Acerola Cherry Vitamin C, Fruit, Powder, and Benefits

Medically Reviewed on 7/28/2022
Acerola Cherry Vitamin C
According to studies, vitamin C in acerola juice is absorbed more efficiently.

Acerola, cherry-like fruit, is native to Central and South America and is regarded as a vitamin C powerhouse. The acerola tree is a part of the Malpighiaceae family.

The tropical superfood provides several important vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. 

  • Natural vitamin C is extracted from fruits and other parts of the acerola cherry plant and is marketed as a supplement of vitamin C powder.
  • The powder, which has a somewhat sweet but predominantly tangy flavor, is great for blended beverages, smoothies, juices or just combining it with water.

Learn the five health benefits of acerola cherry powder, as well as the difference between it and synthetic ascorbic acid.

5 benefits of acerola cherry powder

During the extraction of vitamin C, other essential vitamins and nutrients get extracted and are included in the acerola cherry vitamin C powder.

  1. Vitamin C
    • Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is involved in many biological activities.
    • It boosts immunity and helps fight against infections and repairs damaged tissues.
    • It supports the respiratory system and has long been used to prevent and cure scurvy.
    • The vitamin C in the fruit is easily absorbed by the body. Thus, this natural vitamin C supplement is extensively used as an ascorbic acid alternative. Synthetic vitamin C is more difficult for the body to digest and absorb.
  2. Nutrient-dense food
    • Acerola cherries are high in vitamin A, mostly in the form of beta-carotene.
    • Vitamin A is essential to maintaining eye health and helps some patients with arthritic symptoms.
    • Acerola cherries are high in iron, which is required for red blood cell synthesis and oxygen delivery.
    • There are trace levels of B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium, which help the body be healthy and well-functioning.
  3. Antiaging
    • Acerola cherries have high antioxidant levels, vitamins C and A, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids.
    • Antioxidants fight oxidative stress and free radical damage, which happens at the cellular level and can contribute to premature aging and disease development.
  4. Lower the risk of chronic diseases
    • The acerola cherry contains anthocyanins. 
    • Anthocyanins are a kind of flavonoid that reduce the risk of various chronic diseases, such as:
    • Studies suggest that they may reduce inflammation and the risk of acquiring certain malignancies by preventing tumor cell formation and guarding against cancer-causing free radicals.
  5. Improves skin health
    • Acerola cherries can preserve healthy, young skin.
    • Vitamin A in acerola cherries promotes wound healing, protects the skin from sun damage, and aids in the formation of collagen, an important component of skin.
    • Flavonoids and carotenoids appear to delay the aging process and diminish the visibility of wrinkles and uneven skin tone.

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What is the difference between synthetic ascorbic acid and acerola vitamin C?

About 80,000 tons of ascorbic acid are produced each year worldwide. Many manufacturers claim that synthetically produced vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and natural vitamin C are equivalent because there are no structural differences between these two compounds.

After the profuse use of ascorbic acid, research reported an issue with pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of an active chemical in the human body) of synthetic ascorbic acid. It is not possible to get a suitably high vitamin C concentration when utilizing oral dose forms, hence the health-promoting impact is less.

  • Your body accepts only certain limits of vitamin C in the form of pills, capsules, or powder. The concentration of the active element in the blood increases modestly after consuming a vitamin C-containing dietary supplement.
  • Furthermore, vitamin C is rapidly eliminated through the urine. In comparison, the acerola fruit includes vitamin C and several biomolecules. This natural mixture's pharmacokinetics are fundamentally different and cannot be compared to pure ascorbic acid.

According to a Japanese study, vitamin C in acerola juice is absorbed more efficiently and gets excreted slower than chemically manufactured ascorbic acid. The phytochemicals in the acerola cherry are responsible for this impact.

Consumers are recommended to prefer well-processed acerola extracts and other vitamin C-rich foods over manufactured vitamin C supplements.

Medically Reviewed on 7/28/2022
References
Image Source: iStock image

Acerola - Uses, Side Effects, and More. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-608/acerola

Acerola. https://www.rxlist.com/acerola/supplements.htm