JUCA Soursoap Powder

Soursop powder, derived from the soursop fruit, offers potential health benefits including antioxidant protection, immune support, and digestive health, with some studies suggesting anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Here's a more detailed look at the potential benefits of soursop powder: 

Potential Health Benefits: 

Antioxidant Rich:

Soursop is a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. 

Immune Support:

Soursop contains vitamin C, an antioxidant known to boost immune health and improve the body's ability to fight off pathogens. 

Digestive Health:

Soursop is high in fiber, which is important for digestive health and can help prevent constipation and other digestive issues. 

Anti-inflammatory:

Soursop contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in the body. 

Potential Anti-Cancer Properties:

Some studies suggest that soursop may have anti-cancer properties, with some compounds showing potential to kill cancer cells. 

Blood Sugar Regulation:

Animal studies suggest that soursop extract may help reduce blood sugar levels. 

Heart Health:

Soursop is rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and may lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 

Skin Health:

Soursop's antioxidants may help protect skin cells from damage and promote healthy skin. 

Antibacterial Effects:

Studies suggest that soursop extract may have antibacterial properties, showing effectiveness against bacteria causing gum disease, cavities, cholera, and Staphylococcus infections. 

Important Considerations: 

Consult with a Healthcare Professional:

If you are considering using soursop powder, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional first. 

Not a Replacement for Conventional Treatment:

Soursop powder should not be used as a replacement for conventional medical treatments, such as cancer treatment. 

Potential Side Effects:

Some people may experience side effects from soursop, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

Quality and Source:

When choosing soursop powder, it's important to choose a reputable source and ensure that the product is of high quality. 

Nutritional Profile of Soursop

Soursop contains many essential vitamins and minerals, including:

• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin C
• Folate
• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Phosphorous
• Zinc
• Copper

Nutrients per serving

One soursop fruit (about 1.3 pounds) provides:

• Calories: 412
• Protein: 6.25 grams
• Fat: 2 grams
• Carbohydrates: 105 grams
• Fiber: 21 grams
• Sugar: 85 grams

Soursop Benefits

Soursop (the fruit and the leaves) contains many other antioxidants, including phytosterols, tannins, and flavonoids. Antioxidants play a role in your overall health and may help protect against a variety of health conditions. 

Other health benefits of soursop include:

Soursop and immune health

Soursop is high in vitamin C, an antioxidant known to boost immune health and improve its ability to defend against pathogens. Vitamin C also promotes the destruction of free radicals, which can help protect your skin and cells from environmental oxidative damage. One soursop fruit contains about 129 milligrams of vitamin C, which is about 172% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for women and 143% for men. 

May improve digestive health

Fiber is vital for your digestive health and helps promote regularity and prevent issues such as constipation. The recommended daily allowance for fiber is about 14 grams for every 1,000 calories — which translates to about 25 grams per day for women and about 38 grams per day for men. One whole soursop fruit contains about 21 grams of fiber, which gets you close to that RDA.

Potential anticarcinogenic effects

In the future, soursop extract may be an alternative or complementary therapy to other cancer drugs, but we need more research. One systematic review showed that the extract of Annona muricata (scientific name of soursop) is full of bioactive compounds, including acetogenins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Researchers say these compounds have the "ability to decrease the growth of cancer." 

While these results sound promising, the research was based on test-tube and animal studies, not on humans. Other studies have similar findings, but they were also laboratory-based. If you want to use soursop extract as complementary to your current cancer treatment, discuss it first with your health care team, including your oncologist, as some supplements can change the way cancer medicines work.

May fight inflammation

Antioxidants fight free radicals, reducing the damage to your cells caused by oxidative stress. One of the side effects of oxidative stress is inflammation. The antioxidants in soursop may, therefore, help reduce inflammation in the body.

May stabilize blood pressure

High blood pressure may lead to serious issues such as heart disease and heart attack. Sodium intake is a key factor leading to high blood pressure. Potassium helps your body get rid of sodium and eases the tension in the walls of your blood vessels, both of which can help lower your blood pressure. A whole soursop fruit offers approximately one-third to one-half of your recommended daily allowance of potassium.

May fight against bacteria

Soursop may provide antibacterial effects. One study found that an extract may be able to kill many different types of bacteria, including strains that cause gum disease and cavities. Another study found that soursop extracts may help fight cholera and staphylococcus bacteria. While these were test-tube studies, the results are promising, and further research is needed. 

May lower blood sugar levels

Soursop extract has been shown to reduce blood sugar in several studies on animals. In one study where diabetic rats received a daily dose of soursop extract for 28 days, the rats had reduced blood glucose levels. Results from a separate study on diabetic mice were equally promising. They showed that low doses of soursop extract lowered the mice's fasting blood glucose levels, HbA1c (a test that measures average blood sugar over the previous two to three months), insulin resistance, and hepatic lipid profiles. The mice also showed improvement in their insulin signaling. We still need more research to know how these results would translate to humans.

May treat ulcers

Soursop extract may show promise for treating gastric ulcers. A review of 49 research articles from 1981 to 2021 showed that soursop's high concentration of flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids made it a popular traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal issues, including ulcers. One study using soursop leaves to treat ulcers in rats reduced the ulcers and suppressed gastric acid that can damage the mucus membrane lining the walls of the stomach, similar to proton pump inhibitors. But we still don't have enough research to know if this would be effective in humans. 

May aid weight loss

In a study using adult mice, researchers test whether soursop extract could be used to treat some of the symptoms of obesity. The results showed that mice who were given a high-fat diet, and then supplemented with doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg soursop extract had significant reduction in body weight compared to the mice that weren't given the extract, even though they didn't have a reduced caloric intake. The study authors said they believe it confirms soursop leaf tea can help reduce body weight, but should be studied further in humans. 

Soursop in Traditional Medicine

The phytochemicals in soursop have made it a popular herbal treatment in traditional medicine for a long time. Its leaves been used to make tea to treat a wide range of health conditions and ailments, including: 

• Bacterial or parasite infections
• Fever 
• High blood sugar
• High blood pressure 
• Inflammation 
• Anxiety 
• Cancer
• Digestive problems 
• Pain 
• Cough 
• Asthma

Soursop extract hasn't been proven as a curative for any of these in humans, so if you want to use it as a supplement, talk to your doctor first.

Soursop Leaves Benefits

Often used to make tea, soursop leaves are dark green and glossy. They're loaded with antioxidants, which help your immune system. In vitro studies show the leaves might help with things such as:

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Abscesses
• Ulcers
• Certain cancers

But we need more studies to confirm these results in people.

Possible Soursop Side Effects

While soursop may offer significant health benefits, it does have some potential drawbacks. 

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Studies have shown that the fruit and tea made from the leaves may create nerve damage with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. Studies also indicate that it may interact with high blood pressure medication or medications for diabetes. The compounds in the fruit may strengthen the effects of such medications, causing dangerous drops in your blood pressure or blood sugar levels.

You should also avoid eating soursop seeds. They have toxic compounds and may cause harmful side effects. Be sure to remove them before eating the fruit.

How to Eat Soursop

You’ll likely find fresh and frozen soursop in your local grocery store or farmers market. You may also find the fruit online. 

Most soursop is picked before the fruit is fully ripened. While the unripe fruit is green, it turns yellow-green when mature. It will also give a little when pressed. Store unripe fruits on the counter. Once mature, you should store them in the refrigerator and use them within a few days. 

Soursop fruit

Soursop is delicious raw. Just cut it in half and scoop the flesh out with a spoon. Just be sure to remove the seeds because they're toxic. You can also use the fresh fruit in:

• Homemade popsicles
• Ice cream
• Smoothies
• Toppings for oatmeal or yogurt
• Quick breads or cakes

Soursop juice

You can now buy 100% soursop juice from a big grocer or online. Or you can make your own at home. There are plenty of simple recipes online, but all you really have to do is peel it, remove the seeds, add the pulp to a blender with some water, and blend until smooth. You can strain the juice and add milk or lime juice, or drink it thick like a smoothie. You also can flavor it with honey, vanilla, or ginger.

Soursop tea

Soursop tea also is simple to make. You just boil some water, add the leaves, and let them steep for about 10 minutes. Add some honey for a hint of sweetness.

Takeaways

Soursop is a tropical fruit full of antioxidants. It grows in Central and South America and has been used in these countries for decades to treat many types of health problems. Although there's little scientific evidence to show it's beneficial for people, several in vitro and animal studies have found that soursop extract may have positive results in treating some cancers and gastric ulcers, lowering blood pressure, and stabilizing blood glucose. We need more research to know if these effects apply to people.

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Soursop FAQs

Is it safe to eat soursop every day?

You should probably eat soursop in moderation because a few studies have shown that eating too much may affect your neurological health, especially if you have a conditionsuch as Parkinson's disease.

Is soursop illegal in the US?

No. However, if you're traveling to the U.S. from another country, you must declare all agricultural products to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. bans nearly all fruits and vegetables from other countries because they can carry pests, so just get your soursop in the U.S.