Acerola Vitamin

Learning About Acerola and its Benefits

Acerola has gotten a lot of attention lately, and for good reason! Recently dubbed as yet another all-natural “super food”, acerola is a potent “cherry” that contains levels of vitamin C that rival the levels contained in an orange and contains anti-aging and antioxidant properties that can help keep us young and healthy.

But what exactly is acerola and why is it any better than those other supplements or “super foods” that we have been hearing about lately?

What is Acerola?

It’s first necessary to understand just what exactly acerola is. Acerola has several other names besides its scientific name: malphighia emarginata. It also commonly goes by the names of acerola cherry, Barbados cherry, Wild Capermyrtle and Wild Indian Cherry.

Acerola cherries grow from tropical fruit-bearing trees and/or shrubs that can be found in a number of hot, humid areas, such as: southern USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Bahia, Brazil and Peru.

How can Acerola Supplements Benefit Me?

Acerola contains almost 3000% more vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin C offers several benefits to us, such as:

It is an antioxidant, meaning that it helps protect us from free radicals. Free radicals are often responsible for cancers, heart disease, and signs of aging.

Vitamin C also helps produce collagen, a substance that helps hold your cells together (so it will help prevent those wrinkles!)

Your immune system is protected with help from vitamin C. If you choose to take an acerola supplement, expect to have less colds and flues this year!

Acerola has been used for years by natives and natural healers for a number of health issues, such as:

diarrhea

coughing

colds

sore throats

dysentery

bleeding gums

pressure sores

tooth decay

hay fever

depression

physical endurance

Acerola has become so renowned for its health benefits that it is being added to several popular name-brand products, such as different candies and alcoholic beverages.

Is there anything I should consider before taking acerola?

As with any change that you make to your diet, beginning an acerola supplement regime may leave you with temporary cramps, nausea, sleepiness and/or insomnia. Some people also suffer from temporary severe gas.

Those who are pregnant and/or nursing should also take any acerola supplements with caution, as there are limited studies on the safety of acerola on babies.

Those who suffer from gout are warned to stay away from acerola, as the vitamin C contained within this cherry may boost uric acid levels and worsen the symptoms of gout.

Kidney stones may also result if acerola or vitamin C is taken in large doses on a regular basis.

Most importantly, if you have ay concerns or questions about any sort of supplements or changes to your diet, it is always best to speak to your physician, a nutritionist, or a natural health professional. They will be able to give you an individual assessment of how an acerola supplement will benefit your life.

Acerola Vitamin C Supplement

Why Take an Acerola Vitamin C Supplement?

I consider myself to be health conscious and also health “wise”. One of the first vitamins I certainly took a long, hard look at when I was reevaluating my health was the amount of vitamin C I was receiving on a daily basis. I was acutely aware that my fruits and vegetable intake was embarrassingly low, so I knew I had to remedy my lack of vitamin C in some sort of natural way.

That is when I heard about acerola vitamin C supplements.

What is Acerola?

Acerola is technically a “cherry” that grows off of a wild shrub or small tree that grows in hot and humid climates like Florida and Southern Texas in the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Acerola looks very similar to cherries that we in North America are used to seeing, though for most of us living in the USA, we cannot find acerola vitamin C cherries growing freely in the wild; we must buy them from natural health stores.

Why would I choose Acerola Vitamin C Supplements?

Acerola cherries are a natural way to obtain a large quantity of vitamin C all in one dose. As a matter of fact, it has even been said that an acerola cherry contains 3000% more vitamin C than an entire orange – now that’s a lot of vitamin C!

Acerola vitamin C supplements also come in a variety of forms, from freeze dried to powders to tablets and capsules and teas to even fresh cherries if you are ever so fortunate enough to find them!

TIP: When looking for a quality acerola vitamin c supplement, choose one which contains the least amount of additives, preservatives, dyes and other man-made product to assure both the freshness and the quality of the product.

What else does Vitamin C do other than help Me Fight a Cold?

Vitamin C plays a vital role in our well being, which is why this is perhaps the most renowned of all the vitamins and minerals out there. Acerola vitamin C will not only help you fight the bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause illness, but it will also help with:

Keeping you look your youngest! Vitamin C has a large amount of anti-aging properties, mot notably keeping us looking younger on the outside by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Preventing stroke and several other cardiovascular diseases

Reduce inflammation

Lessen the chance of developing cancer

Reduce your stress, which in turn will help strengthen and maintain your immune system

NOTE: There are some things one needs to consider before taking an acerola vitamin C supplement. If you are pregnant or nursing, use acerola vitamin c supplements with caution as inadequate testing has been done on its affects on the baby and/or mother. Diarrhea, nausea, cramping and heartburn are also not uncommon symptoms for anyone who starts an acerola vitamin C supplement regime.

Allergic reactions, while rare, may also occur. If you develop a rash, itching, swelling, dizziness or have any sort of tightening of the throat, discontinue taking the supplement immediately and seek help from your health practitioner.

Acerola Cherry

Why should I Care about the Acerola Cherry?

Admittedly, I’m quite the skeptic when it comes to “newly discovered” super foods that basically promise to save me from aging and guarantee me to live forever. When I first heard about the acerola cherry, I assumed it was another “super food” fad that would pass with time, but the more I tried to ignore it the more prevalent its “super food” status became. Before I knew it, friends and acquaintances from all over were taking acerola cherry supplements and staying healthy while I was in bed with the flu. What gives?

The Key to the Acerola Cherry is Vitamin C

Vitamin C has long been recognized as the vitamin that keeps our immune system strong and fights against colds and flues. This acerola cherry contains a very concentrated amount of vitamin C, making it one of the most effect ways for anyone to be sure that they are certainly getting enough of this essential vitamin on a daily basis.

But that’s not all the acerola cherry does for me. Supplements of this kind will also:

Help me fight the signs of aging on many levels: by freeing my body of toxins and free radicals, and by helping with the production of collagen

Help me combat disease and illness, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers

Help me produce more anti-stress hormones, something I’m sure most of us can certainly benefit from!

Assist in the absorption of iron

Reduce my cholesterol levels

Reduce my blood pressure

Quicken the healing of wounds, bruises and burns

Improve my metabolism (and help me lose weight!)

With all of these benefits stacking up by the day, it’s no wonder that the acerola cherry is considered to be a super food!

What should I Look For in an Acerola Cherry supplement?

Acerola cherry supplements come in a number of forms: from fresh to freeze dried to capsules and even powders! Though fresh is always best, most of us do not have ready access to an acerola bush.

Most importantly, you must go for as natural a product as possible. The less synthetic materials that are in a supplement, the better. Do not mistake the word “natural” that may be included on a label to actually mean that the product inside the jar is “natural”. The fewer ingredients in a product, the better.

Avoid any supplements that contain artificial flavorings or dyes, as these are also synthetic materials that often are made from toxic materials (such as carcinogens).

Is there Anything I Should Know before Taking an Acerola Cherry Supplement?

Certain types of drugs and vitamins should NOT be taken with an acerola cherry supplement, or any vitamin c supplement for that matter. Some of the most notable include:

Warfarin (such as aspirin, vitamin E, and fish oils high in both EPA and DHA)

MAOI antidepressants (i.e. Parstelin or Ardil)

Folic acid without B12

Anticonvulsants and folic acid

If you are currently taking a number of vitamins and supplements, be sure to discuss any side effects you may experience with a professional if you choose to take an acerola cherry supplement.

Barbados Cherries

Barbados Cherries: The Ultimate Health Booster

The Barbados cherry, perhaps most commonly known as the acerola cherry, possesses a bit of a misleading name. Though the Barbados cherry can be found in Barbados, it can also be found in several other hot and humid climates: from Peru to Brazil, to Mexico and the southern United States. For centuries the natives in these countries have held the Barbados cherry in high regard, though only in recent years has the Barbados cherry received world wide recognition as being a quality source of vitamins and minerals (most predominantly vitamin C).

What Are Barbados Cherries?

Barbados cherries are small berries that grow on shrubs and small trees located in humid climates. They are about the size of the standard cherry you see in stores but are sometimes a bit more firm. Barbados cherries have a number of different names, such as:

Acerola

Acerola cherry

West Indian Cherry

Wild Crapemyrtle

Why are Barbados Cherries now known as a “Superfood”?

Superfoods are, by definition, foods that have a high “phytonutrient” content which results in better health and general well being. Superfoods typically offer a number of different health benefits, like vitamins and minerals that help fight cancers, diseases, and even every day ailments like the common cold and flu.

The Barbados cherry is packed with vitamin C, a vitamin that is renowned for offering a plethora of excellent health benefits, such as:

Offering protection from heart disease and cancers. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which helps protect our bodies from harmful free radicals and other toxins that cause illness

Helping you stay youthful for longer! Vitamin C helps produce collagen, a material that holds our cells together (which means fewer wrinkles and healthier muscles and bones!)

Boosts our immunity. Anyone who takes vitamin C regularly will tell you just how quickly they heal from bruises and cuts

Keeps our oral health in tip top shape. A proper intake of this vitamin keeps our gums firm and healthy

Where can I find Barbados cherries?

If you’re fortunate enough, you will be able to pluck them right off of a tree or shrub growing in your area. Should you be like a number of us who do not live in a hot, humid climate, a supplemental form of Barbados cherries will provide you with the same benefits. You can find them in a freeze dried form, capsules, powders, or you can even buy juices that are infused with a Barbados cherry juice (most of these juices will read “acerola cherries” on the label, but it is the same fruit).

As the Barbados cherry is a newly acclaimed superfood, new studies are continuously coming out advising how great these little fruits are for our health. If you are interested in how the Barbados cherry can help improve your life, be sure to speak to a natural health specialist, a nutritionist, or even your doctor for more details.