From kale to berries to green tea, turmeric, and more, which superfoods do you eat the most?
If your diet already consists of superfoods, great. But there’s one more you might be forgetting: the delicious and nutritious soursop or Graviola.
Rich in fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and other nutrients, this low-calorie fruit has tons of health benefits. And for sure, you’ll love all the different ways you can eat it.
That said, let’s talk about how to eat soursop, as well as its awesome health benefits and where you can get it.
How to Eat Soursop: The Best Ways to Enjoy Graviola
Soursop is native to Central and South America. But it’s now cultivated around the world.
It grows best in warm climates with high humidity. So if you live in a tropical region, you have better chances of getting it locally.
As for its taste, you may be surprised to know that despite the name, soursop isn’t that sour. Others have described it as having a similar flavor profile to that of pineapple or strawberry and even an apple with a citrus twist.
You can eat Graviola raw, blend it into a smoothie, or use it as a dessert ingredient. Now, if you’ve already bought soursop or someone gave you some, here are some ways to enjoy it before it starts to spoil. (Note: Ripe soursops last for about 2 days when stored in the fridge).
Eat It Raw
After washing your soursop, remove the skin with a knife. It’s easier to peel off if you make X-shaped cuts at the end. Doing it this way will allow you to peel your soursop like a banana.
You can then cut the milky flesh lengthwise, then remove the seeds. Keep in mind that the seeds are mildly toxic. It’s best to remove them and dispose of them the right way, especially if you have pets.
With your soursop ready to eat, just grab a spoon and dig into the soft pulp.
Make a Smoothie
You can blend soursop with a bit of water or coconut milk, then drink that. Or you can mix it with other fruits.
If you prefer the latter, there are different soursop smoothie recipes online. But if you don’t want to experiment with fruit combinations in case the results turn out not so great, you can use try this recipe, which calls for 2 soursops, fresh cubed pineapples and coconut, 4 leaves of kale or any leafy greens, and 1 small piece of fresh ginger.
Blend everything together and make sure to share your delicious Graviola smoothie with others.
Prepare a Soursop Sorbet
Are you craving a cold treat? This soursop sorbet is quite simple to prepare if you have an ice cream machine.
All you need to do is combine the soursop pulp with water and some sugar. You can also add some lime juice and salt, then transfer everything into an airtight container.
Let it cool overnight or if you don’t have time, do it for at least 2 hours. Pour your cooled soursop mixture into an ice cream machine and churn. After 20 to 25 minutes, you should have a thick soursop sorbet.
Don’t eat it yet though. It’s best to eat after it’s been in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours.
Why Add Soursop to Your Diet?
Sure, soursop isn’t the easiest fruit to find in your local grocery. You may need to get your supply from Soursop Store Canada or you may have to visit different supermarkets to get fresh soursop.
But all your efforts are going to be worth it not just because soursop is delicious. As mentioned earlier, it’s chock-full of health benefits. Here are some of them.
Reduces Inflammation
You probably know that inflammation is the body’s response to things that injure it. For example, infections, injuries, and so on.
But too much of it, aka chronic inflammation, is also harmful to the body. In fact, it’s been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
The great thing about soursop is it contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as alkaloids, phenols, and acetogenins. By consuming Graviola, as well as other inflammation-fighting foods, you’ll be helping your body manage its constant inflammatory response.
Has Antibacterial Properties
Though further studies are needed to prove Graviola benefits, in particular, its antibacterial properties, there is preliminary research that shows its potency in killing off multiple types of bacteria.
For example, one study looked into its efficacy against S. mutans, C. albicans, and P. intermedia. The results showed that soursop is effective against these strains because of its antimicrobial and fungicidal properties.
May Help Kill Certain Types of Cancer Cells
Fun fact: In Africa and South America, people use all parts of Graviola for medicinal purposes. That includes the leaves, bark, root, and fruits.
They use various parts of soursop to help treat everything from infections to depression to rheumatism and more including cancer.
Researchers are also studying Graviola’s anti-cancer effects. In certain laboratory studies, extracts of soursop are able to kill some types of breast and liver cancer cells.
You should note that these cancer cell types do not respond to the usual chemotherapy drugs. It would be wonderful if further studies can help prove this claim. And if pharmaceutical companies can come up with a safe, soursop-based medicine that doesn’t have a lot of side-effects.
Want to Know More About Soursop or Graviola?
Now that you’ve learned about how to eat soursop, plus some of its health benefits, don’t hesitate to research more.
Look for Graviola studies online and even how to grow soursop if you live in a place with warm weather. You can also talk to your doctor to know more about its health effects or if there are precautions you need to take if you plan to take Graviola supplements.
For more tips, advice, and info on healthy foods, feel free to browse the rest of the blog. There are also delicious recipes you can try, plus articles on diets, healthy living, and cooking techniques.
