What is Acerola Fruit
Acerola fruit just so happens to be one of the richest natural sources of ascorbic acid, otherwise known as vitamin C. Acerola fruit is also chock full of various polyphenols and phytonutrients like carotenoids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. The fruit’s vitamin C content is what makes it a star, though.
In just 100 grams of Acerola fruit, you may find up to 4500 mg of vitamin C. That’s up to 100 times the ascorbic acid content of your average lemon or orange.1 Because the Acerola fruit has such a deep well of phytonutrients, it tends to exhibit an uncommonly high antioxidant count.
Much like a cherry, Acerola fruit is tart, tangy, and offers a great deal in terms of its potential for health benefits.
History of Acerola Fruit
Acerola fruit (scientifically known as Malpighia emarginata and otherwise known as the Barbados cherry) is a member of the Malpighiaceae family. There’s only one fruit that rivals the Acerola fruit’s vitamin C content — the Amazonian berry, camu camu.2
Acerola fruit grows on low shrubs in tropical climates. The largest producers of Acerola fruits hail from South Texas, Mexico, and Central America. The fruit is also grown in the northern parts of South America and throughout the Caribbean.3
Around 1946, researchers discovered the fruit’s ascorbic power, and since then, its popularity has skyrocketed. Over the last 50 years or so, Brazil has become the largest producer of the acerola fruit. In the 1960s, Acerola fruit was cultivated in the Indian gardens of Mysore and Chennai. Today, many Indian residents grow Acerola trees in their backyards.
Potential Health Benefits Of Acerola Fruit: Polyphenols And Antioxidants†
The acerola fruit produces an exorbitant amount of ascorbic acid. But did you know that it also happens to contain a collection of the following phytonutrients?
- Phenolics
- Flavonoids
- Anthocyanins
- Carotenoids4, 5 †
The fruit also contains a good amount of the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamins B1
- Vitamin B2
- Niacin
- Albumin
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Calcium6
Due to its polyphenol, antioxidant, and vitamin content, there’s no doubt about it — acerola is a superfruit.7†
Here’s a more detailed look at the nutritional value of acerola fruit:
Nutritional Data
Calories 31.4
Dietary Fiber 1.1 g
Omega-3 Fatty acids 43.1 mg
Omega-6 fatty acids 45.1 mg
Sugars 0.0
Minerals
Potassium 143 mg
Calcium 11.8 mg
Magnesium 17.6 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A 752 IU
Vitamin C 1644 mg
Folate 13.7 mcg8
With all of those amazing compounds, acerola fruit has earned its place in the superfood hall of fame. The only question now is where to buy it?
Which Gundry MD Supplements Include Acerola Fruit?
Well, the reviews are in: Gundry MD Vital Reds takes full advantage of the acerola fruit’s antioxidant capabilities. Combined with other natural superfoods, like mulberry extract and organic flax seeds, acerola fruit makes Vital Reds a tasty berry-flavored superstar of digestive supplements.
- Sources
- 1-7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098779
- 8 https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1807/2
