What comes to mind when you think of oranges and the common cold? If your answer was Vitamin C, you’re right.
We have long known that eating oranges and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice can help us fight the common cold. This is because the sweet fruit is so high in Vitamin C.
Now, what if I told you that there’s another fruit that has as much as 60 times the Vitamin C that an orange does? And then add to that beta-carotene, fatty acids, proteins, antioxidants and more!
You've likely never heard of the Camu Camu Berry but you'll be glad you did after you read this.
So, What in the World is a Camu Camu Berry?
It grows on a shrub in the Amazon rain forest. The Camu Camu tree grows along the water. The native people in Peru and other countries pick the fruit from their canoes.
They use both the fruit and the leaves for medicine. The fruit grows between the size of a cherry and a lemon.
Camu Camu’s super high levels of Vitamin C give it a sour taste, so it’s not something you’re going to find in the fruit aisle.
Most people use it in its powder form. They add it to drinks or mix it with yogurt or oatmeal.
Just one tablespoon of Camu Camu powder has far more than the RDA of Vitamin C and offers a ton of health benefits.
5 Reasons You Should Care About Camu Camu Berries
1. Boosts Your Mood
We all know that mood is tied to our levels of serotonin. But did you know that low serotonin levels are linked to low levels of Vitamin C?
Vitamin C helps our brain make serotonin.
A study showed that giving Camu Camu to people who were hospitalized with low levels of Vitamin C helped improve their mood.
100 grams of Camu Camu has 2,145 mg of Vitamin C (that's 60 times more than an orange!)
Tweet2. Fights Inflammation and Signs of Aging
Camu Camu is high in antioxidants. These help to fight the free radicals that have been linked to inflammation and aging.
Studies have shown that Camu Camu is a big help in fighting gingivitis and arthritis. It may also help slow down other aging processes, such as macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.
Vitamin C is also a skin brightener. Many people use the powder in a mask to help slow the appearance of wrinkles.
3. Boosts Liver Health
Not only does Vitamin C help to counter the effects of cirrhosis and liver disease, but so do antioxidants, and Camu Camu is loaded with them.
4. Fights Off Infections and Viruses
Vitamin C is probably best known for the boost it gives to our immune system.
Camu Camu’s high levels of Vitamin C help fight off viral infections. It can also help us recover from colds and viruses like herpes faster.
5. Supports Bone Health
100 grams of Camu Camu contains 2.1 mg of Manganese. Manganese supports bone health and combats diabetes.
A Couple of Notes on Camu Camu Berries
If you’re going to start using Camu Camu powder, be careful not to use too much at a time. Its very high levels of Vitamin C can give you an upset stomach.
It can also interfere with some medications, so make sure that you check with your doctor first.
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please help me spread the word about Camu Camu Berry by sharing this article and I welcome your comments below.