WHAT IS SOURSOP TEA?

Soursop, also known as graviola, is the fruit of the Annona muricate evergreen tree. This dark green, prickly, heart-shaped fruit is hailed as a wonder herb. It’s popular for its mouth-watering flavor and breathtaking health benefits. Soursop smells and tastes like pineapples and has a creamy texture inside. Soursop is often used to make ice-creams, syrups, juices, smoothies and other sweet treats.

Surprisingly, the fruit itself isn’t the talk of the town. Recently, soursop tea has gained much popularity instead and there has been an increase demand for it. Soursop tea, also called graviola tea, is actually an herbal tea with a mild flavor. It is made from the leaves of the soursop fruit tree. Some people prefer to combine soursop tea with other herbal blends to boost the health benefits. For ages, soursop tea has also been used for medical purposes.

WHERE ARE THE BENEFITS OF DRINKING SOURSOP TEA?

Soursop or graviola is a popular natural remedy used for treating pain, insomnia, parasitic infections, hypertension and much more. Some people even use soursop fruit or soursop tea to induce vomiting or increase relaxation.

The following highlights a number of major health benefits of soursop:

Inflammation is actually a normal immune response to injuries, infections and toxins, however, there is an increasing evidence that shows chronic inflammation actually causes and advances many common diseases.

In some animal studies, it is found that soursop extract could help reduce inflammation and maybe useful in treating inflammatory disorders. In one particular study, the findings showed that soursop extract reduced swelling in mice by around 37% and helped alleviated inflammation. In another study, soursop extract also was found to decrease the levels of certain inflammatory markers involved in arthritis.

Soursop is indeed a natural anti-inflammatory that is high in powerful antioxidants. It is somehow effective in reducing chronic inflammation and treating inflammatory disorders.

Soursop has antibacterial properties, hence maybe effective against fighting bacteria and treating infections. In a test tube study assessing the antimicrobial efficacy of soursop leaf extracts, it showed that soursop leaf extracts were effective in fighting numerous bacteria, including strains that cause tooth decay, gingivitis and yeast infections. In another test tube study, it is also found that soursop extract worked promisingly against the bacteria responsible for Staphylococcus infections and cholera.

In spite of these promising results, it is worthwhile to note that further studies are still needed to better evaluate soursop’s potential antibacterial effects on humans.

Soursop is high in antioxidant level, thereby may help prevent cell damage and lower the risk of chronic disease. Antioxidants are substances that can protect against cell damage by neutralizing harmful compounds called free radicals. Soursop has high content of antioxidants. One test-tube study supported that fact that antioxidant properties of soursop extract helps effectively protect against cell damaged caused by free radicals. Besides, some research studies show that antioxidants play a crucial role in reducing risk of diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease among the participants. As such, soursop is indeed considered as a superfood.

Regular consumption of soursop extract is found to be effective in regulating blood glucose levels. A rodent study carried out in 2008 found that diabetic rats who were injected with soursop extracts for two weeks had five times lower blood sugar levels than the untreated rats. Another research study also showed that soursop extract helped reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats by up to 75%. Hence, it suggests that soursop could be beneficial for people with diabetes when paired with a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

Nutrient-dense soursop provides impressive health benefits, ranging from fighting bacteria, reducing inflammation to preventing cell damage and regulating blood sugar levels. Trust me, it is an excellent addition to your diet. Simply drink soursop tea or eat soursop as a fruit to enjoy the benefits.

HOW TO MAKE SOURSOP TEA?

Making soursop tea is not rocket science. Simply pick around 15 soursop dry leaves and 1 small steam. Make sure that the leaves are not too mature ad are in great shape.  Cut them into smaller pieces by tearing them apart.

Add 1 liter of water in a small pot and bring it to boil.  Put the soursop leaves into the boiling water and let them stay for 30 mins.

Your soursop tea is then ready to drink. It is suggested to drink 1 cup of filtered soursop tea either warm or cool twice a day. For a better taste, you may add in half spoon of lime juice, 2 pudina leaves and some honey.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SOURSOP TEA ?

Long term consumption of soursop may cause movement disorders. It may also cause serious neuropathy that leads to Parkinson-like symptoms such as stiff muscles. If you have Parkinson’s disease, don’t consume soursop or related food and drinks as it may make the symptoms worse.

Repeated use of soursop may also cause liver and kidney toxicity. You should not consume soursop if you have kidney or liver problems.  

Moreover, it Is also highly suggested that you don’t consume soursop or soursop leaves if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Pregnant women or those on breastfeeding should also be vigilant about consuming soursop or drinking soursop tea.

Do always remember to talk to your medical professional or doctor before making any changes to your diet.

Key Takeaways