Acerola – “Barbados cherry”. Nutritional properties and use – Zdrowie Wprost

Exotic fruit is a source of many valuable nutrients. One of the most valuable is acerola. This is a real vitamin bomb that deserves to be reached among others for strengthening the body’s natural defenses. We rarely find fresh acerola fruit in Polish stores. They are available as dried fruits, juices, and nutritional supplements.

What is acerola?

Acerola fruit that grows, among others, in the Canary Islands. It’s been a very popular component of a healthy diet for several years. The properties of acerola allow us to comprehensively take care of our body, affecting, among other things, the functioning of the immune system, slowing down the aging process and reducing oxygen free radicals.

We can grow acerola at home. This is not particularly a problem – it is enough to provide this plant with the right amount of sunlight and warm, moist soil to enjoy the fresh fruits that we will harvest ourselves. From the acerola fruit we can prepare, among other things, a healthy juice.

health properties

Barbados Cherry is known for its health-promoting properties. It contains large amounts of vitamin C, which is involved in most biological reactions. Moreover, Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant that effectively reduces oxygen free radicals and protects against increased risks of oxidative stress. Free radicals formed in our bodies increase the risk of many diseases, including tumors.

Acerola is used in the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and natural medicine. When consumed systematically, it has a significant effect on the body, activating the natural defense processes and protecting, among other things, against seasonal infections.

Acerola fruits are not only healthy but also delicious. We can eat them raw, dry them and prepare different types of preserves such as juices and jams. Acerola supplements, which we can buy at drugstores and herbal stores, have become very popular in recent years.

Acerola – nutritional values

Acerola is an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B and Vitamin A. It also contains the powerful antioxidants polyphenols. This fruit is low in calories – 100 grams of acerola is just over 30 calories. However, it should be noted that the calorific value of dried fruits is higher, which is associated with the evaporation of water.

Acerola supplies our bodies with one of the important water-soluble vitamins, namely vitamin C. Its deficiency leads to serious multi-organ disorders, which, among other things, leads to even the appearance of scurvy symptoms. A small amount of acerola fruit (3 ripe fruits) meets the daily requirement of vitamin C in an adult.

Acerola is also rich in B vitamins, which have a positive effect on the condition of the skin and the health of the nervous system, and vitamin A (carotenoids). Vitamin A is necessary for the proper functioning of eyesight. Unobtrusive in appearance, coriander fruit also has a positive effect on the heart and circulatory system, strengthening the walls of blood vessels and helping to prevent seasonal infections.

cresol juice

Acerola juice is a concentrated elixir of health and beauty that is well worth reaching for, among other things. Reducing free oxygen radicals and delaying the body’s natural aging processes. We can decide to buy a ready-made product or prepare the juice ourselves from the grown fruits.

dried acerola

Dried acerola is readily available, incl. In health food stores. The fruit retains all its nutritional value during drying, but you must make sure that it is not preserved with sulfur compounds. Dried coriander can be added, for example, to yogurt or to pastries and homemade cocktails.

Acerola powder

Acerola powder is the pre-dried ground acerola fruit. Ground cherries can be added to fruit drinks, cocktails, and yogurt.

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