When we think “juice”, we most often think “orange” or “lemon”. But another fruit juice is excellent for reducing fatigue and boosting cognitive functions.
With the return of heat, the desire for freshness and color on our plates is felt, and this is excellent news for our vitality. Seasonal fruits are real mines of vitamins and nutrients, essential for our health. Among them, a tropical fruit stands out as a super-ally for the body and the brain… but no one thinks about it. Beyond its exotic flavors, it has unsuspected virtues that could well make it the essential health asset of your summer.
To confirm these virtues, researchers wanted to evaluate whether the consumption of this fruit could “significantly improve anemia by promoting better iron absorption”. Anemia, characterized by a lack of iron, is extremely tiring for the body. The interest of this fruit, as the researchers point out, is that it contains up to four times more vitamin C per 100 grams than the orange. This vitamin transforms plant iron into a form “more easily assimilated”.
With this in mind, they screened 17 studies for a total sample of 726 participants. Some had to consume the fruit in the form of juice (more effective according to the researchers), alone or combined with an iron supplement, and others served as control groups. The experiments ranged from a few days to three months. Result ? Drinking fruit juice improved hemoglobin levels in women “and could be a cost-effective addition to standard supplementation”. Hemoglobin level is directly related to the availability of iron in the body. The more it increases, the better it is for treating anemia and its symptoms.
The fruit studied here is guava. Guava juice “improves the effectiveness of iron supplements” much more effective than taking iron alone. A major breakthrough “which could move individuals from mild or moderate anemia to a non-anemic category, thereby improving fatigue, cognitive function and productivity”write the researchers in the journal Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Guava is also “naturally rich in vitamin A, folate and fiber”. This synergy not only boosts the blood; it has a direct impact on the quality of life by optimizing the oxygenation of cells, providing a real boost to the brain and body.
Researchers recommend drinking fresh guava juice to preserve all its vitamin C, either pure or in clever blends like a “guava and beet juice”. Beetroot is excellent for arteries and cholesterol. Guava can also be combined with pomegranate juice, which also helps reduce bad cholesterol. Finally, scientists recommend a daily dose ranging from “100 g of fruit to 300 ml of juice” to observe a real difference in your tone.
