What’s ugly on the outside and delicious on the inside? What’s prickly green or brown on the outside and creamy white on the inside? No clue? Then I’ll tell you…….soursop.
This is a fruit I had never seen until I moved to the Caribbean. It is native to South America and the sub-Saharan parts of Africa. It is cultivated in Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia and my present home, the Caribbean.
Other names for it are graviola, Brazilian pawpaw, guanaba, guanabana and guyabana depending on where you are in the world of its existence.
This strange and wonderful fruit has a creamy white pulp which has a sweet/sour taste with many black seeds imbedded into it. If you look closely at the photo you can see some of the seeds. The pulp is chocked full of B vitamins, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, healthy fats, carbohydrates and protein. It is cholesterol free and low in calories. Sounds too good to be true but it definitely has even more surprises.
The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research studies on soursop in 1976. They showed “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells.” In fact some other studies have stated that soursop is 10,000 times better in slowing cancer cell growth than Adriamycin, a known chemotherapeutic drug!! Now that is quite a claim! Here are 10 other health benefits of this natural pharmacy.
- Use the leaf tea for head lice, bed bugs, coughs, dysentery, fever and indigestion
- Use the juice for liver problems
- Mash the leaves for eczema and other skin problems
- Use the root bark for poisoning
- Use a decoction of the leaves as a compress for inflammation and swollen feet
- Due to its high calcium content it is good for leg cramps
- Thiamin, the B vitamin, in the fruit helps the body produce energy
- Another B vitamin, Folate is recommended for pregnanat women
- Another B vitamin, riboflavin, helps with migraine headache
- Iron in the fruit helps with anemia
What a power packed surprise soursop delivers!
