Soursop, benefits of graviola

Soursop is a very characteristic tropical fruit. It is known for its nutritional properties that benefit our health. In addition, its green appearance and full of thorns is very striking.

We find a fruit that can only surprise you, both for its appearance and for its varieties of vitamins and minerals.

What is soursop?

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is one of the sweet fruits of the Annonacea family. It is known by other names according to its origin. Likewise, in many tropical countries it is also known as: guanábano, catuche, catoche, anona de México, graviola, anona de la india, mole or massamba. However, the most widespread and well-known name is soursop.

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a green fruit, oval in shape and covered with very characteristic thorns. Inside we find a white, sweet and aromatic pulp, with black and smooth bones. It may measure 50 cm in diameter and weigh up to three kilos.

Origin of the soursop

This tropical fruit comes from a tree called soursop. Likewise, it is a tree from the tropical zone and that we can find very commonly in the central part of the American continent in regions with a temperate climate, since this tree does not resist the cold. It can measure between 8 and 10 meters in height.

Its origin is located in South America, although the region cannot be specified exactly. In addition, its cultivation is focused on countries in tropical America and the Caribbean. However, its plantation has spread to other regions of the planet such as Africa, China, Australia and more recently in Spain, more specifically in areas of Malaga and the Canary Islands.

Soursop expansion

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is not well known in Europe. However, it is currently in full expansion with several supermarket chains in Spain, France and the Netherlands. They already commercialize this fruit on a regular basis.

This fruit is known as the “delicious miracle” thanks to its nutritional properties favorable to health and a delicious taste. As a consequence, soursop is making its way onto the market, gradually increasing consumer demand.

Soursop production

Although it is a tropical fruit, in the Canary Islands and Malaga there are already sustained crops of this tropical fruit. In addition, the cultivation of soursop should preferably be done in hot climates, in areas where there is an altitude of 300 to 500 m above sea level. Therefore, these Spanish regions meet the requirements.

Soursop season

As we have commented, this fruit already has national production. The best season for this fruit is between February and April.

You can check the calendar of the  fruit season  to be able to consume these foods at their most optimal moment. In addition, when they are in season they provide us with  more benefits for our health, they have a better aroma and are tastier , among other advantages.

How do you eat soursop?

The best way to eat this fruit is raw and fresh. In this way we make sure to acquire your properties with the maximum guarantee.

Eating this fresh fruit is very simple, it is opened in half with a knife or with your hands and its pulp is eaten with a spoon, excluding the bones that are very easy to remove.

It is important to eat this fruit when it is ripe. Also, this fruit is used to make jams, fruit smoothies, and juices.   Likewise, the pulp is also commonly used to make jellies, ice creams and sweet recipes.

Thanks to its slight acidity, it combines very well with the sweet flavor of guava or sapote . In the same way, it can be added to different salad recipes, giving a very exotic touch to any of these recipes.

Enjoy its characteristic sweet flavor with acid touches and take advantage of the benefits that the consumption of this formidable fruit has for your health.

Graviola leaves: benefits

Soursop leaves are used to make an infusion that is beneficial to health. In addition to relaxing, it helps control glucose levels, helps eliminate fluids and detoxifies the body.

There are many studies that explain the benefits of drinking soursop infusion. Although, given the popularity of this plant, these studies should be completed to verify in what doses they should be ingested in the infusion of its leaves.

However, there are no studies to know how the best way and the exact amount is to make this infusion. The recipe that has traditionally been made and that has become popular for its effects is the following.

Soursop leaves infusion

It is an infusion is very simple to make. You only need 10 grams of dried graviola leaves that have to be infused with a liter of boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes and strain.

Soursop properties

This fruit has nutritional properties that make this food essential for the whole family’s diet. It is a fruit to take into account both for the favorable characteristics it has to maintain a healthy life, and for its flavor, just like the custard apple.

It is a source of vitamins, highlighting vitamin C. Likewise, it is worth highlighting the B group vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium and potassium. In addition, it also provides us with niacin, riboflavin and folic acid.

Thanks to these nutritional properties, these fruits have various medicinal properties. Also the leaves, the stems have various applications for our health.

Nutritional information per 100 grams of fresh soursop:

Soursop benefits

Thanks to the nutritional properties that these foods make up, they provide us with benefits to our health, such as the following:

It is a hydrating fruit, since its composition is, for the most part, water. In addition, it has the following benefits:

1. A digestive fruit

It is a food that is traditionally used to treat stomach disorders such as gastritis and ulcer. Graviola is very digestive, recommended for people who have difficulties digesting food.

2. Help against anemia

With similar nutritional characteristics that resemble the benefits of custard apple , soursop are beneficial as an aid against anemia. All this, thanks to its energy content and its contribution of iron and vitamin c.

3. Natural energizer

This food can also be considered as a natural energizer , since thanks to its caloric component it helps us in moments of fatigue.

4. Favorable ally against osteoporosis

In addition, it helps us in the prevention of osteoporosis , since soursop is very rich in calcium, phosphorus and iron.

5. Favorable to help regulate blood glucose

Thanks to the fact that it is a food rich in natural fibers, it helps us regulate glucose in the blood. Also, according to some animal studies, soursop helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Although more evidence for this claim in people is lacking, there is clear evidence that these fruits can be beneficial for people with diabetes.

Likewise, always combined with a healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis.

6. High antioxidant power

Thanks to vitamin C, among other nutrients, they are foods that help us against the oxidation of cells. Thanks to these antioxidant properties , the elimination of free radicals that can damage cells is favored.

There are different studies that antioxidant nutrients in soursop effectively protect us against the damage that free radicals can cause us.

7. Ideal for weight loss diets

They are foods rich in water and natural fibers, which acts as a natural satiating agent.  In addition, it is recommended for weight loss diets due to its low fat content.

8. An aid to be able to fight certain bacteria

There are various investigations that show the effectiveness of this food against some bacteria. Likewise, the soursop leaves have antibacterial efficacy in infections that cause oral infections such as gingivitis and tooth decay.

According to these investigations, the efficacy is given by the habitual and not sporadic consumption of these substances.

9. Beneficial for people suffering from hypertension

Thanks to its high potassium and low sodium content, this food is recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure.

Soursop and cancer

Unfortunately there is no magic formula that will cure this terrible disease. In addition, currently there are studies and scientific advances that help to treat certain cancers very effectively, although for now, we are still on the way.

Medical treatments that are very effective. However, there are alternative treatments for cancer . In addition, these treatments help traditional medicine to strengthen our defenses and in many cases are beneficial.

Graviola does not cure cancer

It is true that graviola does not cure cancer and whoever affirms it falls into serious irresponsibility. On the contrary, it can be affirmed by different studies and by traditional culture, that the consumption of graviola brings us different benefits.

That is why we find food that helps the immune system to be stronger and predisposed to cancer treatment.

Certainly, among the different studies that exist in this regard, the following should be highlighted:

Estudio relacionado con la Graviola: A Novel Promising Natural-Derived Drug That Inhibits Tumorigenicity and Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo Through Altering Cell Metabolism.

Likewise, it is evident that the consumption of graviola is not the only alternative and natural treatment that helps us with this process. However, it has become very popular.

Acetogenins from graviola

Graviola has numerous nutritional properties with different vitamins and minerals that make this fruit a very beneficial food for our immune system.

In addition, it is a hundred that the soursop leaves have a very important amount of acetogenins. These substances help shrink tumors but can only help and never fight.

Although there are natural treatments that help in the treatment of cancer, it is always necessary to consult with the medical team. In no case consume these natural treatments deliberately. It may be very dangerous and contraindicated for our health.

After everything explained in this article, it is evident that there are weighty characteristics that make soursop a special food.

Conclusions

As a consequence, it becomes one of the essential types of fruits is our diet. It is ideal both for its flavor and for its nutritional properties that promote good health.