Acerola: Health Benefits and Uses

Acerola is the superfruit packed with potent antioxidants and an abundance of vitamin C, read on to find out more.

What is acerola?

The ‘superfruit’ acerola is a tropical berry with other names being the Barbados or West Indian cherry. It is from regions of Southern Texan, Central and South America and the Caribbean, with Brazil being the largest producer and exporter.

What is acerola used for?

Known for its tart flavour, many people use Acerola in juices, jams and smoothies. It's also popular in powder and supplemental capsules.

What are the health benefits of acerola?

Vitamin C content

It is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C, around 50-100 times greater than an orange or lemon and is highly absorbable for humans. It also contains provitamin A, vitamins B1 and B2, niacin, albumin, iron, phosphorus and calcium making it a real superfruit.

Antioxidant potential

Along with these vitamins and minerals, it is packed full of a variety of plant nutrients giving it great antioxidant ability. This makes it an excellent protective agent against a variety of diseases caused by oxidative damage including diabetes, cardiovascular issues (eg. high blood pressure, atherosclerosis) and inflammatory conditions.

As well as possessing its own anti-oxidant ability, acerola has been shown to increase the antioxidant ability of other substances including alfalfa and soy against the oxidation of cholesterol.

Safety

Acerola supplementation is generally considered safe for most individuals when taken within the recommended dosage and sensitivities to it are rare. If you notice any sensitivities, however, please stop taking the supplement immediately and seek medical advice if the condition is serious.