What are the benefits and禁忌 (contraindications) of释迦果 (soursop)?
Mar 06, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the benefits of cherimoya include maintaining heart health, regulating blood sugar levels, promoting digestive health, improving skin appearance, and enhancing brain function. Contraindications include moderate consumption for individuals with obesity, avoiding consumption with cucumber, cautious consumption for individuals with a cold body constitution, cautious consumption for diabetic patients, and avoiding consumption of unripe fruit. Cherimoya is nutritionally rich, but intake should be controlled according to individual conditions.
Generally speaking, the benefits of cherimoya include maintaining heart health, regulating blood glucose levels, promoting digestive health, beautifying the skin, and enhancing brain function. Contraindications include moderate consumption for obese individuals, avoiding consumption with cucumber, caution for individuals with Yang-deficiency constitution, caution for diabetic patients, and avoiding consumption of unripe fruit. Detailed explanations are as follows:
I. Benefits
1. Maintaining Heart Health: Cherimoya contains a high level of potassium and a low level of sodium. This ratio helps maintain stable blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the antioxidants it contains also help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Regulating Blood Glucose Levels: Although cherimoya tastes sweet, it contains a component called insulin-like growth factor, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and provide certain benefits for diabetic patients.
3. Promoting Digestive Health: Cherimoya is rich in dietary fiber, which helps promote intestinal motility, prevent constipation, and maintain a healthy digestive system. Moreover, cherimoya contains some natural enzymes, such as papain, which aid in digestion and nutrient absorption.
4. Beautifying the Skin: Cherimoya is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants that can remove free radicals in the body, slow down the cellular aging process, help maintain healthy skin, delay aging, and offer cosmetic benefits.
5. Enhancing Brain Function: Cherimoya is rich in calcium, an essential substance for brain metabolism. Consuming cherimoya in moderation can effectively supplement the calcium required by the brain, helping promote brain development and improve intelligence.
II. Contraindications
1. Moderate Consumption for Obese Individuals: Cherimoya has relatively high sugar and fat content. Excessive consumption by obese individuals may lead to further weight gain, so it should be consumed in moderation to control calorie intake.
2. Not Recommended to Consume with Cucumber: Cherimoya is rich in vitamin C, while enzymes present in cucumber can break down vitamin C, reducing its absorption and utilization. Therefore, it is not recommended to consume them together.
3. Caution for Individuals with Yang-Deficiency Constitution: Cherimoya has a relatively warming nature. Consumption by individuals with Yang-deficiency constitution may worsen their internal Yang deficiency, so it should be consumed cautiously.
4. Caution for Diabetic Patients: Although cherimoya contains carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, its sugar content remains relatively high. Consumption by diabetic patients may easily cause blood sugar fluctuations, which is not conducive to blood sugar control.
5. Avoid Consuming Unripe Fruit: Unripe cherimoya contains alkaloids such as annonaine, which may cause poisoning symptoms like dizziness and vomiting. It is necessary to ensure the fruit is fully ripe before consumption.
Cherimoya is nutritionally rich, but intake should be controlled according to individual conditions. Special populations, such as diabetic patients and individuals with kidney disease, should consume it under the guidance of a physician and avoid consuming large amounts of unripe pulp on an empty stomach.
