What Is Camu Camu? Health Benefits And Recipes For The Fruit With '50 Times More Vitamin C Than An Orange'

What Is Camu Camu? The Latest Smoothie Trend Explained
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Brazilian "super fruits" like açaí and cupuaçu have become increasingly popular in the last year, but the latest rainforest fruit to take centre stage is camu camu.

Sometimes known by its Latin name Myrciaria dubia, camu camu is a plant from Peru and Brazil, similar to plum in colouring.

Under current EU Novel Food Regulations, it is only authorised as a food supplement. Any other uses are not currently authorised.

But that hasn't stopped the smoothie-lovers of Instagram adding camu camu powder to their creations.

How To Use Camu Camu

"Camu camu berries are tropical, cherry-sized super berries that possess a tart and tangy flavour," Tipper Lewis, head herbalist at Neal’s Yard Remedies tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.

"Camu camu powder can be mixed with fruit juices or blended into smoothies. Add a quarter to a half a teaspoon per drink for your daily Vitamin C."

Check out the slideshow below for specific recipe ideas:

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Camu Camu Recipes
Camu Cider(01 of10)
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As the recipe notes, heating camu camu powder can decrease its nutrient power, so wait until the end of creating this yummy warming drink to put it in.Learn how to create this at Navitas Naturals.
Camu And Mango Frozen Yogurt(02 of10)
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This awesomely refreshing recipe doesn't need anything as fancy as an ice cream maker — simply freeze the mango into cubes, add yogurt and voila.Learn how to create this at Bioglan.
Camu Grapefruit Slushy(03 of10)
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Smoothies and slushies are often where camu camu can be found, as it's so easy to just plop another ingredient into the blender. The citrus taste of grapefruit is particularly suited to the berry.Learn how to create this at MyCuppaYoga.
Camu Camu And Mango Yogurt Pops(04 of10)
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These gorgeous yogurt pops utilize camu camu juice, so if you find some (it just takes a bit of a hunt), this is a delicious way to utilize it.Learn how to create these at Que Rica Vida.
Coconut Quinoa Porridge With Camu Chia Berry Compote(05 of10)
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The addition of a compote infused with camu camu to this porridge makes a filling breakfast that will last well until lunch.Learn how to create this at Lifestyle Health.
Camu Camu Lemonade(06 of10)
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When you're looking for a little something more than water, lemonade made with camu camu and stevia sounds like a healthy choice to us.Learn how to create this at Nuts.com. (credit:Shutterstock)
Power Energy Treats(07 of10)
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Interestingly, the recipe for these little snacks emphasizes that they can also be fed to dogs, but we think we'll just keep them for ourselves.Learn how to create them at Nativas Naturals.
Super-Charged Wild Berry Smoothie(08 of10)
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The name alone is enough to make us want to try out this drink, but the ingredient list (spinach, goji berries, coconut chunks) makes us think it basically has magical healing powers.Learn how to create this at Wolf Zen Cafe.
Cool Sweet Quinoa(09 of10)
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As with the cider recipe, be sure the quinoa is already cooked once you start adding in the extra ingredients, like camu camu powder and maca powder, to ensure their first effects.Learn how to create this at Life Is Round. (credit:Shutterstock)
Camu Honey Mask(10 of10)
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This recipe isn't for eating — it's for spreading all over your skin. Thanks to the vitamin C in camu camu, it can help brighten and tighten skin, and its powdered form means it's an easy mask to make.Learn how to create this at Real Raw Kitchen.

Health Benefits Of Camu Camu

Camu camu has been widely documented to contain 50 times more vitamin C than your average orange.

"A teaspoon of camu camu powder has 1180% of your recommended daily intake for vitamin C and because of the array of phytonutrients in the berry, it's more effective than other commercial forms of vitamin C," Lewis says.

In addition to vitamin C, she says camu camu is high in B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, iron, amino acids, antioxidants and bioflavonoids.

"Camu camu is incredibly antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory making it a go-to superfood to help fight flu and combat colds," Lewis adds.

What's The Catch?

Speaking to HuffPost UK Lifestyle,British Dietetic Association spokesperson Dr Duane Mellor confirms that camu camu really does have double the amount of vitamin C than your average orange.

However, he points out that we don't really need that much vitamin C in the first place.

"We need to think if foods can really be super, and how much vitamin C we really need, as there is enough for most people in that orange or a portion of broccoli," he says.

Dr Mellor also says there is "a massive sustainability issue" with camu camu, and instead of buying it in powder form, we perhaps need to look for seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables that are grown closer to home.

"Bottom line is, you are better heading to your local market to buy fresh fruit and veg than buying camu camu powder to add to a smoothie," he says.

"It will be cheaper, better for the planet and at least as good for you if not better."

11 Facts About Camu Camu
Vitamin C(01 of11)
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Camu camu is chock full of vitamin C: 60 times more per serving than an orange! A teaspoon of camu camu powder has 1180 per cent of your recommended daily intake for vitamin C, which is important for gum health, among other functions in our body. (credit:Alamy)
Valine(02 of11)
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Valine is an amino acid found in camu camu. It's an essential amino acid, meaning that we must get it in food because our bodies can't produce it. Valine is used by the body to prevent muscle breakdown and is important for nervous system and cognitive function. (credit:Alamy)
Potassium(03 of11)
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Our bodies need potassium for the proper functioning of the heart and kidneys. Camu camu is one way to get it: 71.1 milligrams are found in every 100 grams. (credit:Getty Images)
Leucine(04 of11)
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This is another essential amino acid found in camu camu, one that our bodies need for muscle and bone tissue growth and recovery and the production of growth hormones. (credit:Alamy)
Serine(05 of11)
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Another amino acid! This one is key for digestion: serine helps to break down the bonds in proteins and polypeptides so they can be used by our bodies. (credit:Alamy)
Flavonoids (06 of11)
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Camu camu has several different flavonoids, which are compounds that are found in plants and are part of what gives fruits and vegetables their awesome colours. They mostly function in the body as antioxidants, neutralizing harmful free radicals. (credit:Alamy)
Gallic Acid (07 of11)
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Gallic acid is found in camu camu, which is good news because it appears to have anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. It also acts as an antioxidant. (credit:Getty Images)
Ellagic Acid(08 of11)
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This is another acid with antioxidant properties, found in camu camu. It's been studied for anti-cancer effects, though research is still very early. Some research also indicates that ellagic acid has anti-diabetes effects. (credit:Getty Images)
Inflammation(09 of11)
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In one study, 20 male smokers drank camu camu juice or took vitamin C tablets daily for a week. The group who took camu camu showed a decrease in some markers for antioxidants and oxidative stress at the end of the study, compared to no change for those who had vitamin C tablets. (credit:Getty Images)
How To Take It (10 of11)
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Camu camu berries are not exactly sold in your local North American supermarket, but you can include it in your diet in tablet or powder form. The powder can be used to flavour other foods, and camu-flavoured ice creams and drinks are popular in Peru. (credit:Getty Images)
When You Should Avoid It (11 of11)
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There is some concern that camu camu can interfere with some chemotherapy medications—you should always let your doctor know about the supplements you are taking, but especially so if you are receiving chemo, for example. (credit:Alamy)