5 Reasons People With Diabetes Should Eat More Guava
Diabetics— there’s no need to deprive yourselves of healthy fruits—guava in particular is a superfood with amazing hidden health benefits. And it’s inexpensive, particularly now while in season. Guava is low on the Glycemic Index (GI) and many disease prevention benefits, so it’s an extraordinarily healthy snack for diabetics.
The GI measures the degree of how rapidly a carbohydrate is digested and released as glucose into the bloodstream. The increase in glucose causes a rise in blood sugar and the release of insulin. If your body releases high levels of insulin, it stores excess sugar as fat and can increase bad cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and even your appetite.
5 Reasons to Eat Guava
1. Guava has a higher concentration of lycopene—an antioxidant that fights prostate cancer—than any other plant food, including tomatoes and watermelon.
2. For diabetics, eating guava without its skin can reduce the sugar absorption in your blood, according to an I-Shou University study.
3. Since guava is rich in dietary fiber, it’s easy on your tummy, helps ease constipation (a common diabetic complaint) and can even lower the chance of developing type two diabetes.
4. Guava also improves circulation, which can boost brain function. The tropical fruit regulates blood pressure because of high potassium content (potassium is said to reverse sodium’s impact on the body).
5. Guava is rich in the antioxidant Vitamin C (280 percent of your recommended daily value in just one!), which can prevent cell damage and lower your cancer risk.
How to Eat Guava
Though guava pulp has low GI, steer clear of guava skins, which can increase your blood sugar.
Munch it whole or sliced. Peel it and eat it like you would an apple.
Juice it. Guava also makes a delicious juice. Just put the pulp of the fruit through a blender or fruit processor and use a sieve to remove any seeds.
Jam it. In the Caribbean, it is often used to make mousse, and you can also add it if you are making a jam.
Do the salsa. Another exotic way to use guava? Add pieces to your favorite salsa recipe!
Read the tea leaves. Particularly if you’re at risk for but have not developed diabetes, consider guava leaf tea. Dry the guava leaves and crush them. Boil the crushed leaves in hot water to steep out the healthy contents. Drink the tea to prevent diabetes in those who are healthy, and reduce blood sugar level in those who have diabetes.
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Related on Organic Authority:
17 Awesome, Economical and Easy to Find Superfoods
Is There a Link Between Alzheimer’s and Diabetes?
The Glycemic Index Diet: Fad or Fabulous?
Sources:
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-whole-foods-guava-i118121
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18819164
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831039/
Image: greggman
