{"id":635528,"date":"2026-03-12T09:30:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635528"},"modified":"2026-10-16T14:10:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T18:10:25","slug":"soursop-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/soursop-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Soursop benefits: What the research says and how to add it to your diet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soursop (Annona muricata<\/i>), also known as guayabano, graviola, guanabana, or sirsak, looks like a prickly avocado and grows in tropical and subtropical climates. The fruit has a creamy texture and sweet-tart flavor, while its leaves and other plant parts have long been used in traditional medicine. Early research suggests soursop may offer several health benefits, but most studies have been conducted in animals or laboratories. More research is needed to determine its effectiveness and safety in humans. Here’s what to know about the potential benefits and risks of soursop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0 \u00a0Potential soursop benefits at a glance<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Benefit or Claim<\/b><\/td>\nEvidence assessment<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Provides vitamin C and antioxidants<\/td>\nYes; established nutritional values<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Supports digestive health<\/td>\nYes, due to fiber content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Supports immune function<\/td>\nYes, due to Vitamin C content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lowers blood pressure<\/td>\nLimited human research<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reduces inflammation<\/td>\nPrimarily animal and laboratory research but may have anti-inflammatory effects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lowers blood sugar<\/td>\nPrimarily animal and laboratory research<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fights bacteria or parasites<\/td>\nPrimarily animal and laboratory research, but may have antibacterial effects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prevents or treats cancer<\/td>\nNo evidence in humans, but anticancer activity has been found in lab studies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Relieves headaches and arthritis symptoms<\/td>\nInsufficient human evidence but may have potential for reducing arthritis-related inflammation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May support weight loss<\/td>\nInsufficient human evidence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

13 health benefits of soursop<\/h2>\n

In 1 cup of raw soursop pulp, you get the following macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Soursop nutritional values<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Nutrient<\/strong><\/td>\nAmount per cup<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calories<\/td>\n148<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiber<\/td>\n7.4 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vitamin C<\/td>\n46.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potassium<\/td>\n626 mg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carbohydrates<\/td>\n37.9 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sugar<\/td>\n30.5 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: <\/i>University Hospitals<\/i><\/a>. Approximate USDA-based values for raw edible pulp.<\/i><\/small><\/small><\/p>\n

This breakdown is important because these macro- and micronutrients are linked to the following benefits:<\/p>\n

1. Provides antioxidants<\/h3>\n

Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may help protect you against disease. Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals, which are known for damaging cells. Research<\/a> notes that free radicals can lead to Alzheimer\u2019s, cancer, and heart disease.<\/p>\n

Soursop fruit and leaf extracts have antioxidant properties because they contain vitamin C, flavonoids, acetogenins, tannins, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds. Studies<\/a> suggest that the antioxidant content of each serving depends on the extraction method used; an extract made with a mixture of water and alcohol was found to be a safe and efficient source of antioxidants.<\/p>\n

2. Boosts immunity<\/h3>\n

If you eat an entire piece of soursop fruit<\/a>, you stand to get roughly 120 milligrams of vitamin C.<\/p>\n

\u201cSoursop is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, which can help support your immune system,\u201d explains Ashley Kitchens, RDN<\/a>, registered dietitian and owner of Plant Centered Nutrition in Durham, North Carolina. Vitamin C boosts your body\u2019s natural defenses by protecting cells against free radical damage.<\/p>\n

3. Fights bacteria<\/h3>\n

Western medicine typically treats bacterial infections with antibiotics<\/a>. Those types of drugs may come with side effects, prompting many to seek natural alternatives, like soursop.<\/p>\n

Researchers evaluated soursop\u2019s antibacterial properties through an in vitro study (a study conducted in a non-living environment, such as a test tube). They tested soursop leaf extracts at varying concentrations and found them highly effective against certain bacterial strains, including major players such as Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, E. coli, and Salmonella. However, soursop is not an alternative to antibiotics prescribed by your provider. More research is needed to understand the connection between soursop and bacterial infections.<\/p>\n

4. May treat or prevent ulcers<\/h3>\n

Ulcers are sores that often appear in the digestive tract, causing pain and bloating. Antibiotics and antacids are common treatments.<\/p>\n

There is limited evidence of using soursop to mitigate or treat ulcers in humans; however, there are several promising studies that involved testing on animals. In a study on mice, researchers found that soursop extract resulted in \u201csignificant anti-ulcer activity<\/a>.\u201d Research is limited, and more studies are needed to establish the benefits for humans.<\/p>\n

5. Reduces inflammation<\/h3>\n

Inflammation in the body can cause all types of annoyances: joint pain, fatigue, and even digestive issues. There are natural and medicinal solutions available, with soursop emerging as a potential contender.<\/p>\n

In a study conducted on rodents, researchers found soursop extract has anti-inflammatory effects<\/a>. Soursop helps fight free radicals that cause oxidative stress in your body, thereby reducing inflammation. Researchers concluded that the extract they used lessened inflammation and helped relieve pain.<\/p>\n

6. Shows anti-parasitic activity<\/h3>\n

It is well documented that soursop is used in various parts of the world to treat parasites. Several in vitro studies have put the plant\u2019s leaf extracts and seeds to the test, finding promising antiparasitic results<\/a>. In a controlled study performed on sheep, the leaf extract showed as high as 89% toxicity against gastrointestinal parasites<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. May help manage blood pressure<\/h3>\n

If you have high blood pressure, consuming soursop could potentially complement any treatments you\u2019re on. A controlled trial of 143 people found that those who consumed 100 grams of soursop juice twice a day for three months had significantly lower average systolic blood pressure<\/a> than the control group, who were not treated.<\/p>\n

8. May help relieve headaches<\/h3>\n

Could soursop treat headaches? Maybe so. The leaves of the plant have been used across the world to treat headaches<\/a> when steeped in tea. This is due to the plant\u2019s known ability to reduce inflammation<\/a>. A word of caution, though, is that there aren\u2019t any studies to support soursop\u2019s direct effect on headaches, and current evidence appears to be anecdotal.<\/p>\n

9. May lower blood sugar levels<\/h3>\n

A number of in vitro studies suggest that soursop fruit extracts may help people manage blood sugar levels<\/a>. This is because the extracts inhibit \u03b1<\/i>-amylase and \u03b1<\/i>-glucosidase, which influence your blood glucose levels. It\u2019s also thought that soursop may slow the breakdown of carbohydrates, reducing the amount of glucose your body absorbs.<\/p>\n

10. Can help arthritis symptoms<\/h3>\n

Because soursop has anti-inflammatory properties, it may be used to help relieve symptoms of arthritis. In one study, researchers pretreated rats with soursop fruit extract and then injected them with carrageenan to elicit edema (swelling). They found that soursop significantly inhibited swelling<\/a> and noted that the results were on par with the \u201cmost clinically effective anti-inflammatory agents.\u201d<\/p>\n

11. Boosts digestive health<\/h3>\n

The dietary fiber content in soursop, roughly 20 grams per serving, may be one key to unlocking your digestive health. \u201cFiber can help improve digestion and gut health,\u201d says Kitchens. She explains that fiber promotes regularity and feeds the good bacteria that live in your gut.<\/p>\n

12. Shows potential anti-cancer activity<\/h3>\n

An extensive scientific review notes that graviola (another name for soursop) is a popular treatment for cancer in some countries. Extracts from the plant were found to offer protection against malignancies<\/a>, including colon, breast, and prostate cancers.<\/p>\n

However, there is currently no reliable evidence that eating soursop or taking soursop supplements can prevent, treat, or cure cancer. Soursop should never replace prescribed cancer treatments. If you have cancer, speak with your healthcare provider before taking soursop supplements, as their safety and potential interactions with cancer treatments are not well established.<\/p>\n

\u201cLab studies (in vitro) show there may be some antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties, but the data is inconclusive in humans,\u201d says Erika Gray, Pharm.D.<\/a>, founder and chief medical officer at ToolBox Genomics.com.<\/p>\n

13. May help weight loss efforts<\/h3>\n

A study on the use of graviola (soursop) leaf tea in mice found that the plant helps reduce body weight<\/a> and \u201cattenuated the accumulation of lipids\u201d (a fancy way of saying it prevented body fat). As a result of reduced body weight and body fat, soursop tea was also potentially linked to a reduction in cardiovascular risks associated with cholesterol and triglycerides.<\/p>\n

Important considerations and potential downsides<\/h2>\n

There are a number of claims about soursop\u2019s health benefits, such as improving sleep, but we couldn\u2019t find any science-backed evidence. Additionally, while soursop has potential effects on inflammation, blood pressure, and even cancer cells, the plant has not been recommended by health professionals as a \u201cmiracle cure\u201d for any of these or the other issues outlined here.<\/p>\n

Soursop can be a beneficial addition to your diet, though it may not be safe for everyone. There are several groups of people who should avoid the fruit or consume it with caution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main group at risk is those with neurodegenerative diseases,\u201d says Dr. Gray. \u201cPeople with a family history of neurodegenerative disorders should avoid eating soursop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soursop contains annonacin, which is a mitochondrial toxin, she explains. Chronic consumption has been linked to neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson’s disease. It could also lead to side effects like low blood pressure and liver damage.<\/p>\n

Dr. Gray also suggests the following people should avoid or use soursop with caution:<\/p>\n