Find out about the Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves that will help you make the most of these amazing plants!
There are many Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves that make these the most important plants you can have in your collection. Let us show you.
Soursop Plant Profile
Soursop (Annona muricata) is a tropical evergreen tree from the Annonaceae family. It’s native to the Americas and can be easily recognized by the large spiky fruit of the same name. The fruit has a rough skin that hides a creamy white flesh inside full of a delicious flavor with hints of pineapple, strawberry, and citrus.
Soursop thrives in warm and humid regions of America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia and bears fruit year-round. It has a ton of health benefits as it is rich in nutrients, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins C, B1, and B2.
How to Consume Soursop Leaves
There are many ways to consume it – you can eat it raw (they’re sweet and a bit acidic) or use it to make beverages, desserts, and even ice cream. It’s also used in traditional herbal medicines, even if the scientific evidence is limited.
For the best results, you should consume it as tea. Simmer a few of these in water for 10-15 minutes, strain them, and enjoy the tea. You can also make a Soursop leaf paste by grinding a few fresh leaves in a mortar and pestle. Add a spoonful of water to make it finer.
Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves
1. Improves Eye Health
As we said earlier, Soursop leaves are rich in antioxidants that help relieve oxidative stress in the eyes – reducing the risk of many eye diseases related to aging, like cataracts and macular degeneration.
They are also rich in beta-carotene and riboflavin, which helps the body maintain healthy eyesight.
2. Helps Fight Inflammation
Our immune system has inflammation as one of its natural responses, but if it is chronic in nature, it can lead to many health issues. Soursop leaves are naturally anti-inflammatory (They contain annonaine, annomuricine, and annonacin).
3. Helps Treat Infections
Another benefit of Soursop leaves is that they help fight off infections caused by bacteria and fungi. Many studies have shown that the leaves of the Soursop plant are effective against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.
4. Aids Diabetes Treatment
Soursop leaf benefits don’t stop here. They’re incredibly useful for people who have diabetes. These leaves have hypoglycins A and B – stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin and improving the body’s ability to use it.
5. Boosts Kidney Health
By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, these leaves also boost the health of your kidneys. Plus, they’re a good source of potassium. Soursop leaves also have diuretic properties and flush toxins out of your body, aiding kidney function.
6. Improves Liver Health
It does a lot of work for your liver as well. Soursop leaves are full of antioxidants (Vitamin C and glutathione) that can protect your liver from free radical damage. These leaves improve liver functions and also reduce inflammation.
7. Improves Respiratory Health
People have used the leaves of the Soursop plant for years to treat cough, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. Soursop leaves can act as expectorants and help loosen mucus.
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8. Relieve Stress
You can also use Soursop leaves as a stress buster. These leaves have calming properties and help reduce anxiety and stress by helping the body lower its blood pressure. This is because the leaves are hypotensive.
9. Boosts Gastrointestinal Health
They can improve your gut health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. Soursop leaves have soluble and insoluble dietary fiber in them that helps regulate bowel movements, preventing constipation.
10. Helps the Immune System
The leaves of the plant are rich in vitamin C, quercetin, and kaempferol, which have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These help enhance the immune system function and help the body fight off infections, keeping the risk of chronic diseases at bay.
11. Relieves Pain
Soursop leaves can also work as a natural pain reliever because they’re full of alkaloids and flavonoids – compounds that reduce pain and inflammation. You can use these for treating arthritis and gout.
12. Treats Fever
Soursop leaves have antipyretic properties (any agent that reduces fever) that can help with fever. How to use these? Simple, just boil some in water to make tea and drink it.
13. Helpful in Diarrhoea
The leaves of Soursops are also antidiarrheal and help keep bowel movements in check. And with their astringent properties, they can shrink and tighten tissues, reducing the stress on the intestines.
14. Relieves Hypertension
As we explained above, these leaves are hypotensive and can help lower blood pressure. Soursop leaves have vasodilator properties – they help relax blood vessels and improve its flow.
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15. Improves Skin and Hair Health
The antioxidants (flavonoids and Vitamin C) in Soursop leaves make these wonderful for boosting skin and hair health. They help promote collagen production in the body, improving your skin’s elasticity. You can also use Soursop leaf tea as a natural hair conditioner to fight hair loss.
Note: Soursop leaves may interact with certain medications and have potential side effects. And they can’t replace your medication entirely. You should consult a healthcare professional before using them, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
Quick Soursop Growing Tips
- Soursop comes from tropical and subtropical climates and needs warm temperatures between 68°F (20°C) and 95°F (35°C) to thrive. So you’ll need to protect the plant from frost and cold temperatures.
- Soursop loves the sun and needs at least 6-8 hours of bright sunlight for proper growth.
- Make sure the soil has a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 and is well-draining. Soursop does not do well in waterlogged conditions.
- A balanced, slow-release fertilizer designed for fruit trees can do wonders for your Soursop plant. 2-3 times a year is enough. But don’t feed it in winter.
- When the skin of Soursops turns yellow-green, feel them – if they’re soft to the touch, they’re ready for harvesting.
ezcellent and truly beneficiial info, many thanks