core of most illnesses, particularly chronic diseases. In fact, Guava leaves are full of analgesic and anti-inflammatory attributes that have been shown to alleviate arthritis pain. Some folk medicine recipe advises to crush fresh guava leaves into a paste and apply to the swelling joints to reduce the swelling. Several published papers came to the same conclusion – guava leaf extract is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and helps with arthritis and gout.
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