Health Benefits Of Soursop Fruit, Leaves, Juice & Tea For Sleep, Weight Loss & Cancer Treatment

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SOURSOP FRUIT, LEAVES, JUICE AND TEA FOR SLEEP, WEIGHT LOSS, AND CANCER TREATMENT

The soursop fruit, also known as Brazilian paw-paw, custard apple or graviola, is the fruit produced by the tree Annona muricata (which can grow as tall as 30 feet). Although the precise origin of this plant is not known, it is found in tropical regions such as the Caribbean?s and South America, where it is abundant. As regards its flavor, the soursop fruit is said to taste like a combination of apple and strawberry with an underlying rich creamy texture reminiscent of coconut or banana.

It is considered an exotic treat, especially for individuals who live outside the tropical regions. Typically, this fruit is eaten raw, by dividing the fruit and eating the flesh. Additionally, it can be made in ice-cream or juices. The leaves and stem are also used medicinally due to their anti-oxidative properties amongst many others.

The soursop fruit, as well as its leaves and stem, have a wide range of health benefits as we shall see in this article.

• GOOD VISION

Soursop fruits are quite loaded with a lot of anti-oxidants which help in reducing the oxidative load in the body. When a cocktail of Vitamin C, beta-carotene, Vitamin E, and zinc is consumed, it can help reduce the rate of macular degeneration by 25% for individuals who already have it. It also inhibits or delays the development of cataracts by reducing oxidative stress.

• RELIEVES INFLAMMATION

Applying some parts of the soursop on an inflammation can provide some relief to the inflamed area and speed up the healing process. This is due to the fruits anti-oxidative property. It can neutralize the damages done by free radicals by providing extra anti-oxidants to the immune system.

• IT IS USED IN TREATING DIABETES

According to a Nigerian study, two groups of albino rats were used to test for the effect of soursop on diabetes. One group of the rat was consuming soursop while the other group wasn?t. The study showed that the blood sugar level of the first group of the rat was considerably lower than that of the second group. Soursop can help in the production of insulin in the pancreas has been found to inhibit the oxidative damage in diabetic patients.

• IT CAN BE USED TO RELIEVE PAIN

It has been suggested that soursop in addition to providing relief from inflammation, can also provide relief from pain by inhibiting pain receptors or painful stimuli. It seems however that its ability to relieve pain is dose-related, which means that as you consume more soursop, the effect of pain relief is increased. Try not to eat too much as it can have adverse effects when taken too much. Applying soursop topically on wounds is a fast way of relieving the pain and increasing the speed of healing.

In an experiment, the pain was induced in rats and soursop extract was used to treat the pain.

• IT KILLS PARASITES

The soursop leaf extract is an anti-helminthic, which means it can be used to get rid of intestinal worms. Studies have revealed that the soursop leaf extract has the capability of both the adult worm and their larvae, which is a feat which only a few anti-parasitic drugs can achieve.

You can make an extract by brewing a tea from some of its leaves to help kill worms and cleanse your gut.

• IT PROMOTES THE HEALTH OF THE STOMACH AND THE DIGESTIVE TRACT

Due to its anti-ulcer properties, the graviola is greatly associated with decreasing ulcer development. It acts by reducing the effect of oxidation in the stomach, preserving the mucus lining. This is especially good for individuals who have a stomach ulcer as a result of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). In addition, it is possible that the soursop fruit can also protect your stomach from the ulcer bacteria, Helicobacter pylori.

• IT HELPS PROVIDE RELIEF FROM RESPIRATORY TRACT AILMENTS

Using the soursop is a reliable way of removing phlegm and mucus from your body. It acts by making the mucus secretions thin. Due to its anti-microbial property, it aids the clearance of pathogens present in the respiratory tract. If you have an irritation in your throat, the graviola can help provide relief from the irritation.

• IT PROMOTES THE HEALTH OF THE LIVER AND KIDNEY

During the break down of red blood cells in the body, bilirubin which is accumulated can fail to get metabolized and this can lead to a condition known as jaundice. Soursop helps prevent this condition by bringing the level of bilirubin down the one which is acceptable. It can also prevent jaundice caused by medication. Soursop has been shown to aid the process of digestion of fat in the body and to purify the liver. This helps the liver to work in good conditions.

• IT BOOSTS IMMUNITY

Soursop is mostly known for its anti-oxidant property because it is quite loaded with anti-oxidant compounds. These compounds help to protect our body from the numerous threats it faces every single day. The soursop possesses nutrients, such as Vitamin C, which stimulates the production of lymphocytes and T-cells in the body. These lymphocytes and T-cell s act as defenses against foreign materials, such as bacteria, fungi, as well as others.

• SKIN-CARE

Well, the soursop plant is also believed to help the skin by removing wrinkles, spots, and blemishes found on the skin. It can prevent the aging of the skin by nourishing it making you look quite younger than your age. Extracts of the soursop leaves have been found to prevent a skin disease known as skin papilloma. This disease causes tumors to erupt on the skin of the individual. In some places, the leaves of this plant are used to calm the skin of babies.

To use on your skin, grind the seeds into a fine powder that can be formulated into a skin astringent and apply on the affected areas regularly.

• HAIR

Some sources say that soursop paste can help to treat dandruff and itching of the hair. They also suggest that the paste can strengthen the hair as well.

• IT TREAT INFECTIONS

The soursop fruit and leaf extracts are effective in treating a wide range of infections such as those caused by bacteria and parasites.

They have been found to treat oral infections as well. When a person has a root canal, a chemical called the sodium hypochlorite is used for the treatment of this microbial infection. However, some other dental problems can arise when the sodium hypochlorite is used. It has been found that extracts of soursop leaves are as effective as the sodium hypochlorite and do not cause other dental problems for the person. This fact makes the use of soursop leaves extracts as a much safer choice for the treatment of the root canal.

• IT SUPPLIES NUTRIENTS TO THE BODY

The graviola possesses a lot of minerals such as iron, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and copper. It is a good source of energy because it contains fructose, a natural sugar which can provide energy to the body. Eating this tropical fruit at breakfast can give you the needed energy to start your day.

HOW TO MAKE SOURSOP LEAVES TEA

• Pour a liter of water into a clean pot to boil.
• Take some soursop leaves (dry or fresh as you please) and put into the water to boil.
• Cut into little pieces, a small soursop stem and add to the boiling water.
• Do not cover the pot but allow the water to boil for about 30 minutes to allow some water to evaporate.
• After boiling, take a cup of the tea to drink.
• You can decide to add some honey or lime juice to make it taste better.

SIDE EFFECTS OF SOURSOP LEAVES

• The leaves of the soursop can dilate blood vessels and reduce the blood pressure level in the body. This can cause damage to individuals to have low blood pressure already. For people who have low blood pressure, avoiding the soursop leaves should be a priority.
• For people using anti-depressants, the soursop leaves can prevent the drugs from working. They shouldn?t be consumed by people taking anti-depressants.
• They can lead to neurotoxicity disorders.
• They can cause movement disorder.
• They can cause Parkinson disease.
• They can affect the cardiovascular system.
• They can lead to uterine problems, especially in pregnant women and can cause premature labor or miscarriage.
• The soursop leaves can cause neurological disorders.

SOURSOP LEAVES FOR CANCER

There have been claims on the usefulness of soursop leaves in the treatment of cancer. It is believed that the leaves are rich in tannins a compound which is great at fighting cancerous cells. Many people have claimed on the internet to have benefitted from the soursop leaves to treat cancer. In fact, certain studies have been done to discover if the leaves are actually good in treating cancer. In one study, the soursop leaves were tested on breast cancer cells in culture and interestingly, it was found to be more effective than using chemotherapy.

However, this theory hasn?t been studied on humans, and as such, there is no scientific evidence to back up the claim of it curing cancer. Hence, it is advised you inform your physician first before taking the soursop fruit or tea.

SOURSOP LEAVES FOR DIABETES

As stated earlier, laboratory studies have found that rats who take soursop have a lower blood sugar level than those who do not. This could possibly mean that the soursop leaves extracts may be effective in treating diabetic patients. Many people have attested to its effectiveness. However, this hasn?t really been tested with humans. One thing is clear though, it possesses some anti-diabetic properties.

SOURSOP LEAVES FOR SLEEP

Soursop leaves are used as a sedative in parts such as the West Indies. In other regions, the leaves are used to enhance sleep. While there are writings suggesting its effectiveness in enhancing sleep, there has been no scientific data to back this claim. However, it doesn?t make these claims less valid.

SOURSOP LEAVES FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Soursop leaves are effective for weight loss as they bind fat and calories which have been piling up in the body and remove them through excretion.