Benefits of Guava during Pregnancy

Is it good to eat guava in pregnancy?

Guava is a delicious Central American fruit that is high in fiber, vitamin C, and folate. Many individuals believe it helps to support a healthy pregnancy and fertility.

Supplement, extracts, and tea prepared from the fruit or leaves of the guava are thought to have comparable properties.

You may, however, wish to know if these statements are supported by scientific data.

This article looks at how guava affects pregnancy and whether it's a healthy option for expecting mothers.

Guava benefits during pregnancy

Guava is high in minerals and plant compounds that can help you have a healthy pregnancy and avoid difficulties.

Despite its widespread usage in traditional and folk medicine, few clinical studies on the effects of guava and its extracts in humans have been conducted.

Rich in essential nutrients

Pregnant women require more protein, vitamin C, folate, and other nutrients to support good fetal development.

Vitamin C, in particular, is critical for your baby's overall development. It also aids in the absorption of iron, a nutrient that pregnant women require more of in order to assist their baby receives oxygen.

Moreover, getting enough folate throughout pregnancy helps to prevent birth abnormalities and complications with spinal development.

Guava fruit has more than 20% of the Daily Value (DV) for folate and more than 400% of the DV for vitamin C, making it a great food to consume during pregnancy.

Help with stomach problems.

Guava may help with digestive problems including acid reflux, diarrhea, and constipation that are prevalent during pregnancy, according to research.

Guava leaf extracts have been shown in mouse experiments to lower stomach acid output and delay stomach emptying, resulting in diarrhea prevention.

Guava also has high fiber content, at nearly 9 grams per cup (165 grams). Constipation can be avoided if you eat adequate fiber throughout pregnancy.

While consuming fresh guava fruit is likely to be beneficial, the safety of guava extracts and supplements for treating digestive problems during pregnancy is less certain.

Help you avoid high blood pressure.

Preeclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure and kidney or liver damage in some pregnant women.

Guava leaves contain chemicals that block enzymes that cause high blood pressure, according to test-tube research.

In addition, a four-week trial of 145 adults indicated that eating guava before meals reduced blood pressure significantly compared to a control group.

It's worth noting, though, that this research is from the 1960s. The effects of guava consumption on blood pressure have never been studied in humans.

Guava leaf tea may help with blood sugar control.

In the United States, around 10% of pregnant women have gestational diabetes.

During pregnancy, either your body does not create enough insulin or your cells become insulin resistant, resulting in this syndrome. This causes high blood sugar levels and has been related to issues such as premature birth and large birth weight.

Guava leaf extracts appear to assist improve blood sugar control and insulin resistance in test tubes and animals, while guava leaf tea appears to help lower blood sugar in humans.

Drinking 6.5 ounces (190 mL) of guava leaf tea with 400 mg of guava extract significantly decreased blood sugar levels in 19 adults with an average fasting blood sugar of over 100 mg/dL.

Guava has a lot of folate and other elements that can help you get pregnant. It may also help with digestive problems, lower blood pressure, and improve blood sugar control, though further research is needed.

Fertility benefits are possible.

Guava is supposed to aid fertility because of its high nutritious content, which includes fiber, folate, and vitamin C.

Observational studies imply that women who consume more dietary folate have a higher rate of pregnancy than women who consume less.

Women of average weight who consume more vitamin-C-rich meals are more likely to become pregnant than women who do not consume enough of this nutrient.

Despite this, no controlled human research on guava and fertility has been conducted. While the minerals in guava may aid in conception, this fruit is unlikely to increase fertility any more than other similarly nutritious foods.

Women should avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine intake, maintain a healthy weight, and eat enough protein, healthy fats, and minerals to improve conception.

Guava is high in nutrients including vitamin C and folate, which may aid in female fertility. Human studies are still required.

Precautions to take into account

Guava is usually thought to be safe. The small number of human research on the fruit, extract, and tea suggests that there are no negative side effects.

Despite this, there are no safety studies for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If you wish to consume guava fruit while pregnant, wash and peel the skin beforehand to reduce the danger of ingesting bacteria or parasites that could harm you or your baby.

Before taking guava supplements, expectant moms should visit their healthcare professional, and only consume supplements or teas as advised on the label.

 Guava is largely regarded as a safe fruit. Due to a paucity of safety research, pregnant women should see a doctor before taking guava supplements, and they should wash and peel the raw fruit before eating it.

Finally

Guava is frequently touted as a fertility booster and pregnancy supporter.

Its folate content may, in fact, aid in the prevention of spinal abnormalities and other developmental problems.

According to certain research, this tropical fruit may also help with digestion and blood pressure. Nonetheless, research on pregnant women is sparse.

While modest amounts of guava may be a healthy complement to a balanced diet during pregnancy, before taking guava supplements, see your healthcare professional.