But what is the acerola ?
Why is it becoming more popular ? Better known as the Barbados cherry or Caribbean cherry and often eaten as a dietary supplement, the acerola is one of the richest fruits in natural vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The acérola is a small red fruit rather tart, the size of a cherry.
Particularly rich in vitamin C, it is part of what is called “super fruit”. Superfruits ? A concept invented in the United States to designate varieties particularly rich in antioxidants (flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, vitamin C) and which are supposed to have many health benefits. Anti-fatigue and anti-stress, prevention of cancer, strengthening of the immune system, the virtues are almost endless ! Not being seasonal fruits, like our friends bananas or apples, they are consumed at all times in the form of juice, salad, dried, pills… What are these wonderful fruits ? Pomegranate, goji berry, aronia, yuzu, baobab fruit, noni, mangosteen, cranberry, acai and acerola.
A few years ago these fruits were not known to the general public, they quickly became the favorites of nutritionists, public figures and great chefs in the world. Cultivated in South America and the Caribbean, Brazilians consume the acerola in the form of juice, a real little vitamin bomb, the Amazonian Indians use it for their traditional medicine in the form of powder.
Acerola is one of the richest fruits in vitamin C:
It contains 20 to 30 times more than orange, with an average of 1.8g per 100g. Essential for men, vitamin C will help reduce fatigue and stimulate the immune system against diseases, especially as winter approaches !
During the changes of season, the human body tends to have a blow of fatigue, it is the good moment to make a cure of acerola mixed with the royal jelly for a small boost ! These are not the only virtues of acerola, studies have highlighted the usefulness that could have this fruit in the fight against obesity with a cardioprotective effect. The acerola, combined with extracts of alfalfa and soy, blocks the oxidation of low density lipoproteins, considered as the “bad” cholesterol. This fruit will also have an anti-bacterial activity on your body. We’ve kept the best for last: A study published in 2004 showed that acerola extracts have a cytotoxic action on two tumor cell lines, suggesting that this fruit could have anti-cancer properties.
But how to choose organic acerola ? First of all we must check its origin, generally this fruit grows in South America (Peru, Brazil, Venezuela…) and the West Indies. It is therefore preferable to buy local products because some retailers do not necessarily respect the fruit extraction conditions : the fruit of the acerola is very fragile in the face of heat. As a result, manufacturing requires great care. Once the fruits are harvested, the juice is extracted and processed. These tasks are usually done at the actual place of harvest. Then, the juice is concentrated by lyophilization and the powder is extracted to be intended for marketing or the manufacture of tablets. And finally, check the quality labels of the product you want. Some labels provide a certain quality, especially the Organic Agriculture label. Of course, there are less known ones who, for the most part, engage in responsible agriculture.
Now, it’s up to you to choose the way you want to regain strength ! The acerola, this magic fruit is available in drugstore as well as on many online websites.
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