This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
The old adage is: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But in Mexico, Central America and South America it’s guava that’s prized for its health benefits. We’re often advised to eat fresh fruit but to choose wisely and avoid ones with lots of natural sugars. Guava on the other hand is low in sugar but high in fiber and nutrients. So instead of potentially speeding up weight gain, guavas can be part of your fat burning arsenal. Give guavas a try!
Guavas looks like the love child of a pear and a lime. The skin is usually light greenish to yellow while the sweet flesh can be white or dark pink. One of the best things guavas can do for your diet is to give you vitamin C. Loads of it! One half cup of guava has more than double the recommended amount. Studies have found that people with ample vitamin C levels have smaller waist-to-hip ratios and burn more fat during cardio exercises.
You will have a hard time losing weight if you don't have enough magnesium,” says Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, author of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women’s Health. We like her authority! And we like that guava is a great source of magnesium! Magnesium activates enzymes that control digestion, absorption, and how your body uses proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. When you can’t process food to best serve your system it could lead to cravings, anxiety and weight gain.
Next up: potassium. Guava’s got it. “Excess salt leads to bloating but potassium relieves that puffy feeling by balancing and circulating body fluids,” Dr. Luiza Petre, MD, director of the Medi-Weightloss Clinics. And fiber! It’s filling so it stops you from snacking and suffering spikes in blood sugar. In a recent study guavas were associated with a reduced BMI and lower blood sugar.
Use guava to make a fun, tropical smoothie. Play with ingredients like coconut, pineapple, mango, peaches, strawberries and ginger. Or try one in a savory dish. A guava glaze would be delish on BBQ chicken or as a puree over baked tilapia. The brave chefs among us can test their skills on guava sorbet or jam (perfect to top plain yogurt at breakfast).
[Photo: Shutterstock]
