9 Health Benefits Of Guava Leaves Tea

In tropical parts of the world, drinking guava tea is part of everyday life. This should not come as a surprise, as it is rich in nutrients and has a delicious flavor.

The young guava leaves are brewed to make this healthy tea. Let’s see why this magical beverage is so popular in South America and Mexico and has become the newest trend in Europe and North America and which are the health benefits you can reap from it.  

Guava Leaves Are Traditionally Used As Anti – Diarrheal Remedy 

Guava ( Psidium guajava L.), is a small tree that belongs to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). (1)

It has been grown in tropical and subtropical climates and has been used mainly as folk medicine and anti-diarrheal remedy in several countries. 

How to Make Guava Leaves Tea?

The preparation of this tea is very easy, but guava leaves are hard to find as the tree is grown in South America. However, you can always find pre-bagged guava tea in the local grocery.

Ingredients:

• One handful of fresh guava leaves
• Four cups water

Instructions:

• Boil the water on the stove and add the cleaned guava leaves.
• Let them boil for about 10 minutes.
• If they float on the top, push them down in the water with a spatula.

Guava Leaves Tea Health Benefits

1. Guava Tea May Boost Your Immunity

Guava is rich in vitamin C, which is a vitamin that plays an important role in the immune system and can prevent the common cold and reduce the common cold symptoms. (2)

Guavas are one of the foods that is the richest in vitamin C, and the content is double compared of an orange.

Just one guava fruit (100 gr), has over 200mg of Vitamin C content, which enables its antimicrobial properties. What is more, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, 100 grams (g) of raw guava fruit contain:

• 68 calories
• 14.32 g of carbohydrates
• 8.92 g of sugars
• 0.95 g of fat
• 5.4 g of dietary fiber
• 417 mg of potassium
• 228.3 mg of vitamin C
• 624 international units of vitamin A

2. Guavas May Rejuvenate Your Skin

Being rich in antioxidants and vitamins prevents your skin from being damaged and slows down the aging process. One study found that applying guava leaves tea directly on the skin may help treat acne. This is due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. (3)

Still, additional research is needed to prove its benefits for maintaining healthy and radiant skin. 

You can either mash the leaves or grind them and apply them to your skin for a few days for effective results.

3. Guava Leaves Have An Anticancer Effect

The extract taken from guava leaves has been proved to have anti-cancer properties. Some animal studies have found that it can prevent cancer cells growth. (4)

Thanks to the antioxidant properties, it can stop the formation of cancer cells, and one study found that guava leave oil is even four times stronger in preventing the growth of cancer cells than some anti-cancer medications. (5)

Additional research is needed to prove this claim and the guava leaves tea is not still considered an anti-cancer medication.

4. Guava Leaves Tea May Reduce The Menstrual Cramps

One study from 2007 has found that it can reduce menstrual cramps in women with primary dysmenorrhea. (6) 

One dose of 6 mg per day of the guava extract reduced the menstrual cramps significantly in women who took it compared to the women from the placebo group.

5. Guava Leaves Tea Treats Diarrhea 

This tea has been traditionally used as a treatment for diarrhea. Few animal studies have shown that it has the ability to treat diarrhea.

One 2015 animal study has shown that it can effectively control diarrhea and reduce diarrhea symptoms of E. coli. (7)

If you want to treat diarrhea with guava leaves tea, you will need to boil a handful of rice with at least 30 gr of guava leaves in a cup of water.

For better results, you need to take it at least twice a day. In case of dysentery, boil the root and the guava leaves for about 15 minutes and drink the tea.  

6. Guava Leaves Tea May Help In Weight Loss

The fruit guava is weight friendly and contains only 37 calories in one fruit which makes it a great snack. In addition, being packed with the needed minerals and vitamins, you will not lose any required nutrients if you want to shed some weight.

7. Guava Leaves May Reduce The Blood Sugar Level 

Some animal studies found that guava leaves may improve insulin resistance and lower blood sugar levels. (8)

Moreover, some human studies were conducted too. In one study, 20 patients with diabetes 2 who took guava leaves tea, it reduced their blood sugar level after a meal by 10 %, so this tea is very promising for diabetic patients. (9)

8. Guava Leaves May Promote Heart Health

Guava leaves have been associated with lower blood pressure and lower levels of LDL cholesterol which increases the risk of strokes and cardiovascular diseases. (10)

In one study conducted during the 12 weeks, patients who ate guava before meals had reduced cholesterol by 9.9%. a lower level of blood pressure and increased good HDL cholesterol. (11) 

9. Guava Leaves May Fight The Common Cold And Flu

Guava leaves are rich in vitamin C and iron, making guava tea effective in relieving the common cold symptoms and getting rid of the accumulated mucus. It can also suppress the desire to cough and reduce the inflammation of the respiratory system due to its antimicrobial properties. (12) 

What Are The Side Effects Of Drinking Guava Leaves Tea?

If you drink it in high doses, you may have some side effects such as:

• Heartburn - you should always let the tea cool down before consummation as it was found that it can cause heartburn in some people.
• Constipation - it was found that it can cause constipation if not taken without moderation.
• Allergic reactions -  guava leaves can also cause allergies in people who are allergic to steroids. 
• Pregnancy  - there is no evidence that it is safe for pregnant women, so you should be cautious if you are pregnant.

Conclusion:

• Guava is traditional folk medicine that has been used as ad anti-diarrheal remedy in several countries. 
• Some studies found that guava leaf extract may be beneficial for several health conditions such as diarrhea, menstrual cramps, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and the flu.
• However, additional research is needed to confirm these findings and to better understand them.