You know oranges are full of vitamin C.
But did you know acerola juice is also known for its vitamin C goodness?
Acerola cherries — which produce the gorgeous deep red juice — is one of those untapped superfruits that can be used to improve immunity.
The acerola cherry is best fresh as the berry loses its nutritional value within five days of picking. Even so, individuals who ingest it may reap health benefits. From “curing” hangovers to boosting immunity, the acerola cherry appears to be a superfruit that offers wellness benefits in a variety of forms.
If you’re curious about this fruit and its benefits, read on.
Below, we dive into what it is and how you can incorporate it into your daily diet.
What is Acerola Cherry?
Despite its name and its cherry-like appearance, acerola cherry is actually not a true cherry at all.
This berry is a native Central America plant that’s also found in northern South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In traditional times, the berry may have been used for liver disorders and to treat health concerns like diarrhea and dysentery.
Nowadays, it’s touted for its delicious flavor and known for its high vitamin C content. Some individuals may use it for cold and flu prevention.
What is Acerola Juice?
Acerola juice comes from the acerola fruit, which has about 80% juice.
Acerola juice is extracted from the fruit that looks a lot like a cherry due to its shape and deep-red color. It’s also known to “cure” hangovers and boost vitamin C intake.
Acerola juice is the first ingredient in our organic IMMUNE+ shot. Our acerola is harvested in Brazil near the Amazon.
What’s the Benefit of Acerola?
Acerola is chock-full of vitamin C, a water-soluble nutrient found in certain foods. In fact, the edible fruit has between 1 to 4.5 percent vitamin C content (or the equivalent of 1,000 to 4,500 milligrams), which is more than what’s found in a fresh orange.
Most adults need anywhere from 70 to 90 milligrams of daily vitamin C.
The body uses this nutrient to heal wounds, make collagen, and improve iron absorption in plant-based foods. Vitamin C is best known for boosting the immune system to help fight off infections and diseases.
At a minimum, intaking 200 mg of vitamin C per day seems to reduce the duration of cold symptoms, according to a 2017 Harvard Health Publishing article on vitamin C.
Overall, vitamin C is an essential dietary supplement that helps support the immune system. Aside from acerola cherries and its juice extracts, you can also get your daily dose from citrus fruits, baked potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, and cantaloupe.
Additionally, if you eat fresh acerola cherries, your body gets a boost of:
- Iron
- Calcium
- Vitamin B-3
- Phosphorus
- Vitamin B-2
- Vitamin B-1
Other benefits of acerola include disease prevention, cognitive function protection, and oral health support, according to a recent article on Dr. Axe’s website. Additionally, the phytonutrient anthocyanin, which is in the acerola fruit, is known to have an anti-inflammatory impact, which can potentially offer relief for those suffering from health issues like arthritis pains.
Ways to Use Acerola in Everyday Life
If you don’t have an acerola cherry tree growing in your backyard, you still have some options for how to obtain the benefits of this superfruit. Fresh is obviously best, but you can reap the benefits of acerola cherry in its other forms. It’s often found in health food stores as a supplement.
There are a variety of ways to incorporate the benefits of acerola into your diet. This includes supplement options like:
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Acerola shots - Our organic IMMUNE+ shot uses fresh acerola cherry juice and is cold-pressed in small batches to ensure freshness.
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Fresh-squeezed juice - You can buy fresh acerola fruit to juice yourself.
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Acerola cherry powder - This popular supplement form makes it easy to put into your smoothies with other antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries.
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Tinctures - This method of delivery offers a more concentrated dose in a dropper that is then placed right onto the tongue.
- Topical creams - You may find acerola cherry as an ingredient in your favorite face creams. Beauty and skincare companies tout the ingredient as a means to boost collagen and hydrate the skin due to its antioxidative properties.
One note of caution: Don’t ingest too much acerola cherry juice. You can hit unhealthy vitamin C toxicity levels if you intake too much on top of extra vitamin C supplements. How much daily vitamin C you need depends on your age.
Check the National Institutes of Health life stage chart here to see how much is too much for you.
Start Enjoying the Benefits of Acerola Today
Whether you down it as a shot or eat the actual acerola cherry, the benefits of this delicious, small fruit are big.
You can find these fruits and acerola supplements in your local health food stores. You may also be able to find the tinctures, cherry powder, and extracts online, too.
Want fresh shots of acerola delivered to your door?
Check out our organic IMMUNE+ shot, which includes acerola juice as its main ingredient. The shot also has the healing power of Cordyceps mushrooms. These mushrooms have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to protect against fatigue, sickness, and inflammation.
If you like the taste of acerola, consider the variety of ways you can incorporate this cherry-like berry into your diet. As with other supplements and diet changes, always consult your doctor before making any drastic changes.
And, if you’re already enjoying the benefits of regular acerola intake, let us know. We’d love for you to share in the comments below how you think it’s improved your health!
Ready for a dose of acerola juice? Check out our organic IMMUNE+ shot filled with acerola and packed with time-tested ingredients to boost your immune system.
