I’m sure I’m not the first person reading this that has only very recently come across the name camu camu. And in that case, I’m happy to make your acquaintance to this superfood. A superfood that you need to become friends with now. Very good friends.
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What Is Camu Camu?
With origins deep in the Amazon rainforest of South America, the camu camu is going somewhat viral in the world of health and all things anti-aging because, well, it is just packed with incredibly beneficial vitamins and minerals.
The camu camu or Myrciaria dubia is a bushy tree that bears small berries that are sour to the taste. But these berries are power-packed little gems that you’ll be wanting to start devouring – even if you’re not into tart flavors. There is good news if that’s you – there are different forms from which you can consume the properties of the camu camu from. Read on, my friend.
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Why Is Camu Camu Good For Your Skin?
Vitamin C
With an insanely high vitamin C content, camu camu is, of course, immediately identified as being beneficial in our quest for the holy grail. Or at least being able to take a red hot go at anti-aging capabilities.
The staggering level of vitamin C within a berry is truly incredible. With around 3 mg of vitamin c per every 100g (according to the National Library of Medicine) this makes the camu camu berry one of the richest tropical fruits suppliers of vitamin C on the planet!
And the good news for you comes in the form of the following benefits of camu camu for you:
- brightening your skin tone
- reducing sun damage
- helping to remove dead skin cells
- minimize dark spots
- protection against environmental damage
What a dream!
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Antioxidants
So that being said, aside from its epic vitamin C or ascorbic acid value, camu camu berries also contain many other vital and powerful antioxidants. It’s these antioxidants that fight against free radicals and vitamin C that aid in the body’s collagen production levels. Which in turn, can help the appearance and health of your skin.
Camu camu fruit is a great fighter against free radical damage, which can be detrimental to the health and appearance of your skin.
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Minerals
Camu camu is not only rich in Vitamin C. It also contains the following minerals:
- zinc
- magnesium
- potassium
- sodium
- manganese
- copper
- calcium
Sounds like you daily multivitamin all in one fruit right?
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Reduce Inflammation
The plentiful anti-oxidants within camu camu can help reduce inflammation within your body, hair and skin. So, consuming camu camu in the right amounts can help to significantly to lower inflammation which is impactful to every organ function within your body.
While chronic inflammation is a large umbrella term, the issues it is tied to essentially relate to so many issues and diseases within the body.
Arthritis, infection, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma and allergies, joint pain, eye disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are just some of the issues that have a direct correlation with inflammation within our bodies.
With such plentiful anti-inflammatory properties inside each camu camu fruit, there really is no reason not to add it to your diet or skincare routine.
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If you’re not asking the question – okay – where can I get it now – just yet, you will be when I tell you it’s other benefits aside from being incredible for your skin.
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More Camu Camu Benefits
Immune System Support
This also relates directly to the high vitamin C levels camu camu contains.
The Amazonian fruit also contains a mineral called betulinic acid which is a complex property that is associated with reducing tumors and cancer cells.
Weight Loss
There are strong claims that camu camu can aid in obesity and weight loss after trials in animals. Improvements in levels of diabetes within mice has also been shown according to the National Library of Medicine.
Balance Blood Sugar Levels
Camu camu may also be responsible for lower blood sugar spikes that occur after eating high carb foods.
Blood Pressure Assistance
It has also been shown that camu camu can reduce blood pressure levels by improving the health of blood vessels.
Antibacterial
In lab studies, camu camu has been shown to have an effect on minimizing bacteria within test tube studies.
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Okay, if you’re feeling like me about now, get on the search for what to take and where to find it! But be careful not to overdo it! Follow the recommendations for how much to take each day. Remember that too much of anything is not good. Even the good stuff!
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Image by Bobyhus25, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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How Can I Get Camu Camu?
The benefits of the camu camu berry can be ingested via a dietary supplement in juice, capsule or powder form. But remember, camu camu has an incredibly sour natural flavor. So if that’s a bit off-putting for you, look for a capsule or pwder form instead of the juice.
And then there’s skincare. If you take a bit of time to look for them, you’ll find some skincare gems containing camu camu as well.
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What Skincare Products Can I Find That Contain Camu Camu?
Joah Heal Me Cica Gentle Foam Cleanser
The Korean Beauty realm gets it right again with Joah Heal Me Cica Gentle Foam Cleanser. This cleanser is packed with healing goodness, including camu camu extract.
Find Joah Heal Me Cica Gentle Foam Cleanser here.
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Luxe Botanics Camu Brightening Mist
If you can’t find this product on Amazon, it may well be because I bought it out!! Yep, sorry about that my friend. But keep trying. You won’t regret it!
If you know me, you know I love a good mist product, and Luxe Botanics is up there with my faves, but the camu camu may well push this one over the edge!
Find Luxe Botanics Camu Brightening Mist here.
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Too Cool For School Egg Cream Mask
Okay, so you know I have a soft spot for a good sheet mask. Such a great excuse to take 5 (or 20!) and relax for a while. But these gems from Too Cool For School are a MUST! And of course, I wouldn’t be mentioning them if they didn’t contain brightening and plumping camu camu to go alongside the other healing and nurturing properties of this divine sheet mask set.
Find Too Cool For School Egg Cream Mask here.
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Vichy Soleil Capital Soleil Sunscreen 50+
How do you say – if you know, you know. Well, that’s definitely the case for Vichy’s camu camu-containing sunscreen.
Aside from being lightweight, fast-absorbing and protecting your face by way of UVA and UVB protection, this sunscreen acts as a skincare product, thanks in no small part to camu camu; which gently plumps your skin, minimizes the appearance of fine lines, and brightens your face – all while protecting it too!
Find the Vichy Capital Soleil 50+ Sunscreen here.
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Bioken Enfanti Camu Camu Hair Oil
This nourishing hair oil will help keep your hair silky shiny, prevent split ends, as well as providing camu camu-rich antioxidants to protect the condition of your hair. You can also use it to strengthen you skin and nails as well.
Find Bioken Enfanti Camu Camu Hair Oil here.
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Navitas Organics Camu Camu Powder
This gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO powder is derived directly from the Amazonian camu berry. The powder makes it a more palatable version of the very tarte and sour-tasting berry. That way, you can easily make delicious smoothies, desserts and top it on your yogurt and dressing for that superfruit does you know will do you the world of good!
Find Navitas Organics Camu Camu Powder here.
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Food To Live Organic Camu Camu Powder
Another powder-form option to up your daily dose of goodness. The Food to Live Camu Camu Powder provides you with lutein, beta-carotene as well as vitamin c to nourish your body inside and out. It is also rich in ellagic acid, which will help to provide your body with anti-oxidants to keep you healthy and strong.
Pro Tip: As recommended by Food To Live – add the powder to your favorite organic honey and make your very own homemade face mask! Brilliant idea, right?
Find Food To Live Organic Camu Camu Powder here.
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If you find you’re short on time or smoothies just aren’t your thing, then this is the next best thing. Paradise Camu Camu capsules will provide you with a single daily dose of beta carotene, riboflavin, potassium, leucine, serine, and valine amino acids. Phew, that was a mouthful.
But these capsules are the perfect quick and convenient method of getting your camu camu benefits without spending a lot of time in the prep.
Find Paradise Camu Camu Capsules here.
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With such immense positive effects on the body, there must be a downside, right? Well, so far, from the places I searched on camu camu )see the resource list below if you’d like further reading) there seem to be few side effects to camu camu fruit or their processed by-products. I know I’ll definitely be making this a regular part of the daily natural products that I consume.
And honestly I’m quite curious to taste the camu camu juice as well. Have you tried it?
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Featured Image by Element5 Digital
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