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Guava is one of the most widely consumed and easily available fruits in India. It is well known for its health benefits and is also considered one of the best fruits for diabetics. But did you know that guava leaves are also good for diabetics? Yes! That’s true! Guava leaf extracts have been found to be beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels. Read on to know how guava leaves can help you control diabetes.
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Guava Leaves: Nutritional Profile
Guava leaves are a rich source of unique varieties of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids. The medicinal value of guava leaves is attributed to these compounds. Guava leaves contain 0.62% of fats, 12.74% of carbohydrates, 18.53% of proteins, 82.74% of moisture, 103 mg of ascorbic acid, and 1717 mg of Gallic acid. They are also enriched with minerals (potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, etc.) and Vitamins B and C.
Are Guava Leaves Good for Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic or lifelong condition that is characterized by high blood sugar. It affects your body’s ability to produce or use a hormone called insulin. This hormone is secreted by your pancreas and helps in managing your blood sugar. Insulin facilitates the entry of glucose or sugar into your cells where it is converted into energy.
Though there’s no cure to diabetes, the condition can be managed well with regular physical activity and a healthy diet. Therefore, eating the right foods in the right amount is of utmost importance to keep your blood sugar at a targeted level.
Adding certain foods to your diet can help in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. One among these is the fruit, guava. It is highly nutritious and beneficial for diabetics. Guava leaf extracts are also used as supplements and it helps control your blood sugar. This might seem surprising; guava leaves are rich in potassium, antioxidants and various other nutrients that make them apt for use in diabetics. Let’s take a deeper look at how guava leaves are good for diabetes.
How are Guava Leaves Beneficial for Diabetics?
Guava leaf extracts are known to effectively reduce your post-meal or postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) levels. It can inhibit the action of alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that can break down starch and other carbohydrates into glucose. Drinking guava leaf extracts along with your meals can help effectively control your blood sugar. The flavonoids and polysaccharides (plant compounds) in guava leaves have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in managing diabetes.
Guava leaves extract is a safe and natural remedy for diabetes with no side effects. However, the blood sugar-lowering effects of guava leaf extracts can vary from person to person and they should not be considered as a replacement for your diabetic medications.
How to Use Guava Leaves For Diabetes?
The best way to consume guava leaves is in the form of guava leaf tea. This tea is a wonderful drink for diabetics or for people who are at risk of developing diabetes. Guava tea, when consumed along with your meals can effectively reduce your postprandial blood sugar levels. It is also known to lower your cholesterol levels, preventing complications such as heart diseases. Here’s how to prepare guava leaf tea easily at home:
- Pick 4 to 5 fresh guava leaves and wash them properly.
- Boil 2 cups of water in a pan.
- Add guava leaves to the water and boil for 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea in a cup and relish this freshly brewed amazing drink.
- A pinch of cinnamon, honey, or lemon can give additional flavour to the tea.
How Much and How Frequently Should Guava Leaves be Consumed?
You can consume one cup of guava leaf tea after your meals. Avoid having more than three cups in a day.
Risks of Overconsumption of Guava Leaves for Diabetes
Though guava leaves are safe, you should make sure that you avoid overconsumption. Guava leaf tea should be consumed with caution if you have kidney problems. When your kidneys do not function normally, they will not be able to remove excess potassium (present in gauva leaves) from the body, which can result in a condition called hyperkalemia. It is characterized by high levels of potassium in your blood and can lead to life-threatening complications. Overconsumption of guava leaves may also cause problems with digestion and constipation. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before consuming guava leaf tea.
Other Benefits of Guava Leaves
- High levels of potassium and soluble fibre in guava leaves can promote your heart health.
- Regular consumption of guava leaf extracts helps relieve menstrual cramps.
- The high fibre content in guava leaves promotes healthy bowel movements and prevents constipation. It also keeps you full for longer, reducing your calorie intake and helping in weight loss.
- It has powerful antioxidants that help prevent or stop the growth of cancer cells. It can also protect your skin from damage and prevent premature ageing.
- As guavas are high in vitamin C, they help in boosting your immunity.
Don’t Have Time To Read?
- Guava leaves are highly nutritious and are also helpful in controlling blood sugar in diabetics.
- Guava leaves are loaded with minerals such as potassium, magnesium, manganese, and Vitamins B andC.
- Guava leaf extracts are known to effectively reduce your post-meal or postprandial blood glucose level.
- It can inhibit the action of alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that can break down starch and other carbohydrates into glucose.
- The flavonoids and polysaccharides (plant compounds) in guava leaves have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in managing diabetes.
- The best way to consume guava leaves is to consume them as guava leaf tea.
- One cup of tea can be consumed after meals. Avoid consuming more than 3 cups of guava leaf tea in a day.
- Overconsumption of guava leaves tea may lead to constipation.
- Use the Phable Care App to consult India’s leading diabetologists, order medicines, book lab tests, integrate blood sugar monitoring and other devices to get real-time remote care from the comfort of your home. Also, check out our Diabetes Management Program which provides 360º care. Let’s treat diabetes together.
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Friendly Asked Questions
Diabetics can consume guava leaves in the form of guava leaf tea that is prepared from fresh guava leaves. To prepare the tea, guava leaves are washed and boiled in water for 10 minutes. One cup of guava leaf tea can be consumed with each meal.
Yes, guava leaves can be boiled with water to make guava leaves tea. This tea helps in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels as it is enriched with minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals.
Guava, mango and tulsi leaves are beneficial in managing and preventing diabetes naturally. They are packed with fibre, antioxidants, flavonoids, and phytochemicals that help lower blood sugar.
Yes, guava leaf tea is the best herbal tea for diabetics. It helps in lowering blood sugar as well as in preventing diabetes as it contains numerous bioactive compounds. It lowers cholesterol and also helps in weight loss.
Guava leaves tea generally has no side effects. However, it may cause nausea and problems with digestion in some individuals. In such cases, you should discontinue the consumption of guava leaf tea.
You can have guava leaf tea after meals. It helps suppress the post-meal hike in your blood sugar levels.