6 minute read
Can Camu Camu help you?
There has been a growing interest in the potential health benefits of camu camu powder, especially in complementary and alternative medicine! It has been shown to have beneficial effects on many different issues ranging from infections to eye conditions to blood and heart diseases.
Want to know more about camu camu powder? Well then stay with us, to learn exactly what it is - and how it can benefit your health..
WHAT IS CAMU CAMU POWDER AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Camu camu powder is the powdered herbs collected from the camu camu plant, typically berries, that is botanically known as Myrciaria dubia and grows in the swampy regions of the Amazon rainforests including Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil.
The berries and leaves of the plant have long been traditionally used in medicine to treat and prevent a range of ailments. Modern scientific studies also have substantiated many of its traditional uses. Today, it's widely available in various forms including, powders, extracts, and juices.
NUTRIENTS FOUND IN CAMU CAMU
Camu camu is densely packed with plant nutrients. It’s considered one of the richest sources of vitamin C. The research on camu camu is still in childhood and the full list of nutrients is yet to come. However, here’s a short list of camu camu nutrients what we know so far.
In addition to vitamin C, camu camu contains high amounts of:
- Antioxidants (such as ellagic acid and anthocyanins)
- Carotenoids (such as lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin)
- Amino acids (such as valine, leucine, and serine)
- Polyphenols (such as tannins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and lignans)
- Minerals (such as magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, potassium, and calcium)
HOW DOES CAMU CAMU WORK?
Camu camu and the nutrients it contains have been found to have several pharmacological properties, especially antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and immuno-modulating to name a few.
The health benefits of camu camu powder seem to come from its nutritional content. Vitamin C and other potent antioxidants found in camu camu can help protect cells and tissues from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are harmful molecules that contain unpaired oxygen, making them highly unstable and causing large chain reactions that can damage cells, tissues, and even organs.
Moreover, antioxidants and polyphenols in camu camu have been shown to have tremendous anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation and thereby, can help prevent the development of several chronic and serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.
A 2008 RCT (randomized controlled trial) published in the Journal of Cardiology showed that camu camu has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (1). This study indicates that camu camu can be used to prevent several inflammatory conditions like atherosclerosis (hardening of blood arteries that may lead to a heart attack and brain stroke).
Still with us? Well then let’s take a look at some of the most common potential health benefits of camu camu which may help you in deciding if this one is for you!
POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF CAMU CAMU POWDER
The purported health benefits of camu camu are countless. However, here’s a short list of potential benefits that are evidenced by scientific studies so far.
Camu camu may help:- Prevent cell damage caused by oxidative stress or free radicals
- Fight against inflammation
- Improve immune response
- Keep cholesterol levels in check
- Control blood sugar levels
- Facilitate iron absorption
- Facilitate weight loss
- Maintain blood pressure levels
- Combat infections caused by bacteria or fungi
- Improve skin appearance and slow down aging (anti-aging)
HOW TO USE CAMU CAMU POWDER
Camu camu is most popular in the form of a powder in which water is removed, making it higher in concentration and prolonged shelf-life. Our Camu camu powder can be easily taken by adding it to various foods such as smoothies, yogurts, oats, and salad dressings. You can also consider adding your favorite flavors if you want to mask the slightly sour taste of camu camu, but always keep in mind that you’ll need to add camu camu to foods only after cooking since vitamin C content can be destroyed by heat.
Summary
Camu camu has long been used in traditional medicine and still today it is gaining a huge interest in medicine. While many health benefits of camu camu have been substantiated so far, scientists are still working to understand its full potential.
It has incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help with preventing and managing a wide range of health conditions including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and infections.
No matter whether you’re already at risk of inflammatory diseases or simply want to improve your overall health and well-being, giving it a try is really worth it! We stock pure and natural Camu Camu Powder here available in both 50g and 100g!
REFERENCES
- Inoue, Teruo, et al. “Tropical Fruit Camu-Camu (Myrciaria Dubia) Has Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties.” Journal of Cardiology, vol. 52, no. 2, 1 Oct. 2008, pp. 127–132, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18922386/, 10.1016/j.jjcc.2008.06.004.