8 Health Benefits Of Guava Fruits & Leaves, Nutrition & Risks 2025

8 Impressive Health Benefits Of Guava

Aid Weight Loss

While body weight maintenance is complex and influenced by many different factors, including those we have no control over, such as genetics we can work towards achieving a healthy body weight by focusing on modifiable factors^[1] such as regular physical activity, stress management, and maintaining a healthy eating pattern. If you are trying to lose weight to achieve a healthy body weight, guavas are a good food choice as they are nutrient-dense and low in calories.

Selecting foods that are nutrient-dense and low in calories can help contribute toward weight loss, as weight loss^[2] is achieved when you create a calorie deficit. Including guavas in a weight-loss plan is a great way to get your nutrients without excess calories, thus enhancing your weight-loss journey.

Anticancer Potential

A 2019 review article^[3] assessed associations between phytochemicals in guava tree leaves and fruits and cancer. The review included 12 in vitro and in vivo studies and found that the phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and oils of guava leaves and fruits, had the potential for antioxidative, antiproliferative, antitumorigenic, and anticarcinogenic activity. 

While these research findings are exciting, further research is needed to determine the effectiveness in humans. Further, it is important to note that these studies include guava extract from leaves or guava fruit and not the consumption of actual guavas. 
Regardless, consuming a variety of foods each day, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, is recommended by the American Cancer Society^[4] as a way to lower your cancer risk. So, incorporating guavas into a healthy diet is beneficial for your health.

Antidiabetic Potential

A 2020 animal study^[5] involving diabetic mice assessed the impact of supplementing flavonoids from guava leaf extract on diabetes biomarkers. The study found that supplementation of flavonoids leads to a decrease in fasting plasma glucose, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance. These factors also play a role in weight management.

A 2019 animal study^[6] found similar results. This study assessed the effect isolated polysaccharides extracted from guava leaves would have on anti-diabetic activity among mice. The study determined that the polysaccharide extract led to lowered fasting blood sugars. 

Human studies related to this subject are limited, but a 2010 review^[7] assessed findings from two long-term clinical trials which aimed to determine the antidiabetic activity potential associated with guava leaf tea consumption. The review identified guava tea benefits as it was determined that drinking guava leaf tea at each meal consecutively can improve diabetic activity, specifically, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia in individuals with pre-diabetes or mild diabetes. 

While these findings are interesting, there is still the need for more research with larger human trials to determine the true effectiveness. Also, it is important to note that these studies included guava leaf extracts rather than the consumption of whole guava fruits. 

That being said, the American Diabetes Association^[8] does recommend consuming fruit as part of a healthy diet. Further, guavas are one of the tropical fruits that is a low glycemic index fruit,^[9] meaning it will have a lesser effect on blood sugar levels after consumption in comparison to other foods. So while more research is needed on the specific effectiveness of guava extract and guava leaf tea, consuming guava fruits as part of a healthy diet is beneficial. 

Improve Skin Health

Vitamin C is known to be good for skin health as it stimulates collagen production and assists in antioxidant activity that is protective against sun damage. Guavas are high in vitamin C so there are definitely guava skin benefits.

A recent review^[10] assessed how beneficial vitamin C intake from your diet is on skin health. An exciting conclusion from the review is that vitamin C can reduce the signs of aging! Another finding from the review is overall good skin health is associated with fruit and vegetable intake, and while this is likely due to multiple healthy components of fruits and vegetables, vitamin C intake is tightly linked to fruit and vegetable intake. 

Support Digestive Health 

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or Crohn’s Disease and are following a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, also called the FODMAP diet, then guavas are great fruits to include in your diet. Ripe guavas are a low FODMAP^[11] fruit. This means ripe guava is low in carbohydrates which can trigger irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. 

You may want to be cautious, however, as unripe guava is a high FODMAP food as they are high in fructose. Therefore, you should be certain your guava is ripe before consuming it if adhering to a low FODMAP diet. 

Improve Oral Health

A test tube study conducted in 2020^[12] assessed the biofilm reduction, staining potential, cytotoxicity, and antiinflammatory effect of guava leaf extract mouth rinse on human gingival epithelial keratinocytes. The study compared the guava tea leaf extract mouth rinse to chlorhexidine mouth rinse, which is known for its great ability to inhibit plaque growth. However, an unpleasant side effect is staining. 

The study determined the guava leaf extracts mouth rinse had an anti-inflammatory effect, which was linked to the content of phenolic and flavonoids, which had a positive effect on gingival keratinocyte cell viability. The study also determined that the guava leaf extracts mouth rinse had biofilm reduction ability and resulted in less staining than chlorhexidine.

While these findings are exciting, the authors did note that further clinical trials must be conducted over an extended period to determine any long-term effects. 

Improve Cardiovascular Health

A 2022 randomized clinical trial^[13] aimed to determine if supplementary lycopene tablets could improve the lipid profile, blood pressure, and flow-mediated dilation index for endothelial function among 50 male patients with heart failure. Lycopene is a carotenoid found in red-colored fruits and vegetables, including guavas. 

The study results showed after two months of supplementation, the group of men receiving the lycopene supplements had lower average triglycerides levels and increased flow-mediated dilation, but there were no changes in total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol), high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol), or blood pressure.
A recent 2022 review study^[14] aimed to determine the effectiveness of lycopene from tomatoes and tomato products on cardiovascular health. The review determined that improvements to cardiovascular health in association with lycopene are due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. While more studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying how lycopene works fully, there is evidence showing improvements in cardiovascular health conditions such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Boost Reproductive Health

Guava plants have been used traditionally to treat reproductive and fertility needs, particularly to treat sexual dysfunction in males. A recent 2022 study^[15] aimed to examine this further by experimenting to determine the impact of aqueous guava leaf extract on male rats’ reproductive hormone profiles. The study determined that administering the aqueous guava leaf extract resulted in increased serum follicle-stimulating hormone and serum testosterone levels. 

Similar findings were found in a 2013 study^[16] that also assessed the impact of aqueous guava leaf extract on reproductive hormone profiles in rats. This study also concluded that aqueous guava leaf extract increased serum follicle-stimulating hormone, serum testosterone, and serum luteinizing hormone. 

While low levels of testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone have been associated with sexual dysfunction in males, more research is needed to determine the benefits of guava leaves sexually. Long-term human clinical trials are needed to determine the effectiveness and safety, as this cannot be derived from animal studies.