How healthy is acerola?

Q: How many calories are in acerola?

100 g of acerola has 32 kcal. A typical portion, 5 fruits (24 g), has about 8 kcal.

Q: How much protein is in acerola?

Acerola has 0.4 g of protein per 100 g, or about <0.1 g in 5 fruits.

Q: Is acerola good for weight loss?

Acerola is low in calories (32 kcal per 100 g), so it adds volume to meals without many calories. No single food causes weight loss; the overall diet does.

Is acerola healthy? Yes, for most people. Acerola scores 90/100 on the HowHealthyIs Score: 100 g provides 32 kcal and 1678 mg vitamin C. Acerola is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C: a single small fruit has about 80 mg, close to a full day of needs. Source: USDA FoodData Central.

High in vitamin C
Low calorie

Score explained

The score compares nutrient density per 100 kcal across every food we cover (NRF9.3 method). Acerola ranks higher than 90% of them.

Counts in favor (% daily value per 100 kcal)

Vitamin C100%
Magnesium13%
Vitamin A13%
Fiber12%
Potassium10%
Iron3%
Calcium3%
Protein3%
Vitamin E0%

Counts against

Saturated fat1%
Added sugars0%
Sodium1%

Raw NRF9.3: 157 minus 2 = 155. The score is not a verdict on whether to eat a food; portion, the whole meal and your own health matter more. Full methodology

How many calories are in acerola?

Your amount

Calories8kcal

Protein<0.1g

Carbohydrates1.8g

Fat<0.1g

Fiber0.3g

Sugars0g

Nutrition facts for acerola. Per 100 g and for the selected portion (24 g). %DV uses FDA Daily Values.
Nutrient	Per 100 g	Per portion	%DV
Energy and macronutrients
Calories	32 kcal	8 kcal
Protein	0.4 g	<0.1 g	0%
Carbohydrates	7.7 g	1.8 g	1%
Fiber	1.1 g	0.3 g	1%
Sugars	0 g	0 g
Added sugars	0 g	0 g	0%
Fat	0.3 g	<0.1 g	0%
Saturated fat	<0.1 g	<0.1 g	0%
Omega-3 fats	<0.1 g	<0.1 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A	38 µg	9.1 µg	1%
Vitamin C	1678 mg	403 mg	447%
Vitamin D	0 µg	0 µg	0%
Vitamin E	0 mg	0 mg	0%
Vitamin K	0 µg	0 µg	0%
Vitamin B12	0 µg	0 µg	0%
Folate	14 µg	3.4 µg	1%
Minerals
Calcium	12 mg	2.9 mg	0%
Iron	0.2 mg	<0.1 mg	0%
Potassium	146 mg	35 mg	1%
Magnesium	18 mg	4.3 mg	1%
Zinc	0.1 mg	<0.1 mg	0%
Sodium	7 mg	1.7 mg	0%

Source: USDA FoodData Central, "Acerola, (west indian cherry), raw" (FDC 171686). Values rounded.

Why is acerola good for you?

403 mg vitamin C in 5 fruits, 447% of the daily value. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

Good ways to use it

Fresh or frozen in smoothies
Adding tartness to juices

What should you watch out for?

Mostly sold as powders, juices and supplements rather than fresh fruit. Very high vitamin C intakes from supplements can upset the stomach.

Which fruits score higher?

Other fruits with more nutrition per calorie. Variety matters more than picking one winner.

Cantaloupe

34 kcal per 100 g

High in vitamin C, Source of vitamin A

How does acerola compare?

Common questions about acerola

How many calories are in acerola?

100 g of acerola has 32 kcal. A typical portion, 5 fruits (24 g), has about 8 kcal.

How much protein is in acerola?

Acerola has 0.4 g of protein per 100 g, or about <0.1 g in 5 fruits.

Is acerola good for weight loss?

Acerola is low in calories (32 kcal per 100 g), so it adds volume to meals without many calories. No single food causes weight loss; the overall diet does.

Sources

U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central, SR Legacy: "Acerola, (west indian cherry), raw", FDC ID 171686. fdc.nal.usda.gov
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (21 CFR 101.9).
Fulgoni VL, Keast DR, Drewnowski A. Development and validation of the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index. J Nutr. 2009;139(8):1549-1554.
Monteiro CA, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-941.

Review and updates

Last updated: November 12, 2026
Data source: USDA FoodData Central, entry 171686. Not individually reviewed by a dietitian. How we check
Score version: HowHealthyIs Score 1.0

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More: Fruits ranked, foods high in vitamin C.