Are Soursop Seeds Edible Or Poisonous?

Soursop, also referred to as Guanabana or Graviola, is a popular fruit that is native to South America and the West Indies.

Among other things, it is known for its spiky, green exterior and its creamy, soft and tasty white flesh. 

Soursop is rich in nutrients and has antioxidant properties that help to cleanse the body. 

The fruit, along with the seeds, stems, and leaves of the plant, has been consistently researched because they have been shown to contain components that may be beneficial to medicine. 

Soursop seeds specifically have been found to be anti-tumor, making them ideal for cancer-fighting, while also being anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.

Because the seeds are also poisonous when ingested, scientists have been researching how to extract the anticancer components without their poisonous effects.

Today, we examine soursop seeds in detail; can they be eaten, or are they completely poisonous and useless to the pharmaceutical industry?

Let’s dive right in, and take a thorough look at soursop seeds.

We look at how they can be used and whether or not they can be eaten. 

What happens if you eat the seeds of soursop?

Many fruits contain seeds that are edible, but unfortunately, soursop seeds do not fall in this category. 

If you accidentally eat some soursop seeds, it will not be fatal even though the seeds are toxic. It may give you stomach aches, resulting in constant vomiting and sometimes chills, as your body aims to expel the poison from your system. 

This is because soursop seeds are innately poisonous to humans, and may affect the brain.

They are not known to be fatal when taken accidentally.

But if taken regularly over time, they may affect brain function negatively. 

Specifically, Soursop seeds are not to be intentionally consumed.

This is because they can lead to the development of serious conditions such as brain lesions or even Parkinson’s disease, according to this recent study. 

Soursop seeds contain many toxic components that are still being studied.

One of the most studied components of soursop seeds is annonacin, which has been proven to be one of the major causes of developing neurodegenerative conditions. 

Related: How Do You Eat Soursop? 9 Best Ways!

How do you eat soursop seeds?

It is crucial that in order to prevent yourself from developing any serious conditions in the future, you ensure not to eat soursop seeds. 

Soursop seeds should be carefully removed from the fruit before consumption. You can also spit them out while eating the fruit to prevent you from swallowing them. Whatever your choice, you should not eat soursop seeds. 

The soursop fruit itself actually has a number of health benefits.

Benefits include antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, as well as being a potential cancer fighter.

The seeds however should be avoided at all costs. 

The soursop fruit, however, can be easily enjoyed in a number of ways.

It is used to make juices, and desserts and even added to smoothies.

Soursop can be a bit rare to find, however, as it is not a popular fruit.

It is also limited because it is not generally exported as many other tropical fruits are.  

You can still find soursop, however, at your local farmer’s market or whole food store.

You can also buy the seeds online, and choose to grow your own if you live in a more humid place. 

Related: Surprising ‌Health Benefits of Soursop

What can you do with soursop seeds?

So what should you do with soursop seeds if you’re not allowed to eat them?

Although eating the seeds is harmful, using them in specific ways for specific health benefits may be great. 

Soursop seeds can be a great treatment against insects such as lice and worms, as well as both internal and external parasites.

You can crush the seeds and sprinkle them in your garden to get rid of insects.

You can also add them to shampoo to forestall a possible lice outbreak.

You can also plant the seeds, as they are where the soursop tree will come from.

This yields the best results in hot and humid climates, as these tropical fruits need the sun.  

Soursop seeds have also been studied by the medicinal industry.

They have been shown to contain similar properties to the fruit, including being antitumor, and antibacterial. 

This makes it attractive as a possible treatment for tumors and cancers.

Although advised not to be consumed, soursop seeds may be beneficial when used as a remedy for certain conditions.

Related: Is Soursop Alkaline?

Can I blend soursop with the seed?

Soursop juice is a very common West Indian, Caribbean, and  Latin American delicacy, which is made by bending the flesh of the fruit before adding a sweetener. 

Soursop should not be blended with the seed. These should be carefully removed before the flesh or pulp is added to the blender. 

If one or two seeds end up being blended, you should be able to stop the blender and remove the seed particles before continuing. 

This should be relatively easy but may be a bit tedious to accomplish.

So pay special attention to make sure you remove all the seeds that you can before blending.

This can be a major difference between you enjoying a delicious cup of soursop juice or inducing vomiting. 

Related: Dr. Sebi on Soursop

Final Thoughts

Soursop seeds have been shown to contain compounds that are toxic to the brain, making them unsafe for consumption. 

While the seeds are toxic, they also do have redeeming qualities and contents that are also beneficial in many aspects, especially as it concerns fighting cancer. 

Scientists are still trying to find a way to extract the beneficial parts of the seed without the poisonous part.

Despite all this, the soursop fruit is very beneficial to many health conditions and has a very high mineral content, making it ideal for consumption. 

Soursop is a tasty and nutritious fruit but stay away from the seeds for the best result.