Acerola Benefits

The benefits in acerola stem from its high vitamin C content according to Drugs.com, which additionally notes that acerola contains more vitamin C than oranges. Be careful when you take it, however, as side effects such as abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, sleepiness and fatigue can occur. Acerola can interact with some drugs and may cause uric acid levels to rise in your body, which in turn can raise your risk for gout. Consult a doctor before adding an acerola supplement to your regimen.

Atherosclerosis Fighter

Acerola, a bright red cherry-like fruit, has potent antioxidant power that can help prevent atherosclerosis, according to “The Essential Food-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide,” by George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox. Vitamin C supplementation, such as with acerola, is especially effective when combined with vitamin E, according to R. M. Salonen, lead author for a six-year study by published in the journal "Circulation". The study found that supplementing with vitamins C and E slowed atherosclerosis progression among people who had high cholesterol.

Immune Stimulation

Acerola can stimulate your immune system, advises Drugs.com. Vitamin C in particular is often taken to help prevent colds, reports the National Institutes of Health. While scientific studies don’t generally suggest that vitamin C prevents onset of cold symptoms, a subset of studies on people who live in extreme climates or under extraordinary conditions reveals that it may cut risk for coming down with a cold by 50 percent, according to NIH. Such “extraordinary conditions” include soldiers living in sub-arctic climates, marathon runners and skiers. NIH advises that using vitamin C to cut risk of colds among elite athletes and military personnel merits more study.

Collagen Builder and Cellular Aging Fighter

The vitamin C in acerola assists in the production of collagen, an important protein that your body uses to make skin, scar tissue, ligaments, tendons and blood vessels, advises NIH. Acerola’s antioxidant power is also utilized in a variety of skin care products formulated to fight cellular aging, advise the experts at Drugs.com, and may even enhance the antioxidant activity of alfalfa and soy extracts.