benefits
(1) Aids In Controlling Parasites
Soursop is anti-parasitic, and also improves our gastrointestinal health.
In rural areas of Latin and South America, tea brewed from soursop leaves is often given for gut cleansing, and for getting rid of parasitic infections.
(2) Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Vitamin C, dietary fibers, and other anti-inflammatory compounds in soursop reduce pain and inflammation caused by anti-inflammatory conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid, gouts, asthma, and bronchial asthma, etc.
Not just eating soursop, but topical application of soursop decoction on the inflamed area also helps.
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, soursop decoction relieves pain and inflammation and promotes quick healing of wounds.
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(3) Improve Respiratory Health
Soursop improves our respiratory health due to the abundance of essential nutrients.
Vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidant compounds in soursop protect our respiratory system from free radical damage and reduces the risk of lung cancer.
The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C are beneficial against lung inflammation and reduce the risk of asthma and bronchial asthma.
Soursop acts as an expectorant and helps in eliminating phlegm and mucus.
It reduces inflammation of nasal cavities, and respiratory tracts, and helps in speedy recovery while suffering from cold.
Other nutrients like zinc, potassium, and magnesium, etc, in soursop also improves our respiratory health.
(4) Aids In Treating Insomnia
A night of good quality sleep plays an important role in keeping our physical, mental, and emotional health on track.
Not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality of sleep can lead to health problems like a weak immune system, poor concentration and cognitive abilities, increased risk of cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, low libido, and obesity.
Many factors can lead to poor quality sleep or sleep deprivation, but stress is top among them.
Unmanaged stress can hurt our sleep-cycle, and increase the risk of insomnia.
Soursop is a natural stress buster that provides relief from stress and anxiety and improves the quality of sleep.
Drinking soursop tea before bed calms our nervous system, and reduces stress hormones.
It improves our natural sleep cycle and reduces the risk of insomnia.
(5) Reduces The Risk Of Various Cancer(S)
Vitamin C, vitamin A, and other relevant compounds in soursop protects our cells and tissues from free radical damage, reduces the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, intestinal cancer, and, lung cancer, etc.
Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.
Acetogenins present in the Annonaceae plant such as soursop cut off blood flow to the foreign or abnormal cell growth and helps in treating various cancers such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.
Other compounds like quinolones and alkaloids in soursop also provide anti-cancer benefits.
(6) Strengthen Immune System
Our Immune system plays an important role in keeping us healthy as it is the defense mechanism of our body that contributes to the prevention and treatment of various microbial infections, injuries, diseases, and wounds.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and other relevant compounds in soursop protects our immune cells or white blood cell from free radical damage, and strengthen our immunity.
Vitamin C also encourages the production of white blood cells and strengthens immunity.
With a stronger immune system, we are less likely to get a cough, cold, and fever, etc.
Because of its antimicrobial properties, soursop reduces the risk of various bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Zinc, potassium, iron, magnesium, and other compounds in soursop also contribute to stronger immunity.
(7) Improve Digestive System
Soursop is good for the stomach and improves our digestive health.
Vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds in soursop protects our digestive system from free radical damage and reduces the risk of colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, intestinal cancer, and stomach cancer, etc.
The laxative properties of dietary fibers in soursop improve bowel movement and relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and, flatulence, etc.
Anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C, alkaloids, and quinolones in soursop reduces parasites from the guts, and improve gastrointestinal health.
It relieves pain and inflammation in the stomach or colon.
Vitamin B complex, zinc, potassium, and magnesium, etc in soursop also contribute to better digestion.
(8) Provides Analgesic Benefits
Because of its analgesic properties, soursop helps in the quick healing of wounds and injuries.
Vitamin C and other anti-inflammatory compounds in soursop reduce pain and inflammation caused by injuries.
Not just eating soursop, but topical application of soursop decoction also helps in quick healing of wounds.
(9) Good For Eyes
Soursop maintains our ocular health.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and other relevant compounds like alkaloids, etc in soursop protects our eyes from free radical damage.
It reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma, etc.
Beta-carotene in soursop converts to vitamin A, an essential nutrient that improves vision, prevents eye dryness and reduces the risk of night blindness.
(10) Regulating Blood Sugar
With a low glycemic index of 32, soursop releases sugar into the bloodstream at a slow pace.
This prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar level, and aids in managing diabetes.
Dietary fibers in soursop slow down the absorption of sugar by the bloodstream and keep blood sugar under control.
Despite this anti-diabetic benefit, enjoy soursops moderately as otherwise they may drop blood sugar below the normal range, and cause excessive hunger, excessive sweating, fast heartbeat, shakiness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, or moodiness.
If you take diabetic medication, consult your doctor before adding soursop to your routine, and ensure there is no food-drug interference risk.
(11) Good For Liver And Kidneys
Moderate intake of soursop keeps our vital organs like the liver and kidneys healthy.
Vitamin C, vitamin A, and other antioxidant compounds like alkaloids, etc, in soursop, protect our vital organs like the liver and kidneys from free radical damage.
Acetogenins in soursop helps in killing malignant cells of 12 types of cancers, including liver cancer.
The detoxifying properties of vitamin C and dietary fibers in soursop remove toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances.
By helping with detoxification, soursop reduces the detoxification burden from the liver and kidneys and allows them to focus on other functions they need to perform.
Kidneys not only help with detoxification, but also perform other functions like maintaining electrolyte balance, regulating blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, and so on.
In the same way, the liver helps with the production of bile juice, metabolism of macronutrients, storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals, and synthesis of plasma protein.
(12) Aids In Treating Fever
Soursop is effective against fever and helps in treating the same.
In Africa, it is common to give decoction of soursop leaves for controlling feverish symptoms and convulsive seizures.
Aedes aegypti mosquito is vulnerable to soursop extract, and for this reason, soursop extract is often used against dengue fever.
The astringent property of soursop makes it effective against diarrhea and dysentery.
