What is the super tropical fruit that began to be planted in Argentina and improves the brain?

There is a fruit traditionally consumed in Central America and known for its beneficial properties, including mental functioning, more specifically brain metabolismwhich began to planted in the north of Argentina.

We find all this in the acerola, which is scientifically classified as Malpighia emarginata and is so small that it does not exceed a diameter of 1 to 4 centimeters and its weight can vary between 2 and 15 grams.

It is shaped like a cherry and some suggest it looks like a miniature apple; except that its flavor, unlike these fruits, is acidic.

Acerola grows in the tropics And while it can be consumed in its natural form, it has recently become a popular supplement that comes in powder or liquid extract form. A more accessible way to take advantage of the health benefits since the fruit is not easy to obtain in non-tropical countries such as Argentina.

Regarding its origins, it dates back to southern Mexico, specifically to the area where the Antillean Sea begins. Hence this fruit is also nicknamed “Cherry of the Antilles”.

It is believed that currently The largest producer of acerola in the world is Brazil. and, therefore, it is there where you can see the plant growing, which reaches about 2 or 3 meters in height.

In Argentina, in addition to being little known, acerola is not in great demand in the national food market. In any case, cultivation tests are being carried out at the Tropical Crops Experimental Station of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Jujuy, Formosa and Misiones.

It should be noted that acerola has a large amount of beneficial phytochemicals, among them anthocyanins, phenolic acids and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and can impact the prevention of oxidative damage, closely related to the onset of various diseases.

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The fruit that improves cognitive functioning

The acerola cherry can protect the brainspecifically the hippocampus, from oxidative stress caused by poor diet and obesity, this is what is evidenced by the research “Effects of ingesting acerola juice on the brain energy metabolism”.

After observing different groups of rodents for weeks, which they fed with mature, immature and industrial acerola juice, the researchers confirmed that the alterations in energy metabolism caused by obesity can be partially reversed with any of the three acerola options they analyzed. .

Therefore, although professional advice always indicates that the best way to prevent obesity and take care of the brain It is through a healthy diet based on natural foods; This fruit has antioxidant compounds that are beneficial both when ripe and when it is green.