Can Pigs Eat Guava?

 

Guava is a type of fruit from tropical trees originating mainly in Central America.

Guava fruits are oval with light green or yellow skin. They also contain some edible seeds. Additionally,  guava is very nutritious as they contain several minerals and vitamins.  Not only are guava fruits nutritional, but their leaves are also nutritional and beneficial. The leaves Can be used as an herbal tea and extract for supplement purposes.

Pigs on the other hand are omnivorous animals. They can eat food derived from both plants and animals. There is a popular misconception that pigs can eat anything. This is not true as they are several things pigs can't and shouldn't eat.

Can Pigs Eat Guava

As mentioned earlier, pigs can't eat just anything, this is why as pig owners you shouldn't fall for the popular misconception that they can. You should ensure you do your research accurately and ensure your pig can eat a particular food before you feed it to them. Luckily, among the food pigs can eat are guavas. Yes, pigs can eat guavas moderately. 

Guava fruits are also amazingly rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. This remarkable nutrient content would supply your pigs with many health benefits.

Some Benefits of Guavas

Helps Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Some studies suggest that guava can help with blood sugar control.

A study of 19 people has also noted that drinking guava leaf tea lowered blood sugar levels after a meal and these effects lasted up to two hours.

Boost Heart Health

Guavas also have a good effect on heart health in several ways.

Guava contains some antioxidants. Antioxidants help destroy free and harmful radicals in the body. Thus, The levels of antioxidants and vitamins in guava may help protect your heart from damage by free radicals.

Also, the higher levels of potassium and soluble fiber in guavas are thought to contribute to improving heart health.

Guava is additionally said to decrease the bad cholesterol level in the body, specifically in the heart.

May Help Relieve Painful Symptoms of Menstruation

Of course, this benefit is not for pigs but for the female pig owners reading this. 

Guava is said to help relieve some painful symptoms of menstruation such as stomach cramps. 

They can serve as painkillers. Thus, if you are a lady and you are reading this probably for the sake of your pig, this is a little tip for you. Also, guava leaf extract is thought to help relieve uterine cramps. 

Taking guava leaf extract daily may help decrease symptoms of painful menstruation, including cramps.

May Benefit the Digestive System

Guavas are a good source of dietary fiber. Dietary fibers are known to help aid healthy bowel movements and prevent constipation.

One guava can provide 12% of the recommended daily intake of fiber.

May Aid Weight Loss

Another good thing about Guavas is that they are a weight-loss-friendly food.

One average-sized guava fruit contains 37 calories. On top of their weight loss benefit,  they are also filling.

Unlike some other low-calorie snacks, they are packed with vitamins and minerals — so you aren’t losing out on important nutrients.

May Have an Anticancer Effect

This is a result of the powerful antioxidants that prevent free radicals from damaging body cells, which are one of the main causes of cancer.

May Help Boost Your Immunity

Guava contains a decent amount of vitamin c which is a vitamin that is very much needed by both humans and animals. Low levels of vitamin C can be linked to an increased risk of infections and illness.

Thus, Guavas are a fantastic way to get this nutrient, as they’re one of the richest food sources of vitamin C.

One guava is said to provide about double the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for vitamin C which is almost twice the amount you would get from eating an orange

Good for the Skin

A pig skin might not be the priority to many pig owners,  but if It is to you, guava has a way of making their skin look radiant and better.

The variety of vitamins and antioxidant contents packed into guava may work wonders for your pig's skin as well as yours. 

Guava leaves

It wouldn't be right for us to round off this article without discussing guava leaves. Guava leaf is a very overlooked source of nutrients for animals and humans. Guava leaves are indeed small but mighty. They are known to have been used as a cure for many minor illnesses and pain.  They can be added to tea or their oil Can be directly applied wherever it is needed. These leaves are rich in fibers, antioxidants,  vitamin c, minerals, and so on.  If you haven't started feeding them to your pigs you should.  Your pigs would benefit greatly from them. 

General Tips

If you have come this far in your reading, I would assume that you are considering adding these lovely guava fruits and leaves to your pig's diet or even your diet.

Here are some tips you might want to take note of if you are considering. 

• Ensure you pick out fresh guava fruits and leaves. Picking out your fruits fresh is the key. Watch out for fruits or leaves with brown patches and avoid them as well as rotten fruits. 
• Ensure you wash your fruits thoroughly before feeding them to your pigs. This is to avoid the ingestion of germs that might be bad for their health. 
• Dice or slice the guava into small pieces before feeding them to your pigs to eat. This makes eating more enjoyable for them. 
• Never force your pig to eat any fruits or food they do not like. Therefore, if you notice they do not like a specific fruit or food, the best you can do is to start by adding only a small quantity of that food to another food they like, then feed it to them. With time it is expected that they would get accustomed to that food or fruit they dislike. You can then increase the quantity you feed to them with time. 

Summary 

Guavas are incredibly delicious and packed with nutrients, and your pigs would love them.

This tropical fruit is low in calories and loaded with vitamins and minerals. They will serve as an excellent addition to a healthy diet.

Not only the guava fruit but also the leaves are rich in abundant nutrients that your pigs would greatly benefit from. Studies also support the benefits of guava leaf extracts, which can be taken as dietary supplements.

Together, guava fruit and leaf extracts may help boost your pig's heart health, digestive health, and immune system, in addition to other benefits.

You need to add these two to your pig's diet if you haven't.