5 Things You Need to Know about Soursop (or Graviola)

Soursop is making its way around online and on social media as a remedy that everyone needs to try. But why? What is soursop and what is so special about it? There’s a ton of information out there, so we did some research and gathered 5 facts about soursop – or graviola – to get you started.

1. Soursop is a tropical fruit.

Soursop (pronounced: sour-sahp), or Annona muricata, is a tropical fruit native to countries such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, to name a few. In these countries, soursop is called several other regional names like graviola, guanabana, sauersak, and custard apple. The fruit is prickly green, resembles an avocado and is typically eaten raw by cutting the fruit in half and scooping out the white, creamy flesh. Most often, people say that it tastes similar to pineapple or strawberry. All parts of the plant are harvested and used in a variety of ways.

2. Soursop may help fight cancer, but no studies have been done on humans yet.

Soursop as a cancer-fighting agent has gotten the plant quite a following online and in social media circles. Many of the reported benefits of soursop are due to it having acetogenins (ACGs) and antioxidants. ACGs seem to work to kill, block, or otherwise fight different types of cancers. There have been some test tube studies done that use a high concentration of soursop and have shown improvement in stopping breast cancer cell growth and leukemia cell growth. There have been other animal studies conducted on soursop’s role in heart disease and antiinflammatory properties, too. Although no research on soursop’s benefits have been tested on humans, the research is promising and worth keeping an eye on.

3. Soursop leaf extract is used in some anti-lice shampoos.

You read that right! Researchers have found that soursop leaf extract, combined with citric acid, is an effective way to kill head lice. Some parts of the graviola plant are even used in pesticides and in manufacturing. Mostly, though, soursop is exported in fruit pulps for food consumption and leaves for extracts.

4. As with all things, soursop does have side effects.

Because soursop is understudied in general and not studied at all in humans (yet), no one is sure how much is too much and who should avoid taking it as a natural remedy. What information is out there on side effects does point to a few signs and cautions to keep in mind. Excess soursop can be toxic, causing symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson’s disease, including rigid muscles, personality changes, imbalances, etc. Soursop (or graviola) may interact with certain heart medications and blood sugar regulating medications. The research also suggests that people who are pregnant and children should avoid soursop.

5. Soursop can be eaten raw or enjoyed in teas and supplements.

The best way to get the most out of the health benefits of soursop is to eat the fruit raw (avoiding the seeds, which are toxic). But, if you live in an area where getting the fruit is difficult, there are other ways you can enjoy soursop including in teas and powders. Avoid buying soursop from Amazon retailers and other non-reputable sources.

We Carry Graviola Tea and Capsules

If you’re interested in trying soursop (or graviola), we carry graviola in tea and capsule form at Wholly Holistic. Because there has been an uptick in the demand, we’re researching carefully to make sure we get well-sourced soursop products that you can trust.

At Wholly Holistic, we can work with you to meet your health goals. Stop in, call, or message us today to ask all your questions and to schedule a health coaching appointment with one of our certified practitioners.

See you in the shop!