This post will provide information on "What are the health benefits of soursop (Annona muricata)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: Where does soursop come from? Why is soursop called soursop? What is soursop related to? What is soursop called in Asia? What are the benefits of soursop? Can you eat soursop everyday? Is soursop good for kidneys? Is it safe to eat soursop? How often should you eat soursop? Is soursop good for kidneys? What are the side effects of Graviola? What are the benefits of drinking soursop leaf tea?
Soursop (also called graviola, guyabano, and in Hispanic America, guanábana) is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree. The exact origin is unknown; it is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean and is widely propagated. It is in the same genus, Annona, as cherimoya and is in the Annonaceae family. The soursop is adapted to areas of high humidity and relatively warm winters; temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F) will cause damage to leaves and small branches, and temperatures below 3 °C (37 °F) can be fatal. The fruit becomes dry and is no longer good for concentrate. With an aroma similar to pineapple, the flavor of the fruit has been described as a combination of strawberries and apple with sour citrus flavor notes, contrasting with an underlying thick creamy texture reminiscent of banana. Soursop is widely promoted (sometimes as "graviola") as an alternative cancer treatment, but there is no reliable medical evidence it is effective for treating cancer or any disease.
Annona muricata is a small, upright, evergreen tree that can grow to about 30 feet (9.1 m) tall. Its young branches are hairy. Leaves are oblong to oval, 8 centimetres (3.1 in) to 16 centimetres (6.3 in) long and 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 7 centimetres (2.8 in) wide. They are a glossy dark green with no hairs above, and paler and minutely hairy to no hairs below.[9] The leaf stalks are 4 millimetres (0.16 in) to 13 millimetres (0.51 in) long and without hairs. Flower stalks (peduncles) are 2 millimetres (0.079 in) to 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long and woody. They appear opposite from the leaves or as an extra from near the leaf stalk, each with one or two flowers, occasionally a third. Stalks for the individual flowers (pedicels) are stout and woody, minutely hairy to hairless and 15 millimetres (0.59 in) to 20 millimetres (0.79 in) with small bractlets nearer to the base which are densely hairy.
- One whole soursop fruit contains around 83% of your recommended daily allowance of fiber, which is a vital nutrient for your digestive health
- The antioxidants in soursop may help to reduce inflammation in the body
- A whole soursop fruit offers approximately one-third to one-half of your recommended daily allowance of potassium which help to regulate blood pressure
- Soursop may provide antibacterial effects which may help to fight cholera and Staphylococcus bacteria
- It has been found that this plant can reduce the BP level in the body and it not not suitable for people with low blood pressure
- Excess consumption of soursop can lead to the development of movement disorders
- The tea made using the stems and leaves of soursop plant, can lead to neurotoxicity disorders
- Using soursop for an extended period of time may lead to the development of fungal and yeast infections in the body
- If you are undergoing treatment for depression and are consuming medicines for the same, you should definitely avoid soursop as it can negate the benefits of these antidepressants
- Patients suffering from parkinson's disorder (neurological disorder) should avoid eating soursop; else it may worsen the symptoms
- Huge dosage of graviola or soursop may affect the cardiovascular system of the body