Saturday, February 15, 2025

Soursop (Graviola): Health Benefits and Uses

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Soursop (Graviola): Health Benefits and Uses

The fruit graviola, or soursop, offers both a delicious flavor and excellent health benefits. It’s a healthy option for those looking for an additional source of antioxidants, has cancer cell-killing properties, and may help reduce inflammation.

Soursop is a fruit that’s popular for its delicious flavor and impressive health benefits.

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It’s also very nutrient-dense and provides a good amount of fiber and vitamin C for very few calories.

This article will look at some of the health benefits of soursop and how you can incorporate it into your diet.

What is Soursop?

Soursop, also known as graviola, is the fruit of Annona muricata, a type of tree native to tropical regions of the Americas (1).

This prickly green fruit has a creamy texture and a strong flavor that is often compared to pineapple or strawberry.

Soursop is typically eaten raw by cutting the fruit in half and scooping out the flesh. Fruits range in size and can be quite large, so it may be best to divide it into a few portions.

A typical serving of this fruit is low in calories yet high in several nutrients like fiber and vitamin C. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of raw soursop contains (2):

  • Calories: 66
  • Protein: 1 gram
  • Carbs: 16.8 grams
  • Fiber: 3.3 grams
  • Vitamin C: 34% of the RDI
  • Potassium: 8% of the RDI
  • Magnesium: 5% of the RDI
  • Thiamine: 5% of the RDI

Soursop also contains a small amount of niacin, riboflavin, folate, and iron.

Interestingly, many parts of the fruit are used medicinally, including the leaves, fruit, and stems. It is also used in cooking and can even be applied to the skin.

Research has also unearthed a variety of health benefits for soursop in recent years.

Summary: Soursop is a type of fruit that is used in medicine and cooking. It is low in calories but high in fiber and vitamin C. Some research has shown that it may also have health benefits.

It’s High in Antioxidants

Many of the reported benefits of soursop are due to its high content of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are compounds that help neutralize harmful compounds called free radicals, which can cause damage to cells.

Some research shows that antioxidants could play a role in reducing the risk of several diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes (3, 4, 5).

One test-tube study looked at the antioxidant properties of soursop and found that it was able to effectively protect against damage caused by free radicals (6).

Another test-tube study measured the antioxidants in soursop extract and showed that it helped prevent damage to cells. It also contained several plant compounds that act as antioxidants, including luteolin, quercetin, and tangeretin (7).

More research is needed to determine how beneficial the antioxidants found in soursop may be to humans.

Summary: Test-tube studies show that soursop is high in antioxidants, which may help prevent cell damage and could lower the risk of chronic disease.

It May Help Kill Cancer Cells

Although most research is currently limited to test-tube studies, some studies have found that soursop could potentially help eliminate cancer cells.

One test-tube study treated breast cancer cells with soursop extract. Interestingly enough, it was able to reduce tumor size, kill off cancer cells, and enhance the activity of the immune system (8).

Another test-tube study looked at the effects of soursop extract on leukemia cells, which was found to stop the growth and formation of cancer cells (9).

However, keep in mind that these are test-tube studies using a highly concentrated extract. Further studies need to look at how eating the fruit may affect cancer in humans.

Summary: Some test-tube studies show that soursop may help reduce the growth of cancer cells. More research is needed to evaluate the effect in humans.

It Can Help Fight Bacteria

In addition to its antioxidant properties, some studies show that soursop may contain potent antibacterial properties as well.

In one test-tube study, extracts of soursop with varying concentrations were used on different types of bacteria known to cause oral diseases.

Soursop was able to effectively kill off multiple types of bacteria, including strains that cause gingivitis, tooth decay, and yeast infections (10).

Another test-tube study showed that soursop extract worked against the bacteria responsible for cholera and Staphylococcus infections (11).

However, these studies are using a concentrated amount of soursop extract that exceeds what you might get through your diet.

Although more research on humans is needed, this may be especially beneficial in the treatment of infectious diseases like cholera.

Summary: Test-tube studies show that soursop has antibacterial properties and may be effective against some strains of bacteria responsible for disease, although more studies are needed.

It Could Reduce Inflammation

Some animal studies have found that soursop and its components may be able to help fight inflammation.

In one study, diabetic rats were treated with soursop extract for two weeks. Those who received the extract had blood sugar levels that were five times lower than the untreated group (16).

Another study showed that administering soursop extract to diabetic rats reduced blood sugar levels by up to 75% (17).

However, these studies use a concentrated amount of soursop extract that exceeds what you might get through your diet.

Although more research on humans is needed, soursop may be especially beneficial for those with diabetes or those looking to reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases.

Summary: Some animal studies have found that soursop extract may help reduce inflammation and

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