The Best Organic Acerola Powder Supplement to Support Your Health
One of my favorite ways to increase vitamin c is with acerola powder
It is rich in whole food, bio-available vitamin c, and can easily be added into mocktails and adrenal cocktails!
Vitamin C is a powerhouse for not only your immune system, but your overall health. While I love including nutrient-rich fruits and veggies into my diet, sometimes you need a little extra.
Acerola powder is one of my favorite natural sources of vitamin c and something I regularly keep on hand in our pantry!
What are Acerola Cherries?
Acerola cherries are from a plant native to mexico and south america that is known for it's high vitamin c content. It has become an increasingly popular supplement for people looking to increase their intake of antioxidants and strengthen their immune system naturally.
It is one of the most vitamin c rich foods, with 50-100x the vitamin c of oranges and lemons!
While fresh acerola cherries are safe to eat and have a delicious taste, they unfortunately are very perishable. That is why it has become more popular to use a freeze-dried acerola cherry powder when looking to take advantage of one of the richest sources of vitamin c. Organic acerola cherries are often picked and freeze-dried at their peak freshness to maintain their nutritional value. Freeze-drying preserves those nutrients and creates a stable supplement with a longer shelf life than the bright red fruits have naturally.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Natural vitamin C (which has the chemical name ascorbic acid, as opposed to citric acid- a synthetic form of vitamin c) is known to increase your immune system and help reduce free radicals. Free radicals are toxic chemicals, heavy metals (like what you find in conventional deodorants), and pollutants that your body is exposed to either through the environment, things we ingest, or byproducts of food digestion.
Vitamin C also plays an important role in the production of collagen in your own body and helps to repair tissues and heal wounds. This not only helps with aesthetics (keeping your skin looking smooth and vibrant) but also the integrity of your skin 👏
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My View on Supplements
I am a huge advocate for first prioritizing a foods-first approach to nourishment! I think every person should have a solid foundation of eating nutrient-dense foods before they look into supplementation because without that solid foundation, your supplements will not be as effective- if at all.
That is why when I work with coaching clients, I ensure that the first priority is eating whole, nourishing foods that are high in bio-available nutrients before we ever add in supplements. But once that foundation is set, supplements can definitely have their role in improving health, overall wellness, and correcting nutrient imbalances.
While very few people in north america are deficient in vitamin c (it only takes 1 cup of orange juice to intake the recommended daily intake of 500mg of vitamin c), it has been shown in studies to be generally safe in high doses. This is because vitamin c is a water-soluble vitamin meaning that what the body does not use is excreted from the body- so it doesn't store up and accumulate.
Studies have even shown benefits to the immune system, inflammatory markers, and the speed at which someone recovers when high doses of vitamin c are taken. For some people, a large amount of vitamin c intake can make them more at risk for developing kidney stones so always do your research!
Organic Acerola Powder
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to include acerola cherries into your diet is to purchase a high-quality, well-sourced supplement! I look for something with organic fruit, no weird additives or natural dyes, and from a company that has transparent sourcing and testing standards. Many vitamin c products use a synthetic vitamin c called citric acid which has been shown to be irritable to the nervous system and deplete the body of key nutrients. That is why it is extremely important to have high-quality vitamin c sources in their natural form so that you can actually get the health benefits you are after!
My favorite brand is Perfect Supplements (not only for their vitamin c powder but for many of their other dietary supplements as well!)
You can use the code Kaelyn10 for 10% off your order (on top of any of their bundle discounts!!) 👏
I use their "Perfect Acerola" powder in my daily adrenal cocktails or added into juice, smoothies, and electrolyte drinks when I feel like I need additional vitamin C support. It is made of 100% pure organic acerola cherry powder that has been freeze-dried. They also have another product in capsule form if that is more convenient for you to take regularly!
For their powder you only need 1/4 tsp of powder to get 240 mg of vitamin c!
I appreciate that each batch is independently lab tested, their products are grown without any pesticides, fertilizers or GMOS, and they contain no synthetic ascorbic acid or fillers.
Vitamin C Mocktail Recipe
I have never been a fan of alcohol and rarely drink, but I love me a good mocktail. This hydrating (and nourishing) drink is a refreshing option for warm summer days!
Acerola Adrenal Cocktail
Adrenal cocktails are a way to support your adrenal system with intentional minerals! While the original recipe calls for orange juice, coconut water, and mineral salt, sometimes I like to switch things up a bit (while still getting the same base nutrients!)
3 ounces coconut water
3 ounces kombucha (or you’re favorite sparkling water!)
1/4 acerola powder
pinch of mineral salt
This not only helps me to get in my minerals, but also naturally sourced, food-based probiotics to support gut health. While normally you would get the vitamin c from orange juice, this can be a great alternative for someone who is looking to watch their sugar intake (as long as you are using a kombucha without added sugars) while still getting vitamin c from the acerola powder!
If you are curious about creating a nutritional foundation of nutrient-dense, bio-available foods to help support your body from a cellular level, sign up for a free consultation call under my coaching page. I work with people regularly who are looking to improve their symptoms by getting to the root cause and creating sustainable, holistic lifestyle habits!
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