In recent years, scientific research has increasingly highlighted the health benefits of certain foods known for their exceptional nutritional value and potential health-promoting properties. These foods, including the relatively recent addition of camu camu powder, have long been valued for their healing properties and are now backed by scientific evidence supporting their beneficial effects on health.
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What is Camu Camu?
Camu camu is a small, reddish-purple fruit resembling a cherry or grape, typically found in the Amazon rainforest. It thrives in moist environments and is often found near swamps in nutrient-rich soil. Initially appearing as a pale yellow or green fruit, it matures into a vibrant red or purple color.
While camu camu (Myrcaria dubia) is primarily found in the Amazon rainforest, it can also grow in specific regions of Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil where local climates are suitable. However, this berry does not naturally grow in North America, Europe, or Australia so most people around the world consume it in powder, capsule, or liquid form.
Health Benefits Of Camu Camu.
Now that you have learned a bit about what camu camu is and the best ways to consume it, let’s take a closer look at the specific health benefits of camu camu that you can enjoy when you include this superfood in your diet.
High Vitamin C Content: Camu camu is one of the richest sources of vitamin C among all fruits and vegetables, supporting collagen formation, a strong immune system, and efficient iron absorption.
Rich in Polyphenols: Camu camu boasts ellagic acid, a potent polyphenol. This superfood also contains various other polyphenols like phenolic acids, stilbenes, flavonoids, lignans, and tannins, known for their anti-inflammatory properties and potential in preventing diseases.
Immune System Support: The high vitamin C content in camu camu supports a healthy immune system, helping the body defend against illnesses.
Anti-Aging Properties: Polyphenols and antioxidants in camu camu help fight free radicals and inflammation, potentially slowing down the aging process and improving skin health.
Improved Liver Health: Preliminary research indicates that camu camu may support liver health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver.
Enhanced Eye Health: The antioxidants and vitamin C in camu camu may help protect the eyes from age-related diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Reduction in Inflammation: The antioxidants in camu camu contribute to its anti-inflammatory benefits, potentially helping with conditions influenced by inflammation.
Support for Cold Symptoms: While evidence is limited, the vitamin C in camu camu may help reduce the severity or duration of cold symptoms.
Potential for Fatigue Reduction: Vitamin C has been studied for its role in reducing fatigue, which may benefit those experiencing post-viral fatigue.
Heart Health: Some studies suggest that camu camu’s antioxidants may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Blood Sugar Management: Camu camu, when combined with other fruit extracts, may help reduce carb-induced blood sugar spikes, which could be beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes.
Reduced Inflammatory Markers in Smokers: In one study, camu camu juice significantly decreased inflammatory markers in male smokers, suggesting potential benefits for reducing the risk of smoking-related health conditions.
These benefits make camu camu a valuable addition to a healthy diet, offering a range of potential health advantages for overall well-being.
Is Camu Camu Good for Anti Aging?
There is a saying that “Beauty Starts from Within”, Camu Camu may contribute to the overall health of our skin if taken consistently. According to Skin Therapy MD here are some benefits that were found for skin.
Hyperpigmentation Reduction: The naturally occurring vitamin C and niacin in camu camu interact with melanin-producing cells in the skin, reducing hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure or acne scarring and evening out your overall skin tone.
Sun Protection: Camu camu’s vitamin C helps protect the skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays, which cause premature aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and other visible damage. Always use a strong SPF with your other skincare products for the best results.
Brightening and Tightening: By aiding in collagen production, camu camu helps your skin appear firmer and more luminous, giving it a natural glow.
Anti-Inflammatory: Camu camu contains more than 30 antioxidant phenolics that fight inflammation, a leading contributor to the aging process and acne breakouts.
Exfoliation: Camu camu gently exfoliates the skin, lifting dead skin cells and leaving skin healthy and renewed.
Where can you find camu camu?
Good quality organic camu camu berry powders can be tricky to come by, especially at health stores so we shortlisted some of the best products that we tried the yield the best results and added links for you below. We noticed many online stores run out of stock quickly as it’s gaining popularity and the supply doesn’t seem to meet the demand. The below recommendations are in stock as of June 2024 and available to ship to Australia or US and even some other select countries.
Best Value Camu Camu Powder - Raw Organic.
| Lovingearth Organic Camu Camu Powder |
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Pure Organic Camu Camu Powder, no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. |
Serving size: 1 teaspoon |
Certified organic pure raw camu camu powder. Product of Peru. |
Price range: $40.90 for 75 servings (10 weeks supply) |
Price per daily serving for small container ≈ AU $0.70 Price per daily serving for value container ≈ AU $0.54 |
Best Camu camu capsules.
| The Healthy Llama Organic Camu Camu Capsules. |
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No artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. |
Contains 99% camu camu powder. Additional ingredients that make up the capsule casing are hypromellose, purified water, collodial anhydrous silica, magnesium sterate, cellulose. |
Healthy Llama is an Australian company. |
Price range: Regular price when sale is not on is $42.75 |
Price per daily serving ≈ AU $0.49 when on sale. |
Good small quantity to try - organic camu camu powder.
| Navitas Organics Camu Camu Powder |
|---|
No artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. Organic and Gluten Free. |
100% pure certified organic camu camu powder. |
US made and USDA Organic Certified. |
Price range: |
Price per daily serving ≈ AU $1.88 |
Best Value Soft Gel Capsules - Contains Gelatin.
| Herb Era Camu Camu liquid drops. |
|---|
No artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. Soy, Dairy and Gluten Free. |
Ingredients: organic camu camu extract, natural glycerin, purified water. |
Eco-friendly glass packaging, US-made. |
Price range: |
Price per daily serving ≈ AU $0.55 |
Has Camu Camu Been Around For Long?
For centuries, Amazonian civilizations have incorporated the camu camu berry into their diets. Due to its tartness and high acidity, the berry is challenging to consume directly from the bush. As a result, it is often juiced or ground into a fine powder and mixed with other foods.
The remarkable health benefits of camu camu have long been revered in South American cultures, primarily for its exceptionally high vitamin C content. Additionally, local Amazonians have utilized the berry and its leaves as traditional medicine to treat various conditions, including eye ailments like cataracts, the common cold, arterial hardening, and chronic fatigue.
What Does Science Say About Camu Camu?
Research conducted on men who smoked showed that consuming 0.3 cups (70 ml) of camu camu juice, containing 1,050 mg of vitamin C, daily for a week led to a significant reduction in inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Interestingly, these effects were not observed in the control group that received a tablet containing the same amount of vitamin C. This indicates that camu camu may contain a unique combination of beneficial components that aid in combating inflammation. (Pubmed).
Studies suggest that taking camu camu powder may offer several health benefits, including weight reduction. Animal studies indicate that it may achieve this by increasing the number of calories burned and positively affecting gut bacteria. Human research on 23 healthy individuals revealed that camu camu could help stabilize blood sugar levels, particularly after consuming a high-carbohydrate meal. (Pubmed)
Additionally, camu camu exhibits antimicrobial properties. A test-tube study showed that extracts from the peel and seeds of camu camu inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans, potentially harmful bacteria.
Other studies suggest that camu camu may contribute to healthier blood pressure levels. Test-tube and human studies have indicated that the berry might help lower blood pressure by promoting blood vessel dilation. (Pubmed)
Detox Diets with Camu Camu Powder.
Superfoods like camu camu are often used in cleanses, which are diets designed to remove toxins from the body by way of an adjustment in your food intake.
Many superfoods have properties that are specifically powerful for helping remove such toxins, which is why juice cleanses and other types of cleansing diets focus on consuming a large quantity of these foods for a certain period.
Camu camu may contain some antioxidant properties based on recent findings. Antioxidants are compounds found in many fruits and vegetables that can help the body fight free radicals, which are potentially damaging agents. Regularly consuming antioxidants may help prevent disease and reduce inflammation in the body.
It’s important to understand that detoxification doesn’t solely rely on one nutrient like camu camu. A healthy detoxification process is supported by a well-functioning liver, which is sustained by an overall healthy lifestyle. We do not advice you to depend solely on supplementation for detoxification purposes.
Camu Camu: Taste and Texture.
So what does camu camu taste like? The camu camu berry has a very tangy citrus taste, even at peak ripeness. That’s why the berry is not typically consumed on its own but rather combined with other foods or consumed in various forms.
The texture of camu camu will depend on the form in which it’s consumed. When the berry’s juice is used in fruit juice blends, it combines seamlessly with the texture and mouthfeel of the other juices.
However, when the berry is dried and ground into a powder, the texture can be slightly gritty depending on what other foods you’re combining it with.
Camu Camu Comes In 3 Different Forms.
Camu camu powder is the most common form in which to consume this exotic berry. Since camu camu doesn’t grow in North America or Australia, importing fresh camu camu berries into these countries can be costly, not to mention their freshness is difficult to maintain during the importation process.
Camu camu powder has a much longer shelf life than fresh berries, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and it can travel much more easily than the berries can in their natural state.
Camu camu powder contains all of the same health benefits as the whole berry but is more convenient to purchase and can be combined with various foods.
If you prefer to include the health-supporting benefits of camu camu in your beverages, you can also find camu camu in liquid form (a dilution of pure camu camu juice and water due to the strong taste) either on its own or mixed with other juice flavors.
Another convenient way to include Camu Camu Supplement into your diet is through capsules or liquid drops.
Camu Camu Storing Tips.
Camu camu powder has a long shelf life and can last for several weeks in your pantry if properly kept. Make sure your camu camu powder is stored in an airtight container in a dry place with low temperatures, below 25 degrees Celcius or 77 farenheit. Additionally, you should consume your camu camu powder before the expiration date for the best results.
Camu camu liquid drops should be kept in the refrigerator after opening and consumed within a few weeks of opening.
Best Ways To Eat Camu Camu?
One of the key points to remember is not to cook camu camu, as heat may cause a loss of its vitamin C content. Therefore, it’s best to add camu camu powder to your dishes after cooking them and allowing them to cool slightly.
You can enhance a variety of dishes with camu camu powder without cooking them. Acai bowls have gained popularity for their health benefits, delicious flavor, and customizable nature. Many acai enthusiasts like to incorporate camu camu powder into their acai bowls for additional health effects.
To enjoy the benefits of camu camu powder in your daily diet, you can sprinkle it over yogurt or morning oatmeal. It also makes a fantastic addition to morning smoothies, protein shakes, or even tea for an extra boost of flavor and health benefits.
Some individuals opt to include camu camu juice in their pressed juices or smoothies, particularly if they prefer a slightly tangy or sour flavor to balance out the sweetness.
For those looking to add camu camu to their beverages, consider pairing its tangy flavor with sweeter fruits such as berries, strawberries, and pineapple to create a well-balanced drink.
Is Camu Camu Powder Better Than Other Vitamin C Supplements?
Camu camu powder stands out as a superior source of vitamin C compared to synthetic forms due to its natural origin, particularly when sourced organically. This natural form of vitamin C is not only more bioavailable but also contains a spectrum of other beneficial compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids that work synergistically to promote health.
In fact, camu camu boasts a higher vitamin C content than most citrus fruits and berries, making it a potent antioxidant powerhouse. This combination of natural origin and high nutrient density makes camu camu powder a valuable addition to any diet seeking to boost overall health and immunity.
Risks And Side Effects Of Camu Camu Powder?
While there are currently no conclusive studies indicating significant risks associated with consuming excessive camu camu fruit extract in powder or juice form, as a general nutrition advice we recommend sticking to the serving suggestions directed on the labels of camu camu products and consult with your healthcare provider if you have any health concerns or taking medication or other supplements.
Some studies suggest that too many antioxidants in your diet could have an adverse effect on your health. Ask your doctor if you should place any specific limitations on camu camu consumption based on the other sources of antioxidants already included in your diet and other details of your current health status.
Worth mentioning: As Camu Camu is already so concentrated and potent taking larger amounts than suggested particularly in powder form is unnecessary and would be wasteful.
Myrciaria Dubia Plant: Origins and How to Harvest.
The camu camu berry grows on the Myrciaria dubia, a shrub native to rainforest climates like those found in Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The berries are harvested by local farmers at the point of ultimate ripeness when the berries are a dark purple or reddish color.
In some cases, the Myrciaria dubia leaves will be harvested as well to be used for their medicinal properties. However, when the crops are being harvested to be imported to the U.S. and other countries, most farmers will only include the berries or ship them as a powder for sale in health food stores.
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