Myrciaria dubia, the bionimal name of commonly known camu camu is a small bush tree mostly grows in flooded areas of the Amazon rainforest in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela with red to purplish cherry-like fruit. This camu camu fruit is packed with the highest recorded amount of natural vitamin C known on the planet, as well as tons of other vitamins and essential minerals. Just one serving of camu camu powder contains vitamin C value of more than 10 oranges!
Vitamin C is a crucial antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals in the body which may cause many chronic diseases and aging. Our bodies don’t produce vitamin C on their own, so we have to consume foods that contain vitamin C to get it. Some research prove that people who vitamin C rich foods may have lower rates of cancer risk . Antioxidant-rich diets are also associated with lower blood pressure and help protect heart health.
Camu camu is also contains iron, niacin, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium, beta-carotene, calcium and amino acids, like leucine, serine, thiamine and valine, that help your body absorb vitamin C.
- Potassium is good for heart and kidney health.
- Leucine is an essential amino acid found in camu camu, which needed for growth of muscle and bone tissue and recovery and the production of growth hormones.
- Serine is good for digestion. Serine helps to break down the proteins and polypeptides bonds so they can be absorbed by our bodies.
- Valine is also an amino acid found in camu camu. It’s an essential amino acid, that means our bodies don’t produce the amino acid so we need to get it by consuming food that contains the amino acid. Valine is needed by our body to prevent muscle breakdown and is important for nervous system and cognitive function.
