What Is Camu Camu?
Camu Camu or technically known as Myrciaria dubia is a shrub and fruit species that grows in swampy or flooded areas of the Amazon rain forests of Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia and could be the next promising food. The shrub bears large berries that can look like cherries. The fruit and leaves are used as a medicine. These berries turn out to be one of the rich vitamin C fruit, for they have more of this vitamin in them.
Camu Camu is also used as an
antioxidant
and immune system stimulant. Camu Camu is used for viral
infections including herpes, cold sores, shingles,
common cold
, cataracts and glaucoma. Other uses include
treatment of asthma
, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), chronic
fatigue syndrome,
depression
,
gum disease
(
gingivitis
),
headaches
, and
osteoarthritis
.
Although this fruit contains powerful flavonoid with health benefits, such as amino acids, gallic acid, ellagic acid, potassium, etc. it comprises more natural Vitamin C than any other known botanical in the world.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C is one of the most well-known vitamins, but do you really know what it is and what it does? Most people associate it with orange juice, assume that it will help you stay healthier, and know little else about this famous and fascinating vitamin. The truth is that Vitamin C is necessary for all humans. It also helps protect other fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids in the oxidation process. First of all what is Vitamin C? Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. Vitamin C is essential for your body to create collagen and it is a powerful antioxidant ( Nobile and Woodhill, 1981 ). Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients for advancing immune functions and it helps in fighting the pathogens and oxidative stress ( Dr. Victor Marchione, 2016 ). Unlike the oil soluble vitamins such as A and E, Vitamin C cannot be stored by your body. Since Vitamin C is not stored by your body, we need to get it from our diet or from supplements. Your body is unable to manufacture vitamin C, so you should ensure that you get enough from the foods you eat and nutritional supplements.
It also has been used to treat iron deficiency and can present and
cure scurvy. So what happens if you don’t consume enough Vitamin C?
In extreme cases, it can cause the disease Scurvy. Rarely seen
today except in alcoholics who don’t consume many other calories,
it causes mobile teeth, bleeding gums, purplish colored wounds,
joint pain, muscle deterioration, and a wealth of other problems.
Those who think they may not be getting enough Vitamin C, the good
news is that it is readily available in the form of many common
foods, fruits and supplements.
Sources of vitamin C:
Vitamin C is available from many different sources. Generally, Acerola, acai and oranges are the super foods known for their extremely high vitamin C content, but camu camu contains even more vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a very important nutritional component. Be sure that
your body gets enough of it!
Camu Camu as Vitamin C Powerhouse:
Camu Camu fruit contains many nutrients such as fatty acid, protein, beta carotene however it’s considered as the richest source of vitamin C compared to any other food or fruit on the earth even more than the mighty orange. Generally oranges are known for their high vitamin C content. While comparing the amount of vitamin C in a camu camu with an orange: Camu Camu consists 30 times the amount of vitamin C than an orange( Pinedo-Panduro and Penn, 2008 ); this translates to 1,787.5% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C for every 100 grams of camu camu. Oranges often have 1,000-3000 parts per million of vitamin C whereas, camu camu berry can reach concentrations of up to 50,000 parts per million ( Dr. Edward Group DC, 2013 ).
A tablespoon of camu camu powder can give way more vitamin C we
need for the day. This remarkable high amount of vitamin C from
camu camu serve us with many health benefits and because of its
benefits people are taking camu camu powder instead of regular
supplement.
In a study, carried out with 20 male smokers, one group drank camu
camu juice and other took vitamin C tablets daily for a week. The
research concluded with decrease in some markers for antioxidants
and oxidative stress on camu camu group whereas, no changes seen on
another group (
Coles, 2014
).
The relatively high amount of vitamin C in the camu camu berry has
evolved very active discussions concerning possible benefits of
vitamin C therapy. Indeed one of the most popular advocates in this
regard is Dr. James Duke, he has explored large-serving vitamin C
therapy and its potential application (
Dr. Edward Group DC, 2013
).
The natural plant being recorded as the highest source of vitamin C
is better choice over synthetic vitamin C to strengthen the immune
system, liver, lungs, lymphatic and urinary systems. It has the
advantages of being non-irritating to sensitive stomach. One or two
grams of camu camu per day is as effective as five to six grams of
synthetic vitamin C. No other source of Vitamin C can supports,
strengthens and energies the body as much as this natural plant
source.
Side Effects of Camu Camu
Very less or little side effect known till date of camu camu. However it may interact with Chemotherpy treatment.
References:
- COLES, T. 2014 Camu Camu Benefits: 11 Things You Need To Know About The Fruit.
- DR. EDWARD GROUP DC, N., DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM 2013. What Is Camu Camu?
- DR. VICTOR MARCHIONE, M. 2016. Camu Camu: Vitamin C -Rich Berry Powder Can Benefit Your Health.
- NOBILE, S. & WOODHILL, J. M. 1981. What is vitamin C? Vitamin C. Springer.
- PINEDO-PANDURO, M. & PENN, J. 2008. Camu-camu: A sustainable option for agroindustry in the Peruvian Amazon. FAO Non-wood News, 17, 52.
