Soursop Leaf Benefits
by Kobie Babb
Soursop leaf benefits are world renown for its health benefits. The benefits are in more than just the leaves. The soursop fruit as well as the leaves are world renown, but we will just focus on the leaves for now. The tree is native to tropical areas of North and South America. It also grows in a variety of countries including Mexico, the West Indies, China, Australia, and Africa. Soursop trees can grow as high as 25 to 30 feet tall. Soursop is a member of the Annonaceae family, and it goes by many names. Its botanical name is Annona muricata, but it's also known as guanabana, paw paw, sirsak, and graviola.
Soursop is high in vitamin C, which gives it the ability to help fight off pathogens and other enemies of the body. Vitamin C is an antioxidant so it helps to destroy free radicals. Other antioxidants that exist in soursop include phytosterols, tannin, and flavonoids.
Soursop leaves are used to treat infections, coughs, herpes, inflammation of the nose and throat. It also helps in healthy weight loss, boosting immunity, and skincare. It can lower LDL or bad cholesterol as well as triglycerides, regulate your blood sugar levels, and lower high blood pressure. The beneficial effects of soursop leaf are attributed to the presence of alkaloids, acetogenins, antioxidants, vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, iron, potassium, gentisic acid, and anonol in it. Soursop tea also helps to improve your heart health. It also helps in reducing the accumulation of fat in your body, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Soursop leaf may help in lowering hypertension. They contain alkaloids like anomurine, reticulin, and certain essential oils constituents that helps combat hypertension. Soursop leaves helps maintain good gastrointestinal health. They also help regulate blood sugar levels, which aids with diabetes. The leaves of soursop have been used for treating various skin conditions like abscesses. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help to keep your skin healthy. Wounds treated with soursop showed decreased inflammation around the wound area. It also helps with parasitic infections.
Soursop leaf is also well known for its benefits for fighting cancer. It has the ability to kill cancer cells while at the same time leaving health cells undamaged(unlike chemotherapy). Soursop leaf has proven useful against many types of cancer including melanoma, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. It suppresses prostate cancer cells as well as causes lung cancer cells to die. It inhibits the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells as well as stabilizes breast cancer cells.
Soursop leaf tea isn't a tea that should be consumed for long periods of time. Over consumption of soursop leaf can cause nerve damage and movement problems. It may also cause neuropathy. Excess use of soursop leaf can also be toxic for people with liver or kidney problems.
We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.