Both the fruit and the leaves are full of properties and benefits for our health. Among the main properties of the soursop leaf, it can be mentioned that it is an analgesic.
The soursop, also known as graviola, is one of those tropical fruits little known outside the areas where it originates, but which is beginning to gain a foothold in more markets and is beginning to be seen on the lists of the healthiest foods and that prevent more diseases.
To benefit from its properties, it can be consumed in many ways, but today we want to talk to you about its leaves.
This fruit tree is native to tropical America (probably from the so-called “West Indies”), but it is also cultivated in other tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including India.
In the United States, the tree is cultivated and its fruit is marketed in the state of Florida, as well as other regions.
What is it for
Soursop, both the fruit and its leaf, is one of the so-called superfoods that is becoming popular for being a great ally in the prevention of diseases, since among other nutrients it contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and vitamin C.
Both the fruit and the leaves are full of properties and benefits for our health. Among the main properties of the soursop leaf we can highlight the following: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, relaxing, hypotensive, healing, diuretic and helps in the production of collagen and elastin.
Thanks to these properties, the leaves of the soursop or graviola have numerous benefits for the body.
Once the fruit is eaten, remember to keep the leaves as they will bring great benefits to your body.
These are the main benefits of the soursop leaf:
Improves the immune system by increasing defenses.
Among its benefits and medicinal uses, the treatment of eczema stands out, since it relieves the pain or itching that it can cause on the skin and reduces inflammation.
It is a good natural digestive.
Relieves muscle pain.
It helps prevent diabetes and reduce hyperglycemia, when there are high levels of glucose or sugar in the blood.
Improves rheumatic pain.
It favors the absorption of iron, so a frequent medicinal use is to take it in cases of iron deficiency anemia as a reinforcement of the treatment.
It lowers blood pressure, which is why it is used in cases of hypertension, as long as it is taken into account if any medication is taken precisely for this purpose and that it is consulted with the doctor.
How to prepare the soursop leaf
The fruit is eaten ripe, in smoothies or juices, for example, and the usual way to prepare soursop leaves for consumption is in tea or infusion, since in this way its properties are preserved to the maximum.
Preparing soursop or graviola leaf tea is very simple and you only need these ingredients and follow these instructions:
For the infusion it is necessary to have: 1 liter of water, 10 or 15 soursop leaves (better if they are fresh, but they can also be used dry) and juice of half a lemon. A tablespoon of honey can also be added to the tea, although this is optional.
Put a liter of water to boil and, when it reaches its boiling point, add all the soursop leaves.
Keep on low heat for 30 minutes.
When the water has reduced by half, strain the liquid into a cup and wait for it to warm or cool.
Add the juice of half a lemon and a tablespoon of honey. They are optional but many people add these ingredients to enhance the flavor.
However, keep in mind that if, for example, you are a diabetic person, you will have to think carefully about whether or not to add honey to count the insulin dose.
Stir so that the lemon and honey are well integrated and your soursop leaf tea will be ready to drink.
Soursop leaf contraindications
Despite its many benefits and properties for the body, soursop leaves also have some contraindications.
If you suffer from any of these diseases or find yourself in one of these situations, you should not consume graviola leaves or, at least, you should consult your doctor before doing so.
These are the main contraindications of the soursop leaf:
Pregnancy and lactation: pregnant or lactating women should not take soursop leaves because it can affect the quality of milk and not all possible effects on the fetus are well known.
Hypotension: if you have low blood pressure, its consumption is totally discouraged since one of the side effects of soursop is lowering blood pressure.
Hypertension with medication: if you suffer from high blood pressure, taking soursop should not be a problem since its contraindications include lowering blood pressure, not raising it. The problem is that it can interfere with the medications used to treat hypertension, so we recommend you consult your doctor if you take medication to control your blood pressure.
Parkinson’s: one of the components of soursop, the anonamine alkaloid can aggravate the symptoms of this disease.
Diabetes: this fruit has effects on sugar levels and can cause drops in it, so if you are diabetic you should not consume it without controlling glucose levels well. We advise you to consult your doctor since, on occasions, it is recommended to regulate diabetes, it will depend on your situation and degree of disease.
Other medicines: as there are various medicines with which these sheets can interfere, if you are taking any medication on a regular basis, we advise you to see your doctor or specialist who will inform you and resolve your doubts and will be able to tell you if the consumption of soursop leaves with your medication.
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