Being abundant in vitamins and minerals, soursop offers several
health benefits. It is often recommended by the practitioners of herbal
medicine to cure various ailments ranging from stomach ailments to
intestinal worms.
1. Kills Cancer Cells
Soursop leaves have proven to be effective in killing 12 types of
cancer cells, thus preventing colon, breast, prostate, lung and
pancreatic cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, they can attack cancer cells
without any side effects such as nausea, weight loss, hair loss, etc.
Moreover, it is 10,000 times more effective than chemotherapy and
adriamycin in slowing the growth of cancer cells.
For this
purpose, 10 old soursop leaves can be boiled in three cups of water
until one cup remains. This concoction should be given to the cancer
patient twice a day for two weeks to get noticeable results. The fruit
contains annanaceous acetogenins which can stop the growth of damaged
cells before they become cancerous and are particularly beneficial in
fighting breast cancer. Soursop leaves not only kill abnormal cancer
cells but also allow cells to grow normally.
2. Prevents Osteoporosis
Soursop fruit contains calcium and phosphorus which are beneficial for strong bones and help to prevent osteoporosis.
3. Increases Energy And Endurance
Soursop
has a high content of fructose, a simple sugar (monosachharide). Being a
good natural source of carbohydrates, it can keep you fresh and drain
energy. This fruit also increases endurance because of its high vitamin C
content.
4. Beneficial For Heart And Prevents Nerve Damage
Vitamin
B1 in soursop accelerates metabolism, blood circulation and prevents
nervous disorders. It also contains vitamin B2, which is vital for the
body’s energy production, fat storage, the functioning of nervous system
and maintenance of heart muscle.
5. Treatment Of Hemorrhoid And Infant Diarrhea
Soursop
is effective in curing hemorrhoid. For this purpose, squeeze the fruit
to take out at least one cup water and drink it twice a day in the
morning and afternoon for relief. In case of infant diarrhea, 2-3
tablespoons of this water should be given to infants.
6. Relieves Constipation
Since
the fruit is rich in soluble and insoluble fibers, it relieves
constipation by adding bulk to stool and facilitating its easy
elimination from the body.
7. Natural Diuretic
The flesh
of this fruit is nearly 84% water which hydrates your body. It acts as a
natural diuretic to treat edema or retention of water.
8. Promotes Sleep
Soursop
fruit contains a chemical called tryptophan which promotes sleepiness
and relaxation. It is, thus, beneficial for insomniacs. Soursop leaves
are often used in aromatherapy and infusions for sleep. Soursop fruit
helps in controlling blood pressure and hypertension.
9. Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections
Due to its high
moisture content, soursop is effective in treating and preventing
urinary tract infections (UTI), urethritis and hematuria. The juice of
the fruit can be taken orally in case of urethritis, hematuria, and
liver ailments.
10. Kills Parasites Inside The Body
Soursop
is loaded with nutrients which are vital for the overall development of
the body. The nutrients like amino acids, ascorbic acid, calcium,
carbohydrates, iron, phosphorus, thiamine, fibers, and riboflavin can
inhibit parasites inside the body.
11. Benefits Of Vitamin C
Soursop
fruit has a high content of vitamin C, which is an excellent
antioxidant. It increases endurance and slows down the aging process.
12. Fights Free Radicals
The
ascorbic acid in soursop fruit increases the amount of antioxidants in
the body which play an important role in fighting the free radicals,
thereby keeping a number of infections and disorders at bay.
13. Relieves Pain
The
leaves of soursop plant are believed to have analgesic properties which
can relieve pain. These leaves are often chewed or applied to open
wounds. Their juice is effective in healing the wound while relieving
pain from injury. In case of excess pain, boil 20 soursop leaves in 5
cups of water until 3 cups are left and drink ¾ cup of this concoction
once in a day for relief.
14. Treatment Of Mouth Ulcers
If
you are suffering from mouth ulcers, you can mash a soursop leaf with
water and apply it on the boils. This will gradually decrease the size
of the ulcers to cure them completely as well as reduce irritation.
15. Treatment Of Fever
Tea
made from soursop helps to lower the body temperature. In Africa,
children were often bathed in soursop leaves to cure fever.
16. Strengthens The Immune System
Soursop
fruit contains substances like acetogenins, anncatacin, annocatalin,
annonacin, annohexocin, annomuricin, anomurine, anonol, gentistic acid,
linoleic acid, and muricarpentocin which enable our body to stay fit and
improve immunity against various diseases.
17. Treatment Of Hypertension
Soursop
has a high ratio of potassium (278mg/100g) to sodium (14mg/100 g),
which makes it beneficial for those suffering from hypertension.
18. Antiseptic
A
decoction made from young shoots or leaves is a natural remedy for gall
bladder trouble as well as coughs, catarrh, dysentery, fever, and
indigestion. Soursop flowers can alleviate catarrh. It is also used in
the treatment of gallstones, antisembelit, uric acid as well as
increases appetite.
19. Effective For Back Pain
You can now bid adieu to your
favorite anti-inflammatory and analgesic over the counter drugs to ward
off back pain. Take the help of soursop leaf tea. Make sure the tea is a
concentrated one. Drink about ¾ cup of concentrated tea once a day to
ensure quick relief. You can also use it as a topical application for
easing back pain.
20. Natural Cure For Arthritis And Rheumatism
Topical
application of this infusion is known to ease the pain and inflammation
experienced due to arthritis and rheumatism. You can dip a clean cloth
in warm tea and apply it on the affected area, twice a day, to enjoy
better relief.
21. Helps Control Diabetes
Studies suggest
that the nutrients present in this herbal tea can help in retaining the
sugar levels in blood, which is beneficial for those who are under the
siege of Type 2 diabetes.
22. Good for Your Liver
The
tea made from soursop leaves is known to be a liver tonic. Along with
easing the liver disorders, it also shields the liver. It is also ideal
to treat diseases affecting gallbladder, including gallstones.
A Word Of Caution
Excessive
intake of soursop tea is known to trigger neurological damages, in turn
leading to Parkinson’s disease. Studies also suggest that pregnant and
breastfeeding women should avoid using this tea to prevent putting their
health in jeopardy.
Soursop: Skin Benefits
The quality of your skin determines
your appearance to a great extent. A flawless and glowing skin depends
on the intake of nutrients. However, deficiency of vital nutrients and
exposure to harsh chemicals and pollution can cause various skin
problems. Soursop is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants which are good
for skin. Thus, it is beneficial for your skin in the following ways.
23. Treatment Of Skin Eruptions
Soursop
has great healing qualities. Applying fresh leaves on skin eruptions
facilitates quick healing. Boils are skin problems that occur all over
your body causing immense pain. Soursop leaves are a natural remedy for
treating them. Placing some fresh soursop leaves on the affected areas
can heal them.
24. Heals Wounds
The fleshy part of the
soursop fruit can be applied as a poultice on the cut or wounded area
for at least 3 days. This will not only accelerate the healing process
but also prevent bacterial infections. A decoction of soursop leaves is
beneficial for treating inflammation and swollen feet.
25. Treatment Of Eczema And Other Skin Problems
Mashed
leaves of soursop can be used as a poultice to alleviate eczema and
other skin problems. The juice of soursop when taken while fasting can
treat leprosy.
26. Anti-Aging Benefits
As stated earlier,
soursop is a rich source of vitamin C and ascorbic acid which increases
the amount of antioxidants. These antioxidants play an important role in
fighting the free radicals which are responsible for aging of the skin.
By eliminating free radicals, they significantly reduce the signs of
aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation.
Soursop: Hair Benefits
As
we all know, healthy hair is an indication of a healthy body as hair
follicles also require an adequate supply of nutrients for their growth
and maintenance. Deficiency of certain vital vitamins, minerals and
nutrients can cause hair problems like thinning, dandruff, hair loss,
premature graying, etc. In general, the nutritional value of soursop is
favorable for healthy hair.
27. Treatment Of Head Lice
Soursop
leaves are quite effective in keeping parasites at bay. Head lice are
one of these which multiply quickly, thus adversely affecting hair
health. A decoction made from soursop leaves can be applied to your
scalp to get rid of head lice.
Soursop: Nutritional Value
Soursop
contains abundant amounts of vitamin C and several B vitamins like
thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin as well as minerals like calcium,
phosphorus and a small amount of iron. The fruit comprises of 67.5%
pulp, 20% fruit skin, 8.5% fruit seeds and 4% core pieces. Its
nutritional value is explained below.
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) |
| Energy | 276 kJ (66 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 16.84 g |
| Sugars | 13.54 g |
| Dietary fiber | 3.3 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Thiamine (vit. B1) | 0.07 mg (6%) |
| Riboflavin (vit. B2) | 0.05 mg (4%) |
| Niacin (vit. B3) | 0.9 mg (6%) |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.253 mg (5%) |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.059 mg (5%) |
| Folate | 14 μg (4%) |
| Choline | 7.6 mg (2%) |
| Vitamin C | 20.6 mg (25%) |
| Calcium | 14 mg (1%) |
| Iron | 0.6 mg (5%) |
| Magnesium | 21 mg (6%) |
| Phosphorus | 27 mg (4%) |
| Potassium | 278 mg (6%) |
| Sodium | 14 mg (1%) |
| Zinc | 0.1 mg (1%) |
- Carbohydrates:
After water, soursop has the highest content of carbohydrates. The
carbohydrate in this fruit is in the form of a reducing sugar i.e.
glucose and fructose which make up 81.9 to 93.6% of the total sugar
content.
- Fat: This fruit is good for our health as it contains very little fat. 100 grams of this fruit provides just 0.3 grams of fat.
- Vitamin
C: Vitamin C is the most dominant of all vitamins in soursop fruit. 100
grams of fruit flesh provides about 20 mg of this vitamin. The
recommended daily requirement per person of vitamin C is 60 mg which can
be fulfilled by consuming 300 grams of soursop fruit.
- Fiber:
Soursop fruit is rich in dietary fiber containing 3.3 grams per 100
grams of flesh which is equivalent to 13% of the recommended daily
requirement. Fiber is great for digestion and detoxification.
- Minerals:
The most dominant minerals are phosphorus and calcium. 100 grams of
soursop fruit provides 27 mg and 14 mg of phosphorus and calcium
respectively. Soursop has low sodium content, providing 14 mg per 100
grams but it is high in potassium which is 278 mg per 100 grams. This
high potassium and low sodium ratio is particularly beneficial in
preventing hypertension.
- Others: Soursop is also rich
in phytochemical compounds. It derives its sour taste from several
non-volatile acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and acid isocitrate.
It is rich in fatty compounds called acetogenins particularly annonacin
and other compounds like quinolones, annopentocins as well as two
alkaloids, coreximine and reticuline. Acetogenins have the potential to
slow the growth of cancer cells. Certain compounds are antiviral and
antiparasitic which can suppress inflammation.
Hence, we
find that soursop is loaded with nutrients with almost all parts of this
plant possessing medicinal value. This fruit can suitably form part of
your diet as a fruit, side dish, beverage and dessert to give you
multiple health benefits.
Labels: Arthritis, BP, diabetes, diuretic, hemorrhoid, immune system, kills cancer cells, nerve damage, soursop, UTI