Showing posts with label Guava Tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guava Tree. Show all posts

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Food Forest Principles and Guava Tree

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 257-365

If you want to plant trees here are some Permaculture  principle and one tree you might consider the Guava Tree good for its beauty and for the health benefits.
Twelve Permaculture or Food Forest design principles
  1. Observe and interact: By taking time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.
  1. Catch and store energy: By developing systems that collect resources at peak abundance, we can use them in times of need.
  1. Obtain a yield: Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing.
  1. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback: We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well.
  1. Use and value renewable resources and services: Make the best use of nature's abundance to reduce our consumptive behavior and dependence on non-renewable resources.
  1. Produce no waste: By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.
  1. Design from patterns to details: By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.
  1. Integrate rather than segregate: By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other.
  1. Use small and slow solutions: Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and producing more sustainable outcomes.
  1. Use and value diversity: Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.
  1. Use edges and value the marginal: The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system.
  1. Creatively use and respond to change: We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time.

One of the trees used in permaculture is Guava Tree . Here are some infomation about this tree.

Guava Tree











For centuries now, guava trees have been gracing the tropical regions of Mexico and Central and South America with their robust charm and spice. With their thick limbs outstretched, they have long provided shade for the inhabitants of the Amazon, as well as exotic colors and some of the finest tropical fruits you can imagine. The tropical guava (Psidium guajava), native to southern Mexico and Brazil, became a favorite among early explorers who transported guava trees to countries like Asia, Africa, Egypt, Guam, and Palestine. It was not until 1847 though, that the first guava made its debut in the United States, where it quickly set root in the southern tip of Florida. Although guava fruit is considered minor in terms of commercial trade—India remains the largest producer—it continues to be one of the main sources of nutrients in the tropics. 
Guava trees need warm climates. They do best in areas with full sun. The fruit may be round, ovoid, or pear shaped and is 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) in diameter. Its thin skin is bright yellow in color, sometimes tinged with red. The flesh is white or orange-pink depending on the variety, and contains many small, hard seeds. The guava is characterized by a strong, sweet odor.

Health Benefits of Guava Tree

HEALTH BENEFITS


The bark is thin and papery, brown in color with a greenish white skin below. The bark possesses healing properties.
The leaves emit a fragrant smell when crushed and are evergreen.. They also possess healing qualities.
  • A decoction of the bark and leaves treats diarrhea and dysentery. This has been used by the ancient tribes of the Amazon rain forests as well as Indians.
  • The decoction and infusion has also been used to treat vomiting, nausea, stomach ailments, menstrual problems, vertigo.
  • Chewing the tender leaves cures halitosis and bleeding gums. It is believed that if tender leaves are chewed before consuming alcohol one does not develop a hangover.
  • A infusion of the flowers is used to treat injuries, ulcers and skin problems.
  • Applying mashed flowers is believed to heal eye injuries and relieve conjunctivitis and eye strain from being in the sun.
  • The decoction of the leaves is used as a gargle for relieving painful throat and mouth swelling. It is also applied externally to relieve vaginal discharge and irritation.
  • The decoction also relieves fever, boils and diabetes, worms and leucorrhea.
AGEING: Ageing is the most common problem in our busy life. Ageing is mostly caused to natural factor like increase in age. But due to pollution, UV radiation and smoke ageing process has been stimulated at an early age and it is faster than natural. The main cause of ageing is free radical produced in our body due to high oxidative stress caused due to pollution. But antioxidants have proven to destroy these free radicals to slow the ageing process.

ANTITUMOR PROPERTY: Guava contains high amount of lycopene (5204 microgram) which is carotenoid phytonutrients. Lycopene has an anti-tumor property. Lycopene protects from oxygen free radicals as it actively fights to neutralize it. So eating guava will help to fight prostate cancer.
CONSTIPATION: Guava is one of the riches sources of dietary fiber. Its seeds, if ingested whole or chewed, serve as excellent laxatives. These two properties of guava help forming bowels, retaining water and clean your intestines and excretory system thoroughly. It is said that single constipation can lead to seventy two types of ailments. It is absolutely true. Every way to your total health goes through proper digestion and more importantly, proper excretion. Guava ensures both of these.
COUGH & COLD: Juice of raw and immature guavas or decoction of guava-leaves is very helpful in giving relief in cough and cold by loosening cough, reducing mucus, disinfecting the respiratory tract, throat and lungs and inhibiting microbial activity due to its astringent properties. Guava is one of richest in vitamin-C and iron which are proven to be preventive against cold and viral infections. In some areas in India, roasted ripe guava is used as a remedy against extreme cases of cough and cold and congestion.  
DIABETES: Guava contains good amount of dietary fiber. It is found that eating fiber rich food to reduce sugar spikes in diabetes patient.
DIARRHEA & DYSENTERY: Guava is very rich in astringents which binds up loose bowels in diarrhea. These astringents are alkaline in nature and have disinfectant and anti-bacterial properties, thus help cure dysentery by inhibiting microbial growth and removing extra mucus from the intestines. Further, other nutrients in guava, such as vitamin-C, Carotenoids and potassium strengthens and tones up the digestive system and disinfect it. Guava is also beneficial in gastroenteritis due to reasons stated above. E
EYE HEALTH: Guava contains good amount of Vitamin A. As Vitamin A is antioxidants, so it becomes highly preferred food to be consumed to improve eye health. Due to high antioxidants guava protect eyes from free radicals. Also it effective to prevent retinal damage caused due to free radicals. Thus it improves eye vision and protect from cataract or macular degeneration.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Guava helps reduce cholesterol in blood and prevents it from thickening, thereby maintaining fluidity of blood and reducing blood pressure. Studies have shown that food stuffs which lack fiber (such a refined flour) add to blood pressure, due to quick conversion to sugar. Guava, being very rich in fiber and hypoglycemic in nature, helps reduce blood pressure.
IMMUNITY: Guava is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It contains 228 mg of Vitamin C which is equal to 338% of RDA required in the daily diet. With a high amount of Vitamin C, it is an antioxidants that increases the immune system function. It increases immunity to protect against common diseases like cough, cold and flu. It also increases immune system function to protect from infections.
INCREASE BLOOD PRODUCTION: Guava contains vitamins like Vitamin E, K, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and minerals like copper, manganese and magnesium which are important for blood formation. Also due to rich Vitamin C, guava increases body capacity to absorb iron.
MAINTAIN BLOOD PRESSURE: Guava contains good amount of potassium. Potassium is required to maintain sodium level. Also high potassium is required to maintain fluid level i.e. to balance electrolyte. Thus it helps to maintain high blood pressure, and it reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

PROTECT FROM CANCER: Guava is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoid that make it highly beneficial to protect from cancer. Guava contains high amount of Vitamin C which protects from oxygen free radicals. Free radicals are produced due to oxidative stress. These free radicals damage DNA of cells which turns it into a cancer cell. But antioxidants neutralize these free radicals and acts as a shield to protect DNA from free radicals. Also it contains high amount of lycopene which have anti-tumor property. As we know the main cause of cancer is free radicals and damage caused to DNA of cells. Guava contains antioxidants that protect from free radicals and lycopene prevents tumor growth. So with both these nutrient guava becomes healthiest food to prevent cancer. Lycopene is effective to protect from prostate cancer. Guava is effective to protect from colon, breast, mouth, skin, stomach, oral cavity and lung cancer.
SCURVY: Guava can outdo many other fruits, including orange and other citrus fruits, when it comes to concentration of vitamin-C, whose deficiency causes scurvy and which is the only remedy to it. It contains five times the vitamin-C in oranges. 

SKIN CARE: Guavas can help improve your skin texture and avoid skin problems more than the best of beauty creams or skin toner gels can do. This is chiefly due to the abundance of astringents in its fruits (more in immature ones) and in leaves. You can benefit from it either by eating the fruits (this help tighten your muscles apart from your skin) or by washing your skin with the decoction of its immature fruits and leaves. It will tone up and tighten the loosened skin. In addition to the astringents, guava is very-very rich in vitamin-A, B, C and potassium which are very good anti oxidants and detoxifiers and keep your skin glowing and free from aging, wrinkles and other disorders.

WEIGHT LOSS: Guava is very helpful for those who want to lose weight without compromising with their intake of proteins, vitamins and fiber. Guava, being very high in roughage and very rich in vitamins, proteins and minerals, but with no cholesterol and less digestible carbohydrates, is very filling and satisfies appetite very easily. Just have a medium sized guava in the lunch and you will not feel hungry till night. But ironically, it helps gaining weight in lean and thin people. This is probably due to its richness in nutrients, which keeps your metabolism right helping proper absorption of nutrients.

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