11 Health Benefits of Soursop

Have you ever heard of soursop? You may well be wondering what the heck it is, and why is it so beneficial!

Soursop is a fruit grown in Central and South America, also in the Caribbean. It has a unique flavor of strawberries, pineapple and mingled citrus fruits.

Aside from the flavor, soursop has powerful benefits to health. Let’s see what they are:

1. Cancer Treatment

Soursop has been the subject of research studies, and has been found to have an effect on killing breast and liver cancer cells. The effect is said to be down to the fruit itself, but the leaves have also been found to suppress cancer cells.

One of the most promising things to come out of the trials is that its effects are only on cancer cells and don’t harm the healthy ones.

2. Eye Health

The soursop fruit is full of antioxidants that can help to preserve the health of your eyes. It’s full of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and several carotenid compounds that can delay the rate of macular degeneration and the development of cataracts.

3. Relieves Inflammation

The high antioxidant content of soursop helps to reduce inflammation in cells, such as that of arthritis. The plant is also traditionally used by natives in Central and South America to treat the inflammation caused by snake bites.

4. Diabetes

A recent study in Nigeria proved that soursop could help control diabetes. Rodents consuming soursop had much lower blood sugar levels than those that weren’t given soursop.

Soursop could also help the pancreas to produce new insulin producing cells, which can help when the old cells stop functioning.

5. Stomach and Digestive Tract

Stomach ulcer sufferers could find relief in soursop, as it helps to strengthen the mucus linings of the stomach. Soursop could also be beneficial for irritable bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.

6. Intestinal Parasites

Extract of soursop leaves can kill both adult worms and their larvae, which is something many prescription anti-parasitic drugs aren’t able to do.

7. Relieves Pain

Soursop relieves inflammation, but also decreases the pain stimuli. Those who have arthritis have inflammation and pain, which makes the soursop fruit the perfect remedy.

8. Can Help Reduce Stress

When stressed, your body produces more adrenalin and cortisol. High levels of these hormones don’t do you any good over the long term, and high cortisol is linked to a number of negative health effects, such as insomnia, anxiety and reduced sexual function.

Soursop can help protect from the negative effects of cortisol, as well as promoting quality sleep.

9. Respiratory Tract

Soursop can help you combat the common cold. It can help to thin mucus secretions, relieve sore throats and act as a mild expectorant.

10. Liver Health

If things go wrong with your liver, you may end up with jaundice, which could be the first sign that something is wrong. Soursop helps to get rid of jaundice, and shields the liver from jaundice that can be caused by medication.

11. Immune Booster

Soursop is full of antioxidants, but that does not bolster active immunity. The key is in some of the nutrients, such as vitamin C, which help to stimulate the production of lymphocytes and T cells. These two things are the first line of defense against infections, and it makes sense to keep your immune system strong.