The antioxidant marvel camu camu is the fruit of a small, shrubby tree in the Myrtaceae family, found in forested areas — chiefly the Amazon rainforest — between Peru and Brazil.
This remarkable fruit contains around 200 times more vitamin C than a banana, 56 times more than a lemon, and 30–60 times more than an orange. These red-purple, cherry-like berries are considered the highest vitamin C food in Brazil. Its important antioxidant compounds — vitamin C above all, plus beta-carotene and phytochemicals — help strengthen your immune system and protect against infections and bacteria.
Thanks to this vitamin C and beta-carotene, camu camu doesn't just boost your body's resistance — it may also help reduce the risk of age-related vision loss such as cataracts and glaucoma. Its antioxidants also support cardiovascular health, helping strengthen blood vessels and protect the heart.
People managing diabetes, take note: research suggests the antioxidant compounds in camu camu may help ease diabetes-related symptoms. Adding this fruit to your diet may help support eye, foot, nerve and kidney health affected by diabetes.
With its very high antioxidant capacity, camu camu may help protect against cancer — its antioxidants reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to lower cancer risk, though more research is needed.
For anyone dealing with the modern struggles of chronic fatigue, stress and low mood, camu camu may be helpful too: thanks to its high vitamin C, it can support these areas. It also helps protect oral and dental health, guarding against gum problems.
This fruit supports cell renewal, helping guard against premature ageing, and by supporting skin elasticity it can help you enjoy firmer-looking skin. For people with osteoarthritis, its high antioxidant content plays a role in the formation of healthy cartilage and the repair of damaged cartilage; research suggests antioxidants may reduce the risk of the condition progressing.
Its high vitamin C and antioxidant capacity make camu camu noteworthy not just for the Amazon but for the whole world. To make it easy to transport everywhere, camu camu is dried and turned into a powder — it can be dried whole or sliced at low temperatures without losing much of its nutrients. It's a wonderful food that comes from the Amazon to our tables.
Once dried, this fruit becomes a red-orange powder that you can easily stir into desserts, yogurt, smoothies and drinks. Just a teaspoon of this natural fruit provides a very large share of your daily vitamin C needs. Add this Amazonian marvel to your diet to boost your energy and strengthen your immune system.