Should you make room for soursop (alias guanabana) in your diet?

Officially known as Annona muricata, soursop is native to South America and goes by many names. You may also hear it called guanabana, graviola, or custard apple. Visually, the fruit looks like an oversized avocado – if the avocado is covered with sharp spines. Despite its tough appearance, custard apple has a sweet heart.Its white pulp is smooth and fine with large black seeds. People sometimes compare its sweet and sour taste to a mixture of strawberries and apples.

The nutritional value of soursop

Like many fruits, soursop is a healthy source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. One cup of fresh custard apple (about 225 grams) contains:

• Calories: 148,

• Protein: 2.25 grams.

• Fiber: 7.42 grams.

• Carbohydrates: 37.8 grams.

• Sugar: 30 grams.

In addition to fiber, fruit is also a good source of nutrients:

• Vitamin C.

• Potassium.

• Magnesium. Soursop

is also rich in antioxidants, substances that protect cells from damage.A diet rich in antioxidants may help protect against diseases such as heart disease or cancer.

Potential Health Benefits of Soursop

Traditional healers have long used soursop for medicinal purposes. They use many parts of the plant, including the fruit, leaves, and stem, to treat various ailments. Soursop works:

• Cancer prevention.

• Reduce inflammation.

• Kills bacteria.

But there’s a big caveat to these claims, says Supan. Medical researchers are only just beginning to study the health benefits of soursop. Therefore, we do not yet have scientific data on the beneficial health properties of the plant.

Soursop really helps fight cancer?

There is evidence that extracts from the leaves can kill cancer cells or fight inflammation.But slow down: These results come from test-tube and animal studies, which often involve large doses of soursop leaf extract.

How to eat soursop

Although you should probably avoid soursop extract or tea, there’s no reason not to eat them. “When it comes to fruit, go to town!” Supan said.

“The custard apple has a creamy texture and delicious tropical flavor,” she says.”But spit out the seeds because they are poisonous.”