The Many Benefits of Acerola Cherry
VitaminMD custom vitamin packets pack the maximum amount of health benefits into all its vitamin supplements. Read on to understand why this tropical super fruit, found in vitamin C supplements, is one of the key dietary aspects of good health. Indeed, a superfood.
What is acerola?
The nutrient-packed acerola cherry (malpighia emarginata or glabra) comes from the malpighiaceae plant family. Fresh acerola is native to Central America, South America, Southern Mexico, and the Caribbean. The tropical fruit is also grown in Texas and subtropical locales in Asia.
Acerola (sometimes known as the Barbados cherry or West Indian cherry because of its presence in the West Indies) is an evergreen shrub or small tree with spreading branches on a short trunk. Though typically small (6 inches), it sometimes reaches 20 feet. The cherries are a bright red color when ripe.
The acerola cherry is almost all water (91%) with very little protein or fat. However, for each 3.5-ounce piece of fruit, acerola provides 20 times the daily recommended value of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It also protects mucus membranes, protects against the common cold, boosts the immune system, and prevents scurvy — a severe vitamin C deficiency.
The Barbados cherry decomposes very fast, mostly within 4-5 days of harvest, which is why it is also available in supplement form.
Rare side effects of too much vitamin C may include kidney stones and mild digestive discomfort.
What are the benefits of acerola?
The health benefits of acerola come from its high vitamin C content. Indeed, the fruit has a higher vitamin C content than both strawberries and oranges — both common vitamin C sources. Keep in mind that vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning the body does not store surplus vitamin C but excretes it in urine.
Acerola also contains thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), folate (B9), and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium.
This high-vitamin C fruit benefits many bodily systems, including:
Acerola improves the look of hair, skin, and nails
Collagen is one of the key proteins in hair, skin, and nails. Collagen production lessens with age, but vitamin C helps optimize this connective tissue. Highly absorbable acerola — with its large concentration of vitamin C — aids collagen production.
Acerola’s anti-inflammatory properties also help reduce skin redness and improve firmness and complexion.
It also contains vitamin A which promotes healthy, moisturized skin.
Acerola is filled with antioxidants
Potent antioxidants such as carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, polyphenols, and phytonutrients protect your cells against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation. They can cause cellular damage and play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other conditions.
Acerola is also full of anthocyanins, powerful flavonoids that give the berries their red color.
Acerola extract’s antioxidants also reduce inflammation and oxidative stress that causes damage to brain cells and neurons.
Does acerola help the metabolism?
The metabolism helps the body utilize fats and nutrients as well as release vital hormones. The B vitamins contained in acerola keep the metabolism running efficiently.
Can acerola help combat diabetes?
More than 11% of the U.S. population has either diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. The acerola fruit also helps to regulate the body’s blood glucose (sugar) and insulin and goes a long way to prevent spikes and drops during the day. Losing control over blood sugar is the bane of diabetics.
How does acerola affect the aging process?
Two key molecules in acerola include carotenoids — to keep the skin healthy and maintain acute vision — and bioflavonoids — which slow down age degeneration and stimulate memory.
The acerola berry also aids in skin hydration by inhibiting water loss. Lack of hydration may lead to skin conditions, as well as exacerbating lines and wrinkles. The antioxidants found in the acerola fruit help repair damaged cells, which can reduce fine lines and sun damage.
Acerola contains dietary fiber
Acerola contains fiber, which aids the digestive tract. A great asset for the digestive system, acerola can relieve constipation, bloating, cramping, and diarrhea.
Support heart health with acerola
Acerola is rich in potassium, which helps the heart beat steadily and strongly. This essential mineral dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, thus reducing strain and pressure on the heart. This also helps to lower blood pressure.
In addition, the antioxidants in acerola fight to lower cholesterol, which protects the heart.
Can acerola help prevent cancer?
By slowing down cell growth that is considered cancerous, the acerola fruit helps fight lung cancer. Acerola fruit also has properties that help protect cells against damage caused by free radicals.
The fruit also contains calcium which can aid against colorectal cancer.
Acerola stimulates energy
The acerola fruit increases energy levels thanks to nutrients such as manganese, zinc, and potassium. Plus, the substantial levels of vitamin C found in acerola fruit help to combat stress.
How acerola supports a happy brain
The antioxidants found in acerola fruit improve neurological health. The fruit can help reduce the chance of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The bioflavonoids found in acerola also improve cognition and memory.
Why trust VitaminMD with your vitamin formulations?
Dr. David Nazarian developed VitaminMD custom vitamin packets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He saw his patients’ diets lacked an all-inclusive vitamin — an essential immunity boost that optimizes overall health. He also noticed that most of his patients were vitamin D deficient and unaware of the many problems that bring with it.
Many patients asked Dr. Nazarian what to take to boost their immune systems and keep their bodies strong against infections, but there wasn’t one product with all the necessary ingredients. Our daily vitamin packets contain acerola cherry powder and acerola juice in order to provide one with all of its many benefits.
About VitaminMD
There is a wide variety of multivitamins available to the public. Unfortunately, no single multivitamin has been specifically formulated to meet today’s needs. VitaminMD’s formulas contain many ingredients that can’t be found in a single product. Our vitamin supplements are easy to drink, great tasting, and have better absorption than tablets. VitaminMD was formulated by an M.D. on the pandemic frontlines with the specific purpose of meeting today’s health needs.
Many patients do not like to take multiple tablets (11% of the U.S. population). A VitaminMD elixir delivers a powerful and comprehensive dose of all the necessary vitamins that boost the immune system and support overall health. Other vitamins often lack main ingredients — meaning people have to take multiple tablets to meet all their needs.
Many people are deficient in vitamin D and popular immunity drinks on the market today lack enough vitamin D. VitaminMD has the necessary dosage of vitamin D along with other great ingredients that boost immunity and optimize overall health.
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[…] foods that may be a little harder to find, camu camu contains up to a whopping 3,000 mg per 100 g, acerola cherries 1,652 mg per 100 g, and rose hips 426 mg per 100 […]