Addressing Anaemia with Guava Juice

You wouldn’t know it from the amount of attention it gets, but 39.5% of non-pregnant women and 45% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic. Preliminary research suggests that a simple fruit can help.

The most common cause of anaemia is iron deficiency. Common causes of iron deficiency include, inadequate diet, menstrual bleeding, frequent pregnancies and, less discussed, infection.

Vitamin C enhances absorption of iron by converting it to a more absorbable form. Guava, with 4 times as much as oranges, is loaded in vitamin C. Research has suggested that drinking guava juice increases haemoglobin levels. This meta-analysis put 12 studies of guava juice together to better determine the effect on haemoglobin.

Drinking guava juice significantly increased haemoglobin levels by a mean difference of 1.71 g/dL. The increase was 1.52 g/dL for adolescents and 1.84 g/dL for pregnant women.

When taking an iron supplement alone was compared to taking it with guava juice, the mean difference was 1.29 g/dL. This means that the increase in haemoglobin was significantly better when iron supplements were taken with guava juice.

How important is this improvement? An increase of 1–2 g/dL can improve change a mild to moderately anaemic person to non-anaemic. Both drinking guava juice and adding guava juice to iron supplements seem to be able to do this.

This study suggests that guava juice can significantly help people with anaemia. It also adds to the evidence that vitamin C improves iron absorption.

The study is exciting but needs to be considered preliminary because not all the included studies were controlled (though the ones comparing iron supplements with and without guava were).

BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. 2026:e001466.

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For much more on preventing and treating anaemia naturally, see our book The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia.

For comprehensive natural help with your health, including anaemia, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for in person and virtual appointments.

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