Do you have a guava tree in your yard? If so, lucky you — you have access to guava leaves which are traditionally used for dealing with an assortment of health problems naturally!
There are a handful of ways to use guava leaves for the prevention and treatment of anything from minor wound infections to diabetes.
Guava leaves may be pounded so that they may be used as poultice which can be wrapped in a piece of cloth and applied on problem areas. They may also be chewed, in particular tender ones, for the management of oral problems as they possess antimicrobial properties as well as vitamin C. Then a few guava leaves may also be steeped in boiling water to produce tea that may be consumed or used topically when cooled a bit.
So what can you use guava leaves for? Here are just a few of them:
Lowering Bad Cholesterol
It’s a no-no to have high bad cholesterol levels as it can increase your risk of having heart disease. Traditional healers recommend guava leaf tea as it is loaded with antioxidants that help keep bad cholesterol from accumulating in the arteries. The said tea also has anti-inflammatory properties good against bad cholesterol.
Reduce Cancer Risk
Cancer is one of the biggest killers all over the planet. Luckily, there are many different ways to have one’s risk of it reduced, and one of the simplest of them all is by regularly consuming tea out of guava leaves. It’s for the fact that guava leaves are packed with antioxidants that help prevent cellular mutation, one of the triggers of cancer formation. The leaves of the guava tree can also combat chronic inflammation, which can also cause cancer.
Putting an End to Diarrhea
One of the causes of diarrhea is the consumption of food contaminated with bacteria. It’s for this reason why the intake of guava leaf tea can be beneficial for those who are suffering from diarrhea — it helps in killing off bacteria that cause it.
Healing Swollen Gums
Chewing some tender guava leaves can actually help treat swollen and bleeding gums. As mentioned earlier, guava leaves contain vitamin C, which can also be found abundantly in guava fruits themselves. Vitamin C is good for a lot of things, including the promotion of superb oral health. Also, chewing tender guava leaves release the juice within them that possess antimicrobial properties, thus zapping those disease-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Controlling Diabetes
According to studies, guava leaves are capable of keeping in check high levels of sugar in the blood. It’s exactly for this reason why their consumption in tea form can be highly beneficial for people with diabetes as well as those who are at high risk of developing the said disease.
Warding Off Excess Weight
The blood sugar-controlling properties of guava leaves are not only beneficial for diabetics and pre-diabetics alike, but also those who are trying to shed off unwanted pounds. By regulating the levels of sugar in the blood, guava leaves can help prevent unnecessary craving for foods, in particular unhealthy ones.
Keeping Skin Healthy
Last but not least, guava leaves are highly effective against so many things concerning the skin, from premature aging signs, acne to minor wounds. It is said that the regular intake of guava leaf tea can help keep the skin looking young, thanks to its loads of age-defying vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. The same tea, when allowed to cool to room temperature, may be applied on acne to reduce inflammation as well as initiate the repair of skin. Whether in tea or poultice form, guava leaves may be used for disinfecting minor wounds, saving them from becoming infected.
Sources: stylecraze.com
