Soursop Leaf Tea

Soursop leaf tea

Teas have been very popular these days; no matter if it’s green tea, black tea, chamomile tea or any other, you will see wide varieties of these whenever you walk into the food store, sometimes including soursop leaf tea.

Everyone wants to find a drink that will keep their bodies healthy and happy. Soursop leaf tea can be one of those drinks as it can provide many health benefits.

This tea is not as common as green tea or chamomile tea, but research has shown it’s a lot of medical properties. This tea also has a history of being used as an immunity-boosting beverage, making it famous day by day. And it gained most of the popularity in pop culture.

What is soursop?

Soursop is actually the name of a fruit that grows in the tropical region of Africa, America and the Caribbean. It is scientifically known as “Annona mucricata” but locally called guanabana, sirsak, paw-paw, and many others.

Soursop plant belongs to an Annonacea family, aka, the custard apple family. However, its fruits taste more like mango or pineapple rather than an apple, since it is not actually related to apples.

For generations, soursop has been harvested to produce a lot of different items, like cooking oils, soap and herbal medicines. Ancient practices used this fruit to treat illness, as a fertility drug, insecticides, and many other purposes.

Soursop tea is well known as an “immunity booster”. Soursop leaves are used to brew tea with a less intense flavor.

It can be combined with other flavors, such as other herbal teas, to increase its taste. For example, some people add fruits or blend in other herbal tea, while some mix spices in it.

Health benefits of soursop leaf tea:

Soursop leaves tea can provide a lot of health benefits as it contains a large number of nutrients like minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Some benefits include:

1. Improves immune health:

The first and most sought-after benefit of soursop tea is the ability of this plant to increase immunity by improving the immune system of the body.

The high level of vitamin C present in this tea helps the body fight against pathogens, protecting your skin from oxidization damage. Vitamin C is not the only antioxidant which is present in soursop tea. It also contains:

• Phytosterols help in reducing bad cholesterol levels
• Flavonoids help in regulating cellular activity and fight free radicals
• Tannins, which contain an antimicrobial effect

Many people drink soursop tea to defend their bodies against viruses and bacteria and to ward off illness. Soursop leaf tea can also be used to shorten the sickness period and treat the common cold.

2. Reduce inflammation:

Free radicals present within the body don’t just cause illness, but they can also lead to inflammation and stress.

Soursop tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help build the immune system and help fight against chronic conditions caused by this Inflammation. Such as:

• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Heart Disease

Also, if you are not dealing with any of the above conditions, soursop tea can be very helpful in relieving stress and tension spams as well.

3. Improves digestive health:

Each cup of soursop tea leaves contains almost 7.4g of fiber, which can be very helpful in easing constipation. It can also slow down digestion, making you feel full for longer and preventing the craving for processed and sugary foods.

Soursop has also seemed to be very effective in fighting heart diseases as it can lower bad cholesterol levels.

Moreover, soursop’s anti-parasitic and anti-viral properties can prevent intestinal worms and other parasites from the gut tract.

Soursop tea can also work as a diuretic, which cleanses the intestines and excrete the excess sodium, which can cause bloating.

4. Help maintain blood pressure:

Soursop leaves contain a high level of potassium, almost 626 mg in every cup of soursop tea. It also contains a high amount of iron. Both ingredients work together to lower high blood pressure levels.

Potassium increases blood circulation while iron maintains heartbeat and reduces tension in blood vessels and arteries, according to a series of studies in which 143 participants were found to have fewer chances of hypertension due to the intake (Alatas, 2019) soursop tea leaves. The study also found out that the regular soursop on a regular basis has lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure as compared to those who don’t.

5. Natural energizer:

Soursop leaf tea contains some good carbs in it, which can keep you energetic throughout the day and without being addicted to caffeine. Soursop leaves contain a high amount of fiber, providing extra benefits in digestion and detoxification.

Moreover, the presence of minerals and vitamins like iron and vitamin C also plays an important role in keeping you energetic.

Iron pumps the oxygen into the bloodstream to keep you active and vitamin C can keep energy level at optimum. Therefore, a regular intake of soursop leaves tea can keep your body’s function processing as it should be.

6. Helps in preventing cancer:

Besides all the ingesting and cardiovascular health benefits of soursop tea, it can also help prevent the risk of cancer. There are many different studies which show that.

For example, according to one study (Najmuddin, 2016), soursop extract can help in reducing the size of breast cancer tumors. In another study (Pieme, 2014), soursop can reduce the formation of leukemia cells.

These studies don’t show that soursop can be helpful in treating cancer or it can be a cure. But according to these studies, soursop can prevent the risk of cancer and improve immunity.

7. Can reduce parasite infection:

In countries where soursop tea is popular enough that many people use it regularly, they have a lower rate of parasite infection. 

Pinworms and the protozoa are the most common parasitic conditions present in the United states. Soursop tea can be very helpful in treating parasitic infections.

You can brew the leaves of soursop. Simply add 2-3 leaves into the water and let them boil for 10 minutes. Now take out the leaves and pour the tea into a cup.

The antioxidants present within soursop leaves can provide great benefits in fighting against parasitic infections.

Moreover, it also contains anti-parasitic properties, which can make you relieve little worms like tap worms or pinworms through the intestines .

8. Relax muscles and reduce back pain:

Another thing that makes soursop leaf tea very popular in South America and other native tribes is its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to these properties, this tea can reduce the tension and stress of muscles.

Moreover, the antimicrobial property of soursop tea also makes it able to treat damaged skin and prevent the risk of skin infection. Soursop tea can also provide potential benefits in reducing back pain.

Soursop tea has been shown to be effective as certain mild anti-inflammatory drugs when consumed on a regular basis.

This is all because of the high nutritional content present in the leaves of soursop, which makes it such a natural herbal medicine.

9. Mild sedative:

Soursop tea is also very famous due to its mild sedative effect. The leaves and bark of the soursop plants are well-known for these properties.

Ancient tribes of South Africa used to crush the leaves of soursop plants and sprinkle them around their sleeping areas for better sleep.

Consuming soursop leaf tea increases the release of serotonin, a feel-good hormone, which is responsible for stabilizing the emotional state and keeping the body calm.

For this reason, soursop tea is used as a natural remedy to reduce psychological conditions like anxiety, stress and depression and sleep disorders.

10. Helps with weight loss:

Obesity is not only a serious medical condition itself, but it can also play a major role in increasing the risk of other chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and certain cancers.

According to a study published in the nutrients journal (Sasso, 2019), soursop leaf tea was given to obese mice for almost three months, and results found a significant reduction in weight loss due to the therapeutic property of soursop leaves.

You can also add soursop tea into your daily routine to burn some fats. Starting from one cup a day for a few weeks, and then you can increase the quantity to two cups a day.

But make sure to have a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise. As these things will enhance the benefits of soursop leaves tea, you will show results more quickly. With the reduction in weight your overall health will also be improved.

How to make soursop tea?

Soursop tea doesn’t contain any caffeine and can be easily brewed at home. Soursop plants are locally grown in certain parts of America, and you can easily find them near herbalist stores or natural health stores.

People who have tried soursop tea said that it has an aroma similar to freshly cut grass and tastes more like a herbal leaf tea.

This tea can also be mixed with other herbal teas to improve the taste. Here are the few simple steps you need to follow in order to make soursop tea.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 5-6 leaves from the soursop plant
• 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar if desired

Instruction:

1-Add water to the pot and bring it to boil

2-Drain the leaves to remove all the dirt and then add it to boiling water

3-Let it simmers on slow heat for 10-15 minutes

4-Remove the pot from heat and strain the mixture into a teapot; add sweetener or honey according to taste.

How much tea to drink?

This is the most asked question of how much soursop tea should be drunk to get all its benefits. Well, tea consumption varies from person to person. Some soursop tea drinkers find out that their ideal serving of soursop tea is 2-3 cups a day. But it totally depends upon the size and habits of the person.

It also depends upon the number of leaves you are adding per cup. The recommended number of leaves is 1-2 per cup, but if leaves are smaller or younger, you can add 1-2 extra leaves as well.

Soursop tea bags are also easily available in the market and can provide the same advantage if using a good brand. For soursop tea bags, one tea bag will be enough for one cup of soursop tea.

Begin your intake of soursop tea with one cup every morning and see how it affects your body throughout the day. If you have felt the significant benefits after one week or two, add a second cup later in the day.

You can have a second cup at night as well. You can also take this tea before meals to ensure your digestion process is healthy and you are consuming enough energy.

Bottom line on soursop leaf tea:

There are wide varieties of tea present in the market, which can provide you with a lot of benefits, from losing weight to reducing the risk of disease. Soursop leaf tea is one of them.

This tea is made by brewing the leaves of soursop plants, which grow in tropical regions of Africa.

This plant is grown in certain parts of America as well. Soursop leaves contain high nutritional value, which makes this tea beneficial for the body. It contains a high amount of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

Soursop leaf tea has been used for thousands of years due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties as it can prevent the risk of fungal and bacterial infections.

It can also help in weight loss due to the presence of high content of fiber, which makes you feel full for longer.

However, pregnant women should not be taking a high quantity of soursop leaves tea. Some researchers believe that the consumption of this tea can negatively affect the growth of the fetus. So, always consult your doctor before adding anything to your diet plan.