Young leaves from
guava plants are widely used in traditional medicine in tropical countries.
This leaf contains a number of beneficial substances, including antioxidants
such as vitamin C and flavonoids such as quercetin. Drinking tea made from
guava stew in hot water, may be useful to overcome various health problems.
Here are some
studies on the benefits of guava:
1. Overcoming
Diarrhea
Guava leaf tea
can help to inhibit various bacteria that cause diarrhea. For people with
diarrhea, drinking this tea is likely to experience less stool, less abdominal
pain, less dilute stool and faster recovery, according to Drugs.com. A study
published in "Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo"
in 2008 found that guava leaf extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus
aureus bacteria, which is a common cause of diarrhea.
The researchers
also found that guava leaf extract effectively kills the type of bacteria that
can cause diarrheal infections. Several small clinical studies support this
benefit from guava leaf, including one published in 2000 in "Chinese
Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine" in which subjects
treated with guava leaf extracts recovered faster than diarrheal infections
than those who not given the extract, but larger trials are still needed to
confirm these benefits.
2. Lose Weight
Drinking cashew
leaf tea can lead to changes that are beneficial for cholesterol and triglyceride
levels. In one study, participants who drank cashew leaf tea had a low total
cholesterol level after eight, according to an article published in
"Nutrition & Metabolism" in February 2010. Other trials have
demonstrated similar benefits, with a long study ranging from four week to 12
weeks and doses ranging from 0.4 to 1 kilogram per day, according to Drugs.com.
3. Overcoming
Diabetes
Some flavonoids
and other compounds in guava leaves can help keep blood sugar low, after eating
foods high in carbohydrates. A review of "Nutrition and Metabolism"
summarizes the laboratory findings from several studies showing that guava
leaves inhibit several different enzymes, by converting carbohydrates in the
digestive tract into glucose, potentially slowing up absorption into the blood.
Some clinical
trials conducted in Japan that support the possibility of anti diabetic guava
content. This report shows that regular tea drinking helps lower blood glucose
in subjects with type 2 diabetes, compared with the same subject but not
consuming tea.4. Influencing Cardiovascular
Guava leaf tea
can also be efficacious for heart health and circulatory systems, according to
laboratory research and some small clinical studies. Compounds in the seeds of
jamnu seeds can help reduce blood pressure and heart rate, according to a
laboratory study published in 2005 in "Methods and Findings in
Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology". The study found that animals that
have eaten guava leaf extract, have reduced blood pressure and heart rate