Is Guava safe during pregnancy?

Fruit Also called Amrud (Hindi); Peyara (Bengali); Koiyapazham (Tamil); Jama pandu (Telugu); Perakka (nattu) (Malayalam); Seebe (Kannada); Jamphad (Gujarati); Perakka (Malayalam); Lal jamphad (Gujarati).

Recommended: vitamin C for iron absorption

ICMR-NIN recommends vitamin C-rich fruits such as guava in pregnancy to help absorb iron from plant foods.[1]

What official sources say

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

  • Eating fruits rich in vitamin C, such as guava, pineapple and citrus fruits (lemon, orange), improves the absorption of iron from plant foods. (p. 19)[1]
  • Fruits rich in vitamin C, such as guava and orange, should be part of the diet to improve the absorption of iron from plant foods. (p. 17)[1]
  • Its pregnancy food groups list guava, mangoes, bananas, pears, oranges, grapes and other fruits. (p. 16)[1]
  • Iron absorption can be improved by eating fermented and sprouted grains, and vitamin C-rich foods such as guava and oranges, with meals. (p. 15)[1]

Related general rules

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Fruit and vegetables › Safe to eat: Most fruits and vegetables are safe to eat in pregnancy, as long as they are washed thoroughly first.[2]
  • Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove soil, because soil can carry bacteria that may make you ill.[2]

US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Thoroughly rinse raw fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or preparing them, especially fruits that require peeling or cutting - like cantaloupe and other melons.[3]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens[4]
  • Safer Choice: Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest)[4]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Aim for at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables a day, which can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced, and always wash fresh produce carefully.[5]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy68 kcal
Protein2.55 g
Fibre5.4 g
Sugars8.92 g
Iron0.26 mg
Calcium18 mg
Folate (DFE)49 µg
Folate, total49 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)31 µg
Vitamin C228.3 mg
Vitamin D0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg
Choline7.6 mg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium2 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Guavas, common, raw (FDC ID 173044), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed pages 15, 16, 17, 19. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.
  2. NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
  3. US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  5. NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.