The Acerola Cherry
The acerola cherry is a fruit belonging to the Malpighiacaea family of flowering plants. Common names include barbados cherry, west Indian cherry and wild crepemyrtle. These cherries are native from Southern Mexico, Central and South America, but are now being grown in subtropical areas like Asia and India.
The acerola cherry is considered an extraordinary one for it contains high amounts of vitamin C or mostly known as the ascorbic acid. For every 100g of acerola cherry contains 1677.6mg of vitamin C. This remarkable cherry is also a great source of iron, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin A, B, and B5. Researches have also shown high activities of antioxidants in Barbados cherry making it a powerful antioxidant fruit compared to other berries.
With such natural vitamins and minerals, here are some of the acerola cherry benefits:
- protects and builds new cells in the body
- strengthens the immune and nervous system
- rejuvenates the skin
- treats eye disorders
- relieves stress
- acts as anti inflammatory, anti fungal and anti bacterial
- helps reduce risk of cancer and heart diseases and many more.
Aside from eating the fruit itself, acerola cherries can also be used to make fruit juices, pulps, and vitamin C concentrates which is also great as baby food/juice.