Acerola is known as one of the highest sources of natural vitamin C in the world and is very low in calories, 100g fresh berries provide just 32 calories. Nonetheless, they compose several health benefiting components such as vitamins, and anti-oxidants that contribute immensely towards optimum health and wellness.
Acerola possesses the third highest content of vitamin C for any plant-derived fruits/berries, probably next only to another miniature Amazonian berry, camu camu (2000 mg/100 g); 100g fresh berries astoundingly has 1677.6 mg of Vitamin C, that is about 1864% of daily-recommended intake. Eating a few (2-3 berries) would be sufficient enough to fulfill this vitamin's daily requirements.
Vitamin-C is a wonderful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the blood.
The combination of vitamin C and phyto-chemical compounds in the Acerola berry would help rid off harmful oxygen-derived free radicals from the body, and thereby, help boost immunity, aging, degenerative diseases, inflammation and infections.
In addition, research studies suggest that chlorogenic acid in these berries may help lower blood sugar levels and control blood-glucose levels in type-II diabetes mellitus condition.
The berries also contain a small amount of B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, folates and pantothenic acid. It contains very good amounts of vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and folic acid.
These vitamins acts as co-factors to help the human body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. They also contain an adequate amount of minerals and electrolytes such as potassium, manganese, copper, iron, and zinc.