Guava has many benefits, but does it really cause appendicitis?

The appendix is an inflammation caused by a blockage in the appendix, a small tube-like structure that attaches to the beginning of the large intestine. This blockage is usually caused by faeces, foreign bodies, or even cancer cells. However, it is thought that eating guava or any fruit that is ingested can cause appendicitis. Is it true?

Can eating guava or other fruit seeds cause appendicitis?

Basically, food is not the direct cause of appendicitis. However, a blockage of the appendix, which becomes inflamed, can occur due to an accumulation of certain foods that are not destroyed when digested. For example, chili seeds or popcorn seeds that are miniature may not be destroyed with other foods so that they can clog the intestines for a long time, and eventually cause appendicitis.

Small pieces of food can block the surface of the cavity that runs along the appendix. This blockage can then become a new home for bacteria to multiply. This can lead to swelling and pus formation in the appendix over time.

However, according to a study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, there is a very small risk for guava (whose seeds are the same as chili seeds) or other fruit seeds to cause appendicitis. The study, conducted by Omer Engin and his team, found only one case of appendicitis caused by fruit seeds, out of a total of nearly 2000 cases studied. That means, your risk of developing appendicitis due to eating guava or other fruit seeds (whether on purpose or not) is only 0.05 percent.

This is because the human digestive system already has a special way to pulverize incoming food. Namely with acidic digestive enzymes. After chewing in the mouth, the food will then be destroyed by enzymes. So, technically, you can't actually get appendicitis just because you eat something.

There must be a lot of food that is not destroyed that builds up or accumulates in the intestine, then inflammation of the appendix can occur. In other words, just one meal will not immediately cause appendicitis. However, this research also concludes that avoiding eating too many foods that are difficult to digest when digested can prevent you from appendicitis.

The risk of appendicitis can increase if you have a family history of appendicitis

Apart from obstruction by feces and foreign bodies, genetic factors also play a role in the appearance of acute appendicitis. Basta et al. shows the risk of appendicitis in children who have at least family members who have or have had appendicitis, increased ten times compared to children who come from families free of appendicitis.

Furthermore, Basta et al. also found that heredity in the family of appendicitis may be related to inherited blood group of the HLA system (human leukocyte antigen). They found that blood type A had a higher risk for appendicitis than group O.