Acerola
Acerola (Malpighia glabra L.) is a tropical fruit native to Mexico, Central and South America. Rich in antioxidants (including vitamin C and anthocyanins), acerola is often sold in supplement and juice form. Proponents claim that acerola offers a wide range of health benefits.
Acerola is sometimes referred to as acerola berry or acerola cherry. However, acerola is not related to cherries from the genus Prunus (such as the wild cherry).
Special Precautions of Acerola
- Although little is known about the safety of long-term use of acerola extract, there is some concern that oral intake of acerola may cause certain side effects (including nausea, diarrhea, headache, redness of skin and kidney stones).
- Some people have reported adverse reactions to eating acerola cherries, including upset stomachs, sleeplessness, and insomnia. Too many acerola cherries can also cause diarrhea. The high levels of vitamin C can also be dangerous if you suffer from gout, as it can boost levels of uric acid. Other than that, acerola cherries are not commonly known as an allergenic food.
The benefits of Acerola are
The fruit is edible and widely consumed in the species' native area, and is cultivated elsewhere for its high vitamin C content. To date, very few scientific studies have tested the potential health benefits of acerola. Although there is no evidence from clinical trials to show that acerola can enhance health, some preliminary findings from laboratory research and animal-based studies indicate that acerola may have some beneficial effects. Acerola is touted as a natural remedy for a number of health conditions, including:
- allergies
- atherosclerosis
- cavities
- the common cold
- depression
- diabetes : Acerola may help reduce blood sugar levels, according to a 2006 study from Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. In tests on mice, scientists demonstrated that antioxidants extracted from acerola may help suppress transport of blood sugar throughout the intestines.
- inflammation
- Oxidative Stress : In a laboratory study published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition in 2011, researchers found that acerola extract may fight oxidative stress (an aging-related process linked to a number of major diseases).
- In addition, some proponents claim that acerola can stimulate the production of collagen, improve sports performance and slow the aging process.
- Lung Cancer : Acerola shows promise for protection against lung cancer, a 2002 study in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology suggests. Tests on mice revealed that acerola extract helped regulate abnormal cell growth to slow the spread of lung cancer.
- Acerola gel is a beauty product said to improve skin tone and heal sun-damaged skin. While preliminary research suggests that oral intake of acerola extract may shield skin from the harmful effects of sun exposure, there is currently a lack of scientific support for the claim that topically applied acerola can benefit the skin.
- It is one of three ingredients in a proprietary herbal medicine for allergic rhinitis.
