Acerola: Health Benefits, Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, And Precautions

Know Your Ingredient: Acerola

What Is It?
A tropical fruit belonging to the Malpighiaceae family, native to the West Indies.

What Are Its Benefits?
It can improve your immunity, skin elasticity, and brain health.

Who Can Consume It?
It is safe for consumption by all in small quantities due to its high vitamin C content.

How Often?
It is advised that an adult consume only three acerola fruits per day, keeping in mind the recommended vitamin C intake.

Caution
Excess consumption can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, heartburn, insomnia, and abdominal cramps or pain.

What Is Acerola Cherry?

Acerola cherry (Malpighia emarginata) is more popularly referred to as West Indies cherry or Barbados cherry. It is native to the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico regions. These cherries are popular as juices, pulps, jams, and fruit concentrates. They appear blood-red due to the high content of anthocyanins (potent antioxidants). They taste sweet or sour, depending on the vitamin C concentration.

An avid blogger and gardener, recalls her personal experience of encountering some acerola cherries for the first time. She notes that in terms of size, the cherry is similar to a mini apple, and its color changes from green to red to dark maroon when fully mature. In terms of taste, she adds, “My sisters and myself tried this fruit, and find that it is quite nice with a sour taste but definitely not as sour as my belimbing (i)!”

Let us check the important benefits of acerola cherries in the next section.

Trivia

Acerola goes by many names, such as Antilles cherry, Cereza, Cerisier, and Semeruco.

4 Benefits Of Acerola

1. May Boost Immunity

Acerola cherries have been used in folk medicine to ward off cold, cough, scurvy, and respiratory ailments. Studies suggest that acerola cherries are a great source of ascorbic acid and total vitamin C. As per research, vitamin C is essential for the immune system as it helps fight infections. It is a potent antioxidant that regulates multiple metabolic pathways (1), ( 2).

Research has shown that supplementing your diet with vitamin C may help treat and prevent respiratory and systemic infections (2).

2. May Help Improve Skin Health

Studies state that polyphenol extracts from acerola cherries have skin-lightening effects (3).

Another study published in the journal Nutrients states that vitamin C may help reduce inflammation and slow down the signs of aging. It helps fade fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. Collagen is integral to maintain skin structure and function. Vitamin C also helps accelerate wound healing and reduces hyperpigmentation (4).

Acerola cherries are also a good source of vitamin A. Research supports the role of vitamin A in slowing down aging, treating acne, and helping in cancer prevention (5).

3. May Improve Brain Health

Animal studies state that acerola cherries help boost brain health due to their anti-fatigue activity (6), (7). The anti-inflammatory properties of the cherries also help. Research shows that inflammation and stress may hurt cognitive function (8). However, more human studies are needed to understand how these cherries can help combat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

4. May Improve Eye Health

The high vitamin C content in acerola cherry may benefit the eyes. It has been found that vitamin C can prevent UV-induced retinal damage (9). Vitamin C is also associated with reduced risk of cataracts, a condition where the eye lens gets clouded, leading to impaired vision (10). It may also potentially protect against age-related macular degeneration, a condition that causes vision loss in the elderly (11). These benefits of vitamin C potentially make acerola cherry a good food item for improving overall eye health.

There is limited data supporting the anti-depressant and anti-fungal properties of acerola cherries. It is unclear if they can also boost athletic endurance and treat any gastrointestinal issues.

Additionally, it can act as a natural remedy when it comes to aiding digestion, helping with weight loss and boosting heart health (12). These are the few important benefits of acerola cherries. As discussed, these cherries have an impressive nutritional profile. Let us explore the same in the next section.

Nutrition Profile Of Acerola Cherries

A single serving size of acerola cherries (100 gm) has the following nutritional profile (13):

• Calories: 32
• Vitamin C: 1677mg
• Vitamin A:767IU
• Fiber: 1.1 g
• Iron: 0.2mg
• Calcium :12mg
• Magnesium: 18mg
• Phosphorus: 11mg

Trivia

Acerola is widely used for preparing specialized baby foods in Puerto Rico due to its rich nutritional profile.

Ways To Make Use Of Acerola Cherries In Everyday Life

• You may use them as tinctures, as used in folk medicine.
• You may also pick organic skin care formulations with acerola cherry extracts. These products can have anti-aging benefits.
• You may also take acerola shots, acerola cherry powder, or freshly squeezed juice.

You can also try the following recipes with acerola cherries. 

• Acerola cherry salsa

This simple salsa recipe is bound to be a hit in your Sunday brunches or cocktail parties.

You Will Need

• 300g of acerola cherries
• Small pinch of allspice
• Ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of coriander
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 hot green chili
• Juice of 1 lime
• 60ml of rapeseed oil
• Pinch of salt

Process

1. Finely chop the chili, coriander, and garlic.
2. Remove the stalks and seeds and crush the cherries. Keep the juice to one side and finely chop the cherries.
3. Mix all ingredients and season to taste.

• Acerola Cherries In Syrup

This is a classic and useful condiment. The cherries can also be used to top desserts.

You Will Need

• 350 g of acerola cherries (fully ripe)
• 240 g of sugar

Process

1. Set a stainless-steel pan on low heat.
2. Tip in the sugar and the cherries.
3. Stir softly and continuously for 5 minutes. The sugar would have melted.
4. Turn up the heat and stir continuously. Turn down the heat for a few moments if the syrup becomes too frothy and starts to rise. Turn the heat up again as soon as the froth subsides.
5. Turn the heat off after cooking for 5 minutes on high heat. When cool, transfer to a clean, sun-dried, airtight glass jar.

• Spinach Mango Smoothie With Acerola And Starfruit

A healthy way to kickstart your day is adding acerola cherries to your morning smoothies. Its antioxidants will boost your metabolism and improve skin health.

You Will Need

• A handful of spinach
• 150 g of frozen mangos
• 50 g of frozen pineapples
• 100 g of frozen acerola cherries
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 starfruit
• 500 ml of vanilla oat milk

Process

1. Add all ingredients and blend them into a thick and creamy consistency.
2. You can chill it for 15 minutes or have it as it is.

Dosage And Preparation

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient and rarely causes toxicity. However, check with your doctor before consuming high amounts of these cherries.

The dose of acerola cherries depends on your age and body weight. While there is limited information in this regard, it is always better to check with an expert. Be sure to follow the usage directions as stated on product labels. 

Side Effects And Precautions

Anecdotal evidence suggests that excess intake of acerola cherries may cause:

• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Sleepiness
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea

The following individuals must practice extra caution before consuming these cherries. 

1. Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women

There are no specific studies suggesting the safety of acerola during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Stay safe and avoid use.

2. People With Kidney Stones

Excess vitamin C intake may increase the risk of kidney stones. Hence, individuals with kidney stones must consult their doctor before consuming acerola cherries.

3. People With Kidney Stones

Excess vitamin C intake may increase the risk of kidney stones. Individuals with kidney stones must consult their doctor before consuming acerola cherries. 

Infographic: Top Health Benefits Of Acerola Cherries

Acerola cherries are packed with remarkable nutrients that have amazing health benefits. Though the article discusses some interesting strategies to add this fruit to your diet and improve your well-being, you can learn the easiest way to consume these cherries and their important benefits in the infographic below. Check it out now!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is acerola a superfood?

Acerola is rich in vitamin C and is considered a superfood.

Is acerola good for hair?

The vitamin C content in acerola may help promote hair health and growth.

Is acerola better than ascorbic acid?

Acerola is an effective alternative to synthetic ascorbic acid and is better absorbed by humans.

Does acerola have collagen?

Acerola doesn’t have collagen. But it promotes collagen production due to its vitamin C concentration.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Uncover the numerous health benefits of acerola. Check out this video to know about the nutrition facts and important reasons for including this interesting fruit in your diet.

Was this article helpful?

The following two tabs change content below.

• Reviewer
• Author
• Editor
• Fact-checker

Dr. Archna AgrawalMSc (Dietetics)

 

Dr. Archna Agrawal is a licensed naturopathy and yoga practitioner with over 20 years of experience in nutrition and counseling. She is also certified in nutrition, child care, and mind-body medicine and is on a mission to help people attain innate healing capacity without having to depend on anything or on anyone. She has created the Vitality Coaching System, which...more

Sindhu KogantiSenior Health & Wellness Writer

 

Sindhu Koganti is a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach and has over 6 years of experience in writing on health and wellness topics. She has a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, and a diploma in nutrition from Fab Academy. After her graduation, she decided to combine her knowledge of science and love for writing to...more

Ravi Teja TadimallaSenior Editor

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a senior editor and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over eight years. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University. He has written over 300 articles about ingredients and their benefits for the skin, hair, and health. He...more

Payal KarnikSenior Health & Wellness Writer

Payal Karnik is a senior health and wellness writer and a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach. She is a biotechnology graduate from the University of Mumbai with a keen interest in writing and a natural curiosity for science. This formidable combination equips her with the knowledge to write research-backed health and wellness articles. She has also published a research...more