According to many scientific studies, acerola cherry is one of the fruits with the highest vitamin C content, surpassing oranges, guavas, strawberries, etc. In this article, we will learn more about this acerola cherry fruit.

Although acerola cherry is little known, it is always the fruit with the highest vitamin C content, even 30-40 times higher than oranges and lemons. To better understand acerola cherry, follow the sharing below.

What is acerola cherry?

When hearing about acerola cherry for the first time, most people do not know what acerola cherry is. Acerola cherry is a small berry-like fruit that grows on tropical shrubs in the Malpighiaceae family. The acerola cherry tree is native to tropical regions around the world, including Mexico, the West Indies and the Caribbean.

Today, acerola cherries are found in many countries such as Mexico, Texas, Florida, Jamaica, Brazil and many other regions in Central and South America. In addition to acerola cherries, this fruit is also known by many other names such as barbados cherry, west indian cherry, crepe myrtle, Puerto Rico cherry, etc.

Acerola cherry is a small berry about the size of a fingertip.

What are the characteristics of acerola cherry? In terms of nutritional value, acerola cherry has many similarities with other berries and cherries. Most people often describe acerola cherry as a bright red fruit, when eaten, it tastes like a berry, sweet and not sour.

Similar to cherries and many other berries, acerola cherry is proven to be low in calories but is an excellent source of nutrition, providing abundant substances such as phytonutrients, vitamins and essential minerals. Each acerola cherry has a small edible seed in the middle and is quite rich in antioxidants. Unripe acerola cherry with a green skin can also be eaten to add more fiber to the body.

Nutritional composition of acerola cherry

Currently, acerola cherry is most consumed in extract and powder form because of the great nutritional value it brings to health, especially the “huge” vitamin C content. With every 3 small acerola cherries a day, your body has met the recommended amount of vitamin C for adults.

In addition, acerola cherries are also a fruit that provides many important antioxidants for the body along with vitamin A, vitamin B, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, etc. According to information from the USDA, 100g of raw acerola cherries contain nutrients such as:

• 32 calories;
• 0.5g protein;
• 8g carbohydrates;
• 1g fiber;
• 1680mg vitamin C;
• 38mg vitamin A;
• 0.8mg copper;
• 0.309mg pantothenic acid;
• 0.06mg riboflavin;
• 18mg magnesium;
• 146mg potassium;
• 0.02mg thiamin.

Acerola cherry is very rich in vitamin C, even many times higher than oranges, lemons,…

Studies on acerola cherries also show that this fruit has the highest concentration of nutrients and available antioxidants, which is organically grown acerola cherries, much higher than conventionally grown acerola cherries.

These acerola cherries are rich in polyphenolic flavonoid plant compounds, specifically anthocyanin glycosides. This compound gives acerola cherries different colors at different stages, specifically acerola cherries are green when unripe and gradually turn orange and then red when ripe. This substance also has very good antioxidant effects, most concentrated in the fruit peel.

Benefits of using acerola cherries

What are the effects of acerola cherries? Thanks to the abundant vitamin C content, acerola cherries can help the body fight many diseases, typically coughs, flu, and colds. According to some scientific studies, acerola cherries also support building a healthy immune system, enhancing long-term health, improving cardiovascular health, and preventing cancer thanks to their ability to protect cells from free radical attacks and oxidative stress. Other benefits of acerola cherries include:

Boosting immunity and preventing disease

Research has shown that acerola cherries are rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols and bioflavonoids – substances related to the ability to prevent cancer as well as enhance cognitive health. Some documents also show an inverse relationship between the consumption of fruits rich in vitamins C and A and the incidence of chronic diseases. Specifically, providing abundant vitamins C and A helps the body reduce the risk of diseases related to the digestive system, nerves, brain, vision, etc.

Improve digestive health

Acerola cherry has been used in many traditional medicines for centuries to treat liver dysfunction, support digestive problems such as diarrhea, stomach pain, etc. Although research on the effects of acerola cherry still has certain limitations, the essential nutrients in this fruit such as vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber, etc. are extremely good for the digestive system. Therefore, using acerola cherry in moderate doses supports healthy digestion, avoids constipation, diarrhea, regulates blood sugar, etc.

The high vitamin C and fiber content in acerola cherries promotes healthy digestion

Protecting cognitive function

Cherries, berries in general and acerola cherries in particular are considered by experts to be very good foods for the brain because they can reduce the risk of memory loss, while supporting cognitive function in the elderly. This comes from the anthocyanin content in acerola cherries, which has good anti-inflammatory effects, reducing oxidative stress – the cause of damage to brain cells and nerve cells.

How to use acerola cherries effectively

Currently, very few fresh acerola cherries are widely used, instead acerola cherries are produced in powder, juice or extract form in pill form, which is much more popular.

• Acerola cherry juice: More than 80% of acerola cherries are water, so this is a fruit that produces a relatively large amount of juice, a great choice to drink directly, providing necessary nutrients for the body.
• Acerola cherry powder: Can be used by adding to juices, smoothies, etc. to provide additional vitamin C needed for the body.
• Acerola cherry pills: This is a popular form, usually in the form of lozenges or pills with excellent vitamin C supplementation ability.
• Acerola cherry cream: Acerola cherry extract is added to creams to nourish the skin, support skin whitening, smooth skin care and anti-aging.

Cream containing acerola cherry extract brightens skin and reduces signs of aging

Overall, acerola cherries are a healthy and nutritious fruit. When consuming acerola cherry products, it is best to choose organic acerola cherries to ensure maximum health and nutritional content.