ACEROLA

Acerola cherries, also known as Barbados cherries or West Indian cherries, are generally the size of regular cherries and are orange red to ruby red in color. By the way, while they're called "cherries" and look a lot like Bings or maraschinos, acerola are technically cherry-like berries.

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Their flavor is tart but sweet. The fruit grows on trees in Texas, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, India and other areas with consistently warm temps. And because the cherries tend to spoil quickly after picking, they're often made into juice, frozen or dried and ground into a powder (the latter of which is sometimes used as an ingredient in vitamin C supplements).

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Acerola cherries are one of the most potent sources of ascorbic acid, a natural form of vitamin C, and offer a good amount of phytonutrients like carotenoids, flavonoids and anthocyanins that may play a role in chronic disease prevention. According to the USDA, 1 cup of acerola juice has 56 calories, 1 gram of protein, 12 g of carbs (including 11 g of sugar) and 1 g of fat. It also has 3,870(!) milligrams of vitamin C. This is far more than the 84 mg of vitamin C in a cup of orange juice. One cup of acerola cherries has 24 times more vitamin C than one large orange.

With all the collagen-boosting antioxidants loaded in these little berries, Acerola is a fantastic and delicious way to prevent the development of fine lines and sun damage. Antioxidants help to scavenge cell-damaging free radicals and help to repair any damage done to cells.

Meanwhile, the carotenoids found in Acerola cherries help to maintain healthy vision and keep the skin healthy and looking smooth. Bioflavonoids help to slow the development of age-related degeneration and help to keep cognition and memory sharp.

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It’s no secret that engaging in a healthy diet and exercise is one of the many ways you can help to prevent disease and to keep yourself healthy. As previously mentioned, Acerola cherries make a great addition to any healthy and balanced diet.

These juicy little cherries contain an assortment of antioxidants that help prevent cellular damage and help to repair damage already done. By keeping your cells healthy, you help to prevent disease from taking over and dismantling your health.

Some preliminary studies have found that Acerola cherries may help to reduce the risk and spread of lung cancer.

Acerola cherries and supplements are considered generally safe and non-toxic, however, when taking any supplement, it’s wise to do so with caution. Just because a product is marketed as all natural does not mean they do not have the possibility to cause harm when taken incorrectly or in large doses. Before consuming Acerola cherries in any form, please consider the following:

When consumed in large amounts, Acerola cherries may cause gastrointestinal upset, leading to such unpleasant symptoms as diarrhea, cramping, and nausea. Please enjoy this snack in moderation. Due to the high vitamin C content of this fruit, those suffering from kidney stones or gout may want to consume this fruit with caution or only do so under the supervision of a physician. It is currently unknown whether or not Acerola cherries have an adverse affect on women who are pregnant or nursing. It’s wise to err on the side of caution and avoid this fruit while pregnant or nursing. Acerola cherries and supplements may interact with blood thinners and therefore should be avoided by those taking blood-thinning medications. Acerola cherries and supplements may interfere with hormone therapy.