Camu Camu – the little vitamin C powerhouse from South America
Every child knows it, and it has long been considered the ultimate booster for our immune system: vitamin C. For some time now, a small, tart fruit from the Amazon region has been causing a stir not only in research, as its vitamin C content far exceeds anything previously known: camu camu. The berry contains around forty times as much vitamin C as an orange. But that’s not all. It also provides us with other important vital nutrients such as organic iron, B vitamins, and amino acids. Camu camu is packed with antioxidants and is also a natural anti-inflammatory and mood enhancer. We’ll tell you what other benefits this little vitamin C powerhouse has to offer!
Camu Camu – what is it?
This exotic fruit is currently being praised in many places as the new superfood. But what exactly is camu camu? Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) is a shrub from the myrtle family that is native to South America—more precisely, to the western Amazon region. The camu camu shrub, which can grow up to eight meters tall, grows mainly in Peru, but also in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. The round, orange-red fruits, about three centimeters in size, resemble small apples and taste fruity and slightly tart. They are also known as Rumberry or Bayberry Fruit.
Camu Camu – a proven medicinal plant of the Amazon
Until recently, this superfruit was still relatively unknown in this country. Indigenous peoples in the South American rainforest have long valued and used camu camu as a medicinal plant because of its wide-ranging health effects. Among other things, they attribute energizing, invigorating, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects to it. In its homeland, the camu camu berry is mainly consumed raw or in juice form.
Camu Camu – concentrated vital nutrient power
What indigenous peoples have known for thousands of years is gradually becoming recognized here as well: the nutrient-rich fruit of the camu camu shrub is a true vitamin powerhouse!
On average, 100 g of pulp contains 2 g of vitamin C. An orange, by contrast, contains only just over 50 mg per 100 g of pulp. Other proven sources of vitamin C such as blackcurrants, rose hips, sea buckthorn, or the acerola berry cannot compete here either.
This makes camu camu the fruit with the highest vitamin C value in the world! For comparison…
Compared to lemons & oranges, camu camu contains:
30 times as much vitamin C
10 times as much iron
3 times as much vitamin B3 (niacin)
2 times as much vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
And that’s not all!
The levels of vitamins B1, B2, and B3 as well as beta-carotene are also truly impressive. In terms of minerals such as iron, calcium, and potassium, as well as secondary plant compounds, camu camu also achieves outstanding values. Alongside vitamin C, the latter are considered highly effective antioxidants.
The berries also contain amino acids and proteins. With so much concentrated vital nutrient power, it is no wonder that this South American berry is credited with a wide range of positive effects on our health.
Camu Camu – small fruit, big impact
Thanks to its ideal blend of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds, the camu camu plant stands out for its powerful effect on our health. Another plus: our body can make optimal use of the nutrients it contains.
The following properties are attributed to this little superfruit:
- antioxidant
- anti-inflammatory
- invigorating
- energizing
- antidepressant
- antiviral
- antimicrobial
- blood pressure-lowering
- aphrodisiac
This makes it the perfect natural source of vitamin C to support our body’s own self-healing powers:
- to strengthen the immune system
- to protect our cells from oxidative stress
- to help prevent infections
- for headaches and migraines
- for allergies
- to maintain healthy skin, muscles, and joints
- to slow down the aging process (anti-aging)
- to strengthen our cardiovascular system
- for a healthy nervous system
Did you know?
According to two-time Nobel Prize winner and vitamin pioneer Prof. Dr. Linus Pauling, consuming sufficient natural vitamin C can help extend one’s life by 20 years or more.
Where can I get camu camu?
Due to the high demand for this vitamin-rich fruit, especially in Europe, wild-growing plants have been overexploited in many places. Today, the camu camu plant is also cultivated on plantations.
In Germany, camu camu is only available in powder form. To make it, the fruits are dried in the sun immediately after harvesting and then ground into powder. Sometimes the berries are also flash-frozen using a special process and then peeled and ground. When buying a camu camu product, you should make sure that the powder is pure and comes from cultivated sources. Just like in our EyeCQ, whose camu camu also comes from a trustworthy source in Asia.
In our vital product EyeCQ comp, you will also find this natural extract in a high-dose form and in combination with other valuable cofactors.
