7 IMPORTANT REASONS WHY WE SHOULD EAT GUAVA FRUIT

Guava is one fruit that i usually eat when i was young, not just because i like it, but because it's very easy to get one.  I grew up in the province where guavas just grow anywhere in the field - thanks to the birds.  I really don't know and don't care about the health benefits of the food i eat when i was young, i just ate what i like and ate anything when hungry.  Later in life i learned that guava is richer than other C-fruits when it comes to concentration of vitamin-C, more lycopene than in tomato and richer in potassium than banana, wow!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF A GUAVA FRUIT

1. Guava fruit also plays and important role in the prevention of cancers, anti-aging and immune boosting because it is low in calories, fats and contains several vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidant compounds.
2. Guava fruit is very rich source of soluble dietary fiber which makes it a good laxative. The fiber content helps protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time to toxins as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.
3. Guava fruit is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin-C. A 100 g fresh fruit provides 228 mg of this vitamin, more than three times the daily-recommended intake. Outer thick rind contains exceptionally higher levels of vitamin C than central pulp.
4. Guava fruit is a very good source of Vitamin-A, and flavonoids like beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and cryptoxanthin. The compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for optimum health.
5. A 100 g of pink guava fruit provides 5204 µg of lycopene, nearly twice the amount that in tomatoes. (100 g tomato contains 2573 µg of lycopene). Studies suggest that lycopene in pink guavas prevents skin damage from UV rays and offers protection from prostate cancer.
6. Fresh Guava fruit is a very rich source of potassium. It contains more potassium than other fruits like banana weight per weight. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
7. Further, the fruit is also a moderate source of B-complex vitamins such as pantothenic acid, niacin, vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin E and K, as well as minerals like magnesium, copper, and manganese. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells.

The only sad part is that i don't live in the province anymore.  Although i live in a city abundant of fruits and vegetables than in any part of the country and is relatively cheaper, still the fresh and free native guavas in the province is a lot better.