Acerola: Your highest natural source

Published: 23-Sep-2020

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) is known as a superfruit due to its high content of vitamin C. It is a small berry indigenous to the tropical rainforests of South America and cultivated in commercial farms. It naturally contains 1 to 5 % of ascorbic acid (the technical name of vitamin C) but is also a source of vitamin A, calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Vitamin C is essential to a healthy metabolism

Vitamin C is a water-soluble compound which acts as a nutrient in essential biological processes in our metabolism such as in synthesis of collagen to maintain our skin, bones and cartilages in good health. It also helps in the absorption of iron and in the formation and repair of tissues.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant

Another important function of vitamin C is to act as a potent antioxidant, which blocks the damage from free radicals. The reaction of our cells with free radicals brought by break-up of foods or external toxic elements from the environment (known as oxidative stress) is the cause of many diseases such as atherosclerosis, strokes, cancer or arthritis. Vitamin C binds with these free radicals and prevent them from binding to our cells.

Vitamin C and the immune system

Also, vitamin C is essential to strengthening our immune system as it favors the formation of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes which act defending our body from foreign cells such as bacteria and viruses. Therefore, vitamin C is used to shorten the recovery time from flu and other infections.

Vitamin C natural is not produced by our bodies so it must be taken from foods or supplements. The daily recommended intake is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. The absorption rate of vitamin C is dependent on dosage as it is maximum at 200 mg / day but decreases at higher doses (less than 50% at 1 g / day).

Natural vs. artificial Vitamin C

Natural and artificial vitamin C are chemically identical. However, taking vitamin C from acerola brings with it other essential micronutrients. For natural products and nutritional supplements manufacturers, there is no better substitute for vitamin C of chemical origin than one from nature.

A natural Vitamin C bomb now available

CAIF brings to the market an ultra-high concentrated acerola extract with 32 to 36% Vitamin C content.

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