What is Camu Camu?
Camu Camu fruit is a popular superfood with a rich nutrient profile and high antioxidant potential. These powerful berries bloom in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest on the river bush, Myrciaria dubia. The berries taste acidic when eaten in the whole form, so we have condensed them into a fine, nutritionally dense powder. When making the powder, we use freeze-drying methods, in place of dehydration to ensure that the nutritional quality of the berries remains intact.
But don't take our word for it, read below to see some reasons why the exotic fruit from the Amazon is so fantastic!
Where does the Camu Camu fruit come from?
Camu Camu is a small berry-like fruit that resembles a cherry and grows in the amazonian rainforest. The fruit has been used for decades in traditional medicine, however, in recent years emerged as one of the richest sources of ascorbic acid, or as we know it, vitamin C. In fact, one teaspoon of powder can provide up to 700% of your daily needs!
What is Camu Camu good for?
As mentioned above, Camu Camu is high in vitamin C. This is a water-soluble vitamin that has powerful antioxidant capabilities. It also can help promote collagen production in the body.
Key health aspects of Camu Camu
The camu camu fruit is one of nature's most nutritious superfoods, packed with antioxidants in the pulp, peel and even the seeds. The superfruit also contains a wide range of additional bioactive compounds such as vitamin C, polyphenols, flavanols, and carotenoids.
Vitamin C
Camu camu is one of nature’s riches sources of vitamin C, and one teaspoon will provide more than twice the daily recommendation! This essential vitamin, acts as an antioxidant, helps to reduce the duration of colds, and emerging evidence says it may provide protective effects against illness in athletes.
Importantly, all vitamins are not created equal, and some can be less available to our bodies. However, a study has shown that vitamin C in camu camu is highly bioavailable and stable. This simply means the vitamin can be absorbed efficiently and won’t be degraded over time
Magnesium
Camu Camu berry is naturally rich in the mineral, magnesium. This acts a cofactor, or a “crutch”, for over 300 cellular reactions in the body. Without it, these reactions cannot occur and energy levels, protein synthesis and nerve function may suffer as a result. Magnesium has also been shown to play a minor role in reducing blood pressure, enhancing sleep quality, and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Potassium
Camu Camu provides a source of potassium, an important mineral, and one of the electrolytes, along with sodium and magnesium, that we need for fluid balance. If we do not consume enough of these minerals, then the ratio of water inside and outside of our cells falls out of balance and leads to dehydration. In addition, potassium is also an important cofactor, similar to magnesium, for a range of interactions in the body.
Antioxidants
Aside from vitamin C, camu camu also contains a wide range of different antioxidative phytonutrients, such as anthocyanins and ellagic acid, that can reduce inflammation and ease chronic pain. They do this by scavenging, or quenching, the harmful compounds that build up in our bodies over time. This accumulation over time, for example when smoking, is a major contributor to disease. A study showed that supplementing with camu camu for seven days led to decreased oxidative stress in 20 regular smokers.