What are Camu Camu’s Health Benefits?
What is camu camu?
On the banks of a swift-flowing river, deep in the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon rainforests, the camu camu (Myrciaria Dubia) shrub thrives. Growing to about 1 foot, camu camu belongs to the Myrtacae family, which also includes the guava.
The camu-camu berry is harvested during the rainy season and is resistant to flooding. Shrubs may yield up to 24 pounds of tropical fruit, each measuring about 1.5 inches in diameter. Sometimes called cacari, the camu camu fruit has two pits and is red or purple with a smooth, shiny surface. It has a tangy taste.
Known as a superfruit, the small berry has high vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content (up to 3,000 mg). Indeed, no other fruit contains anywhere near the amount of this essential vitamin as the camu camu — not even the acerola or acai, which are known for their high amount of vitamin C.
Compare, the levels of vitamin C content per 100 grams of whole fruit in this superfood:
- Camu camu: 2400 to 3000 mg
- Acerola: 1000 to 2000 mg
- Blackcurrant: 200 mg
- Kiwi: 80 mg
- Lemon: 65 mg
- Orange: 60 mg
For reference, the recommended daily intake for an adult male is 90 mg.
Camu camu has been used by native Amazonian Indians for generations but was not seen as a food source because of its sour taste. Now, Peruvians use camu camu powder for cooking, fruit juice, smoothies, supplements, wellness, and to treat certain disorders.
What are camu camu’s health benefits?
There are numerous health benefits to consuming camu camu, including:
Camu camu’s antioxidants protect against disease
One of the benefits of camu-camu it is rich in powerful antioxidants that protect your cells against free radicals. Those play a role in heart disease, cancer, and other conditions. Free radicals are molecules produced when the body breaks down food or you are exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation. An excess of oxidants can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Camu camu has a distinct benefit for those that smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes produce many free radicals that may lead to exaggerated oxidants. A study of 20 male smokers who drank .3 cups of camu camu containing 1,050 mg of vitamin C each day found that participants had lower oxidant stress.
The part of the study group that took vitamin C tablets demonstrated no oxidant change. This study suggests the camu camu berry contains antioxidants not found in a vitamin C tablet.
Camu camu lowers inflammation
Along with substantial amounts of vitamin C, camu camu fruit pulp contains other antioxidants such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid that have anti-inflammatory properties.
Can camu camu help control weight?
The digestive tract and metabolism thrive when you ingest cam camu. Camu camu controls weight loss by lowering the risk of obesity-related diseases. It also helps lower cholesterol levels, contributing to improved heart health.
Moderate mood swings with camu camu
Camu camu helps relaxation and somewhat resembles the effects of a sedative. These effects help balance mood swings and lower anxiety levels. The high levels of magnesium found in the camu camu berry also reduce inflammation and calm the body — which helps people suffering from depression or menopausal mood swings.
Does camu camu maintain muscle tone?
Camu camu fruit is packed full of potassium, amino acids, calcium, phytochemicals, carbohydrates, and organic compounds — making it one of the world’s healthiest foods. This combination of nutrients adds to the growth and protection of muscles. Researchers have found that the berry stimulates the metabolism and adds to the progress of a complete workout.
Camu camu keeps eyes healthy
Rich in carotenoids, camu camu safeguard eye health by reducing oxidative stress on the ocular system. These same carotenoids help avert macular degeneration and the onset of cataracts.
Keep germs at bay with camu camu
The camu camu fruit has innate antiseptic and antimicrobial qualities to help prevent bacterial and viral infections, such as E. coli and STDs like herpes. Your immune system will thank you for ingesting camu camu.
Camu camu may lower blood pressure
People suffering from high blood pressure — which affects 37 million Americans — may be exposed to heart disease and strokes. Camu-camu reduces blood pressure by improving vasodilation and blood flow.
Does camu camu promote healthy skin?
The vitamin C found in camu-camu supports the body’s collagen production. Collagen, a protein, is located in connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage. Connective tissue cells called fibroblasts produce and maintain collagen. As people grow older, collagen becomes fragmented, fibroblast function becomes impaired, and collagen production slows. These changes lead to signs of aging such as sagging skin and wrinkles.
Does camu camu have side effects?
There have been no reports of camu camu side effects. However, do not exceed the dosage recommended by your healthcare provider. Too much vitamin C can cause nausea, vomiting, and kidney problems.
Why choose VitaminMD’s vitamin formulations?
The VitaminMD Story
Dr. David Nazarian developed VitaminMD as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He saw his patients’ diets lacked an all-inclusive vitamin — an essential immunity boost that optimizes overall health. He also noticed that most of his patients were vitamin D deficient and unaware of the many problems that it brings.
Many patients asked Dr. Nazarian what to take to boost their immune systems and keep their bodies strong against infections, but there wasn’t one product with all the necessary ingredients. Camu camu powder was added to our custom vitamin packets due to all its many benefits. Our camu camu supplement is packed with vitamin c and is one of the best camu camu extract available for purchase.
About VitaminMD
There is a wide variety of multivitamins available to the public. Unfortunately, no single multivitamin has been specifically formulated to meet today’s needs. VitaminMD’s custom vitamin packets and vitamin formulas contain many ingredients that patients can’t find in a single product. Our vitamin supplements and vitamin packets are easy to drink, great tasting, and absorb better than tablets. VitaminMD was formulated by an M.D. on the pandemic frontlines with the specific purpose of meeting today’s health needs.
Many patients do not like to take multiple tablets (11% of the U.S. population). A VitaminMD custom vitamin packet delivers a powerful and comprehensive dose of all the necessary vitamins that boost the immune system and support overall health. Other vitamins often lack main ingredients — meaning people have to take multiple tablets to meet all their needs.
Many people are deficient in vitamin D and popular immunity drinks on the market today lack enough vitamin D. VitaminMD has the necessary dosage of vitamin D and other great ingredients that boost immunity and optimize overall health.
Order VitaminMD’s products online at www.VitaminMD.net or by calling us at 877-760-3564.
Sources:
Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-antioxidants
Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/carotenoids
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrciaria_dubia
Camu Camu.org: https://www.camu-camu.org/
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[…] you consider foods that may be a little harder to find, camu camu contains up to a whopping 3,000 mg per 100 g, acerola cherries 1,652 mg per 100 g, and rose hips […]