Put Vitamin C- Rich Camu-Camu in Your Health Regimen

Camu-camu, or Myciaria dubia, easily beats out oranges and acerola with its incredibly high vitamin C content-about 2 grams of the vitamin in every 100 grams of fruit. This newcomer to the health food world also has more iron, niacin, riboflavin and phosphorus than the average orange. But wait, that's not all! No matter what you call it-araza de agua, camo camo, camu-camu negro, guapuro blanco, and rumberry are a few of its aliases-the nutritional promise of this unassuming fruit is only beginning to be studied seriously. Besides vitamin C, it's packed with nutrients like potassium, beta-carotene, calcium, protein, thiamin, the amino acids valine, serine, valine, and leucine, not to mention a host of phytochemicals.

In a 2005 study by the State University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil, the total anthocyanin content of camu-camu was found to be very high. Anthocyanin is a health-enhancing flavonoid that gives camu-camu its color. World-renowned botanist Dr. James Duke has rated camu-camu as number four on a list of hundreds of other botanicals because of its antioxidant properties in his comprehensive ethnobotanical database.

This all sounds great, but where in the world does camu-camu come from? The fruit grows on an evergreen shrub of the same name that inhabits black water rivers, swamps and flooded areas in the Amazon rainforest. Ranging from light orange to purplish-red, camu-camu, which resembles a grape but can reach the size of a lemon, has a sour taste and a unique aroma. The inside pulp is yellow and contains large seeds.

Despite its health-enhancing potential, camu-camu has not been widely utilized as a traditional herbal remedy in its homeland of Peru and Brazil, although lately it has begun to appear in Peruvian drinks and ice cream. In Brazil, camu-camu is an ingredient in hair products and is claimed to improve the strength and appearance of hair.

Its vitamin C content makes camu-camu a natural for treating colds and flus. As an antioxidant it has the potential to fight the ravages of aging and degenerative diseases. It's also being touted as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, and emollient, or simply as a delicious fruit. Camu-camu comes in juice, powder, pill and extract form, with a growing number of health food companies proclaiming both its real and reputed virtues. But the truth is that very little scientific research has been done yet on camu-camu to back up their sometimes extravagant claims.

The noted nutritionist Gary Null, Ph.D., attributes antidepressant and anti-herpetic capabilities to camu-camu based on clinical evidence. Holistic practitioners have reported success replacing conventional antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft with camu-camu powder or administering it to patients who suffer from panic attacks and generalized anxiety. As well, camu-camu may be effective in treating herpes-caused disorders, including genital herpes, cold sores, shingles and the Epstein-Barr virus.

Is camu-camu safe? It appears so. There don't seem to be any adverse side effects to its consumption, or dangerous drug interactions, although some people are sensitive to large doses of vitamin C and may suffer headaches or gastrointestinal symptoms.

How is camu-camu cultivated? The fruit of the wild bush is harvested by canoe once a year during the flood season. There is a movement afoot in Peru to give free camu-camu seedlings to native people of the rainforest to cultivate in an effort to help them preserve their traditional culture and preserve the supply of wild camu-camu while providing them with a steady income. This project can also help save the rainforest because it will provide a profitable alternative to environmentally wasteful cattle grazing.

Camu-camu is clearly ready to make a splash as the Next Big Thing in health food. Be the first on your block to give it a try and you may reap the benefits of its nutritional bounty.