Guava

Psidium is a genus of trees and shrubs in the familyMyrtaceae. It is native to warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere (Mexico, Central and South America, the West Indies, Galápagos, and the southern United States)

Guavas contain: vitamin A (21% of the daily value), essential for maintaining mucous membranes and healthy skin; folic acid (20%), ideal for pregnant women to help prevent neural tube defects. Flavonoids include beta-carotene (a known cancer inhibitor);lycopene, which in pink guavas has been found to protect the skin against UV rays and help prevent prostate cancer; Lutein and cryptoxanthin, both antioxidants. Guavas also contain potassium – even more than one banana per serving – is important for its regulatory role in blood pressure and heart rate.

Smaller amounts of other vitamins in guava also deserve mention: pantothenic acid, niacin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin E and K, and the minerals magnesium, copper, and manganese, the latter providing the enzyme superoxide dismutase .