Cancer And Soursop

When it comes to matters of health, I don’t joke with them, a lot of people wait until there is a serious issue before they start a safety measure. At the rate I get Blackberry broadcast message on cancer, I begin to wonder more and more.  Why can’t people just do things to help them get away from this deadly disease?  Cancer is one not to joke with, you must not be a Doctor to become health conscious; early detection is the cure for cancer. It kills and is still killing lots of people. Talking from the aspect of food, Soursop is one fruit that can help the fighting of cancer and even other diseases.

Soursop- Other common names include: Coração de Boi (Mozambique), Evo (Ewe, Volta Region, Ghana), Ekitafeeli (Uganda), Stafeli (Swahili), Aluguntugui (Ga, Greater Accra Region, Ghana), guanábana (Spanish), graviola (Brazilian). The other lesser-known Indian names are shul-ram-fal and Lakshmana Phala, and in Harar (Ethiopia) in Harari language known for centuries as Amba Shoukh (Thorny Mango or Thorny Fruit)

is usually large and irregularly shaped with green colored skin that  look as though it covered in thorns (but the thorns aren't dangerously prickly). It is very juicy and sweet (the riper the sweeter). The pulp is white with large coffee brown seeds (almost black) the seeds look like that of pumpkin seeds in shape and size. Soursop is only edible when its soft and when you buy it hard you have to wrap it to make it soft else you won’t be able to eat it. Sometimes it could be tangy (but not so much that you won’t be able to eat it). One piece goes from N200 up wards, you may be fortunate to buy it less though and you can get it in most local markets. 

Soursop is known to being rich in vitamin C and B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, but here is a list of what the fruit has to offer:

• Vitamin and Iron
• Riboflavin
• Phosphorus
• Thiamine
• Calcium
• Carbohydrates
• Niacin
• Fiber

Soursop Health Benefits – Cancer Prevention

Unfortunately, research revolving around soursop’s healing properties is lacking in the scientific world, but so far researchers have been studying soursop for its ability to protect against cancer and reduce side-effects of chemotherapy. Since 1976, over 20 independent labs researched soursop’s anti-cancer effects following initial research carried out by the National Cancer Institute. The National Cancer Institute found that soursop’s “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells. After the 1976 findings, that were apparently never released to the public, other research studies came out with similar conclusions:

• One study published in the Journal of Natural Products found that one chemical in soursop was 10,000 times more potent than a chemotherapy drug called Adriamycin.

• The Catholic University of South Korea reports that soursop is not only a threat to cancer cells, but also leaves healthy cells alone. This is not the case with chemo, which target all the cells – much like antibiotics indiscriminately destroying all gut bacteria, good and bad.

• Purdue University found that leaves from the soursop tree are “killed cancer cells among six human cell lines”. The researchers also found that the leaves were particularly effective for prostate and pancreatic cancers.

Other Health Benefits of Soursop

• Alleviates pain stemming from arthritis, joint and back problems, and rheumatism.

• Prevents urinary tract infections - Soursop is known for it’s vitamin C content (77% daily value per cup). Vitamin C can help to decrease the amount of harmful bacteria that may be present in the urinary tract.

• Migraine and headache relief – Soursop contains riboflavin, which could help with headaches.

• May help with anemia – Soursop is rich in iron, which could help with iron deficiency anemia.

• Prevents constipation - Rich in fiber, soursop is one of the many foods to choose if you suffer from constipation.

• Bone health – soursop contains copper, a mineral promoting the absorption of bone-benefiting calcium.

• Prevents leg cramps – Potassium in the fruit could help prevent leg cramps.

• Boosts energy levels- Along with vitamin C, soursop is known to be rich in B vitamins as well. B vitamins are known to help increase energy levels.

SOURCE:naturalsociety.com