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Side Effects of Acerola Powder

Acerola is a fruit the size of a cherry. In fact, it is commonly called Barbados Cherry or West Indian Cherry. Acerola is grown in the south, from Southern Texas and Southern California down through South America. It can also be found in the Caribbean, India and Asia. The fruit is made into a juice or powder for consumption. Acerola powder is used as a dietary supplement. However, it does have some side effects.

  1. Vitamin C Overdose

    • The acerola fruit contains 1,000 to 4,500 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, according to Drugs.com. In comparison, an orange has only 50 milligrams of vitamin C per milligram of fruit. This high dose of vitamin C can result in an increase in uric acid, leading to a case of gout. It can also increase your chances of getting kidney stones because of the increased urate. People with previous kidney stones or gout issue should refrain from taking acerola powder.

    Insomnia

    • The powder may cause sleepiness in some people. The vitamin C may have a stimulating effect that may keep you awake at night.

    Allergic Reaction

    • An allergic reaction can occur in people who have are allergic to acerola or plants in the Malpighiaceae family. Those with even hypersensitivity may be affected. Symptoms may include swelling in the lips or face. The throat could close and you may suffer breathing difficulties, according to RevolutionHealth.com.

    Diarrhea

    • Too much acerola powder may result in gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and cramps. This effect, however, is limited to prolonged usage or overuse of the acerola. This side effect has caused acerola powder to be hailed as a detoxification aid. On the contrary, the diarrhea can lead to dehydration and malnutrition as the food you ingest isn’t given time to absorb through the gastrointestinal system properly.

    Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Effects

    • There is not enough information to support recommending acerola to pregnant or breast feeding women. Many medications that we ingest are expressed in the breast milk. It is unknown how this will affect the baby.

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