Soursop is not one of the most beautiful fruit to look at, at least not from the outside. There, the only highlight is a bunch of soft thorns of the same green color of its skin. Some prefer not to eat it to avoid going through the cumbersome process of removing its seeds; others do not even think about it when buying fruits: many times it goes unnoticed.
However, the delicious bittersweet taste of its juicy pulp is unmatched. Hence it is widely used in the elaboration of exquisite desserts such as cakes and ice cream. But this fruit, besides delicious, is a treasure. Without blowing it our of proportion, you can safely say that soursop is one of the most miraculous foods you can consume.
Natural medicine against cancer
Soursop, called guanábana in many Spanish-speaking countries and graviola in Brazil, is originally from the Amazonian areas of Peru and Brazil. It belongs to the annonaceous family of plants and is cultivated in almost all the tropical region of Latin America. Being a fruit, you can assume that it is a healthy food, but perhaps few are aware of the extraordinary properties that it particularly has.
One of its most important qualities, and for which it has gained considerable fame, is its anticancer power. Since the 1970s, there have been several scientific studies that have proven that this fruit attacks cancer cells in the body.
Extracts from the tree appear to destroy malignant cells from different types of cancer (such as colon and prostate cancer). These extracts are even stronger than the drugs that are used for chemotherapy, with the added bonus that they do not harm the body’s healthy cells.
Soursop is a powerful antioxidant
Even though soursop’s anticancer properties may be reason enough to start consuming it more regularly, this heart-shaped food hides many other benefits for our health.
Soursop is rich in vitamins and minerals like phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Its high concentration of vitamin C makes it a powerful antioxidant capable of slowing the aging process. This nutrient also strengthens our immune system and is necessary for the production of collagen in the body.
The pulp of this fruit also contains a lot of water, hence it is an excellent natural diuretic. In addition, it provides fiber, making it great for those who suffer from constipation. In this sense, it is an ideal food to include in weight loss diets.
Don’t be nervous!
People who suffer from nervousness and anxiety can find a great ally in soursop. This fruit contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), a substance fundamental in avoiding damages to the nerves. Therefore, eating it regularly helps us avoid stress and depression.
This fruit also allows to lower tension, is beneficial for the kidneys and relieves pain in the joints. It is also a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent capable of curing infections caused by bacteria and fungi, and even serves to combat hemorrhoids.
You can eat the leaves!
The most common way to consume this fruit is in juice: a glass is enough to give us much energy. But its leaves can also be consumed liquefied with water or in an infusion, and are effective in removing toxins, regulating blood sugar, improving pancreatic function, and curing liver problems. Also, they are great for treating colds and relaxing before bed. There are those who claim that they are wonderful to eliminate parasites and, like the pulp, they help to lose weight.
This exotic fruit has no waste, it is pure medicine. Not consuming it means wasting a huge list of benefits that are hardly present in any other single food. Include it in your daily diet; after all, it is not only delicious but also healing!
