Acerola – the Caribbean vitamin C powerhouse

Acerola is a cherry-like fruit originating from Central and South America. It became particularly popular, just like Camu Camu, due to the evidence of its high vitamin C content. However, the fruit has even more to offer. Acerola contains a nutrient complex made up of vitamins, minerals, and secondary plant substances. Even the Mayans relied on this tropical superfood to boost their immune system. The antioxidants, which are also found in matcha tea, stimulate metabolism, protect the body from arteriosclerosis, and contribute to cell renewal. Scientific studies support the claims regarding the positive properties of Acerola. Additionally, there is evidence that Acerola may reduce the risk of cancer.

Table of Contents

What is Acerola?

The cherry-like fruits come from the Acerola tree, also known as Malpighia glabra.The plant belongs to the family of Malpighiaceae, which also includes vines. Here in this country, the power fruit is also called Acerola cherry, Jamaican cherry, or Puerto Rican cherry. The fruit is native to various regions of Central and South America. It is unclear where exactly the Acerola first extended its shoots. However, plant researchers suspect the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula as its original home. The Acerola has since spread widely and can call tropical as well as subtropical regions its home. These include Panama, Florida, Jamaica, Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico. The Acerola plant reaches a height of 1 to 3 meters and grows along riverbanks, rocks, or on dry limestone. It can even withstand longer dry periods. Spanish conquerors gave the superfood its name, as they suspected a relation to the native cherry varieties.Even though there is a certain similarity, the acerola fruit is not related to our cherries.

Application and Tradition in Native Regions

The flesh is juicy but has a very sour taste. In the growing regions, the fruit is often consumed fresh or processed into juices, extracts, and jams. During production, sugar is not spared to cover the sour taste. In Latin America, acerola has a firm place in traditional medicine. It is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with inflammation, diarrhea, and fever. In Brazil, the superfruit is also administered for lung diseases and flu-like infections. Paz M, Gúllon P, Barroso MF, Carvalho AP, Domingues VF, Gomes AM, Becker H, Longhinotti E, Delerue-Matos C. Brazilian fruit pulps as functional foods and additives: evaluation of bioactive compounds. Food Chem. 2015 Apr 1;172:462-8.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25442579 In the mid-20th century, the superfood was discovered by researchers on a jungle expedition. It quickly became clear that it was a fruit with a high vitamin C content. To date, the most outstanding ingredients have been proven Ribeiro da Silva LM, Teixeira de Figueiredo EA, Silva Ricardo NM, Pinto Vieira IG, Wilane de Figueiredo R, Brasil IM, Gomes CL. Quantification of bioactive compounds in pulps and by-products of tropical fruits from Brazil. Food Chem. 2014 Jan 15;143:398-404. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24054258   

Acerola – Harvest

During the rainy season, the acerola tree displays its white or light red to pink flowers. From these, the popular acerola fruits develop over a period of 25 days. In total, this superfood can be harvested four times a year in the tropics.The stone fruit is 1 to 3 cm in size and has a reddish to orange-yellow appearance. The acerola fruit cannot be transported for long, as the outer skin quickly tears due to its thin texture.

Ingredients of Acerola - what's inside?

The most notable component is certainly vitamin C. In addition, the acerola cherry contains the following ingredients:
  • Vitamins: Vitamin C, B2, B3, B5, Beta-carotene
  • Minerals: Iron, Potassium, Calcium, Fluorine, Sodium, Magnesium
  • Trace elements: Zinc, Fluorine

Other ingredients of the superfruit acerola:

In addition to vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, this superfood also contains flavonoids, anthocyanins, and polyphenols. These ingredients also play an important role in maintaining bodily functions.Flavonoids are understood as secondary plant substances that are capable of capturing free radicals and having a cell-protective effect. Vitamin C and minerals can support the positive effects of these secondary plant substances. Anthocyanins are less well-known, yet they also make an important contribution to the human organism. They support the body in the fight against premature skin aging and are responsible for absorbing UV rays. Furthermore, it is suspected that this ingredient positively influences visual performance and inflammatory reactions in the body. Last but not least, anthocyanins are said to have a protective effect on blood vessels. Polyphenols are also important for the body's own vessels. They prevent calcification, ensuring that blood circulation in the body is not hindered. This helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.Additionally, the ingredient is said to have an effect on the development of neurodegenerative diseases and cavities.

Nutritional Information

  • Energy value: 32 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 7.69 g
  • Fats: 0.3 g
  • Proteins: 0.4 g

Natural Vitamin C works better!

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, can now be produced in the laboratory. The demand is high, and 80,000 tons of it are produced worldwide. This raises the question of whether artificially isolated Vitamin C is as good as the natural variant. The answer to that is a clear "No," as naturally occurring Vitamin C is better available to the body. The acerola cherry plays a significant role in meeting the essential vitamin needs due to its high Vitamin C content.In the context of an experiment, it was found that 20 mg of natural Vitamin C has the same antioxidant effect as one hundred times the amount of synthetic Vitamin C. A study conducted in Japan demonstrated that acerola juice is better absorbed by the body than pure ascorbic acid. Furthermore, it was shown that naturally occurring Vitamin C also remains in the body longer. Experts suspect that this phenomenon can be attributed to the flavonoids present, which seem to enhance absorption and slow down excretion. Uchida E1, Kondo Y, Amano A, Aizawa S, Hanamura T, Aoki H, Nagamine K, Koizumi T, Maruyama N, Ishigami A. "Absorption and excretion of ascorbic acid alone and in acerola (Malpighia emarginata) juice: comparison in healthy Japanese subjects", Biol Pharm Bull, November 2011.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22040889

Acerola Effects and Studies

Those who consume acerola cherries regularly can benefit from a wide range of positive effects. The superfruit can:
  • reduce histamine concentration in the blood and alleviate allergy symptoms Johnston CS, Martin LJ, Cai X. Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis. J Am Coll Nutr. 1992 Apr;11(2):172-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1578094 Jarisch R, Weyer D, Ehlert E, Koch CH, Pinkowski E, Jung P, Kähler W, Girgensohn R, Kowalski J, Weisser B, Koch A. Impact of oral vitamin C on histamine levels and seasickness. J Vestib Res. 2014;24(4):281-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25095772
  • normalize blood sugar levels Hanamura T, Mayama C, Aoki H, Hirayama Y, Shimizu M. Antihyperglycemic Effect of Polyphenols from Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC. Fruit. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Volume 70, 2006 - Issue 8. 1813-1820.H
  • combat cancer cells Nagamine I, Akiyama T, Kainuma M, Kumagai H, Satoh H, Yamada K, Yano T, Sakurai H. Effect of acerola cherry extract on cell proliferation and activation of ras signal pathway at the promotion stage of lung tumorigenesis in mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2002 Feb;48(1):69-72. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12026193/  
  • support the cardiovascular system Samman S, Sivarajah G, Man JC, Ahmad ZI, Petocz P, Caterson ID. A mixed fruit and vegetable concentrate increases plasma antioxidant vitamins and folate and lowers plasma homocysteine in men. J Nutr. 2003 Jul;133(7):2188-93. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12840177
These diverse positive effects are attributed to the antioxidants contained. The interaction of the health-promoting ingredients gives the acerola cherry its special significance.

Acerola affects the immune system

In order to maintain the body's own defense system, the body needs vitamin C. When there is not enough available in the body, individuals may suffer from an increased susceptibility to infections.Vitamin C apparently also plays a role in infectious diseases. A study found that the incidence of illness could be reduced when vitamin C was taken together with zinc. This applied to diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and malaria. The study group included children from developing countries. Wintergerst ES, Maggini S, Hornig DH. Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(2):85-94. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16373990 It is the antioxidant properties that support the immune system. In order to combat intruders in the body, white blood cells (phagocytes) are called for help. This is especially true for inflammatory processes. The white blood cells rely on free radicals, which in turn combat bacteria and viruses. To maintain this process, vitamin C and other antioxidants are necessary.Furthermore, it was found in the laboratory that vitamin C has an effect on the maturation of T-lymphocytes and the production of interferons. Interferons are understood to be a group of signaling proteins that play a significant role in the fight against viruses, parasites, bacteria, and cancer cells. Hemilä H. Vitamin C and Infections. Nutrients. 2017 Apr;9(4):339. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/

Acerola and its antioxidant effect

Chronic diseases and premature skin aging can be triggered by free radicals, researchers suspect. These unstable oxygen compounds damage the body's own cells and cause what is known as oxidative stress. They arise from both bodily processes and external influences. For example, smokers absorb a large number of free radicals that can have harmful effects on the organism.Antioxidants are on the good side and can neutralize dangerous free radicals through a complex process. Spektrum.de Encyclopedia of Biology. Free Radicals. https://www.spektrum.de/lexikon/biologie/freie-radikale/25601 The acerola fruit is capable of counteracting pronounced oxidative stress due to its antioxidant effects.

Acerola supports the cardiovascular system

One of the most feared cardiovascular diseases is arteriosclerosis. In this condition, the diameter of the artery decreases due to deposits, causing blood not to flow as usual. This can lead to circulatory disorders, coronary heart disease, and diseases of the blood vessels within the brain. If the vessels completely close, individuals may suffer a heart attack or stroke. Medical professionals suspect that bad cholesterol (LDL) plays a crucial role in the calcification of the arteries.In a meta-analysis, researchers found that vitamin C lowers cholesterol levels, thereby preventing arteriosclerosis. McRae MP. Vitamin C supplementation lowers serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides: a meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials. J Chiropr Med. 2008 Jun;7(2):48-58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682928/ It becomes even more concerning when oxidized LDL cholesterol is present in the body. This forms through the action of free radicals. Researchers have demonstrated that this oxidation process can be positively influenced by vitamin C. Jialal I, Fuller CJ. Effect of vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene on LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis. Can J Cardiol. 1995 Oct;11 Suppl G:97G-103G. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7585302

Acerola for Overweight

Individuals who are severely overweight have an increased risk of developing fatty liver or type 2 diabetes.The significance of free radicals in relation to these diseases has been discussed for some time. Scientists from Brazil administered acerola juice to overweight mice. The study results suggest that this superfood may serve as a complementary measure to reduce the amount of free radicals in overweight individuals. Leffa DD, da Silva J, Daumann F Dajori AL, Longaretti LM, Damiani AP, de Lira F, Campos F, Ferraz Ade B, Côrrea DS, de Andrade VM. Corrective effects of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) juice intake on biochemical and genotoxic parameters in mice fed on a high-fat diet. Mutat Res. 2014 Dec;770:144-52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24296107  

Acerola as a rejuvenating aid?

Vitamin C is involved in more than 300 enzymatic metabolic processes in the body. Thus, this vital substance not only plays a role in the development of osteoporosis but can also stimulate the formation of collagen.Kollagen wird in der Kosmetikindustrie besonders gerne eingesetzt. Kein Wunder, denn Kollagenfasern halten die Haut elastisch und flexibel. Vitamin C regt die körpereigene Kollagenproduktion an. Aus diesem Grund wird die Acerolakirsche auch gerne in Präparaten verarbeitet, um dem Alterungsprozess entgegenzuwirken. Insgesamt wirkt sich Acerola auf die Zellerneuerung aus, da es einen hohen Anteil an Vitamin C besitzt. Die sogenannten Telomere werden in Verbindung mit dem Alterungsprozess gebracht. Sie können als Kappen der Chromosomen verstanden werden, die bei jeder Zellteilung kürzer werden. Die Körperzellen können sich nicht mehr teilen und sterben infolgedessen ab, wenn die Telomere zu klein sind. Collagen is particularly popular in the cosmetics industry. No wonder, as collagen fibers keep the skin elastic and flexible. Vitamin C stimulates the body's own collagen production. For this reason, the acerola cherry is also commonly used in formulations to counteract the aging process. Overall, acerola affects cell renewal due to its high vitamin C content. The so-called telomeres are associated with the aging process. They can be understood as caps of the chromosomes, which become shorter with each cell division. Body cells can no longer divide and consequently die when the telomeres are too short.If the body has a nutrient-rich supply, the telomeres are longer than in people who follow a nutrient-poor diet. Xu Q, Parks CG, DeRoo LA, Cawthon RM, Sandler DP. Multivitamin use and telomere length in women. Chen H. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1857–1863. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2714373/  

Does acerola have anti-cancer effects?

Various studies have demonstrated using animals and cell cultures that vitamin C can destroy certain cancer cells. For example, in 2002, a Japanese group of scientists proved in an experiment on mice that acerola extract can inhibit both the growth and spread of lung cancer. Nagamine I, Akiyama T, Kainuma M, Kumagai H, Satoh H, Yamada K, Yano T, Sakurai H. Effect of acerola cherry extract on cell proliferation and activation of ras signal pathway at the promotion stage of lung tumorigenesis in mice.J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2002 Feb;48(1):69-72. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12026193/   Since results from animal studies or cell experiments cannot be easily transferred to humans, further studies must be conducted to demonstrate the effect on cancer cells in humans.

Intake and Dosage of Acerola

Acerola is available in the following forms:
  • Acerola Juice
  • Acerola Powder
  • Acerola Capsules
The juice variant is the most popular. Users can rely on a glass of Acerola juice daily to meet their daily vitamin C requirement. Theoretically, even a shot glass would suffice. An excess of vitamin C is not harmful, as it is water-soluble and thus easily excreted by the body. The most versatile form is Acerola powder.The fruits are gently processed into the popular powder using freeze-drying. The recommended dosage is 1 g daily, which corresponds to half a teaspoon of powder. The powder can be sprinkled into drinks and foods. Fruit juices, smoothies, muesli, or dairy products are best suited for this purpose. Users can also easily dissolve the powder in water. For travel, Acerola capsules are the best option. They are already pre-dosed and allow for easy intake. Typically, the corresponding preparations are filled with 500 mg of Acerola powder. Users should take the capsules twice daily with sufficient water. Since the dosages may vary, the package insert should always be observed.

Acerola Side Effects and Contraindications

Generally, no side effects occur after consuming Acerola products if the respective dosage recommendation has been followed.People who have consumed very high amounts of acerola reported experiencing nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In such cases, it is advisable to pause the intake for a few days and then restart with a low dose. If the symptoms occur again, the treating physician should be consulted. By the way: Individuals who are prone to kidney stones or suffer from gout should be cautious when using vitamin C supplements. Additionally, people with diagnosed iron absorption disorders should choose corresponding products carefully. Furthermore, there is no conclusive evidence regarding whether acerola can cause side effects in pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Buy Acerola

In online retail, users can access a wide selection of acerola products. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the ingredients and additives.The exact vitamin C content and dosage recommendations should also be taken into account. Helpful for the user are the manufacturing date and information about the drying method used. Here, freeze-drying and spray-drying should be distinguished from one another. The cultivation method also plays a significant role in Acerola products. With an organic product, buyers are on the safe side, as it must not contain pesticide residues or other harmful substances. The corresponding organic seal provides a hint of this. Chemical additives have no place in Acerola products. High-quality products use 100% natural vitamin C and do not include the artificially produced variant. The same applies to preservatives, colorants, and sweeteners. People with gluten intolerance should also pay attention to a gluten-free variant to avoid intolerance reactions.Acerola powder is usually added with maltodextrin to prevent clumping of the product. In small amounts, the additive does not affect blood sugar levels. By the way: Those who want to be on the safe side should obtain acerola products from a trusted dealer.

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