Soursop is a native South American fruit that looks like a large avocado with spikes. Naturally, it’s a good source of fiber and antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation and support digestion. With soursop recently popular on social media, you might wonder whether this super fruit can truly work wonders—especially in the form of bitters.
For centuries, native healers have used soursop for medicinal purposes. You might find them using the fruit, leaves, and stems to treat a variety of illnesses. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you may benefit from soursop’s potential to reduce inflammation, fight bacteria, lower blood sugar, and more.
But right now, you might be hearing a lot about soursop bitters, which have gone viral this past year. When you try soursop bitters, you’re getting a concentrated liquid extract—usually made from the leaves and sometimes combined with stem or root bark. Unlike the sweet fruit, the leaves taste distinctly bitter, which, in traditional herbalism, is thought to regulate digestion.
One of the most common claims is that soursop may help you manage high blood pressure. For example, a 2020 study in the Journal of Human Hypertension found that people who drank seven ounces of soursop juice daily for three months had lower blood pressure than those who didn’t. Some even claim they were able to stop all hypertensive medication.
Another viral claim is that extracts from soursop leaves could kill cancer cells. However, these findings come from laboratory studies and often involve extremely high doses of soursop leaf extract.
Because soursop bitters are considered herbal medicine and aren’t regulated by the FDA, be aware of possible side effects. If you consume large amounts of soursop, you could experience toxicity, with symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s disease—rigid muscles, slow movement, and problems with balance or walking. Soursop can also interfere with medications you might use for high blood pressure or diabetes.
As with any new supplement or medicine, you should always talk to your trusted health professional before adding soursop bitters or any other supplements to your routine.
