(NaturalNews) Camu camu, also called camocamo and cacari, is a small tree that grows alongside rivers in the central and western Amazon basin in South America. It bears purple, cherry-sized berries which, due to their extreme acidity, are typically sweetened into jams, jellies, and juices rather than eaten raw. The berries have been utilized for medicinal purposes by Amazonian Indians for centuries, and were often made into hair tonics.

Although they are not well-known fruits in the West, camu camu berries rival some of the best fruits and vegetables in the nutrition department. Let's take a look at the benefits of camu camu and find out why the reputation of this exotic superfruit is ever-increasing.

Health Benefits

High concentration of vitamin C - Studies show that camu camu berries contain between a 2-3 percent concentration of vitamin C (approximately 3000 milligrams per 100 grams of pulp), which is the highest known of any fruit excluding the Australian kakadu plum. Indeed, it is this ultra-high vitamin C content that gives the berry its sour taste. Although vitamin C - also called ascorbate - is best-known for its ability to strengthen the immune system, it also supports the beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract and helps to remove heavy metal particles from our system.

Anti-inflammatory properties - According to a 2008 study published in the Journal of Cardiology, camu camu berry extracts were shown to reduce the levels of oxidative stress markers like urinary 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, thereby improving the inflammation and oxidative stress levels of the participants. Since chronic inflammation can lead to a number of serious diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer, it is important that we incorporate more antioxidant-rich fruits like camu camu into our diets as a preventative measure.

Diabetes prevention - According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, camu camu berries contain high amounts of ellagic acid, a flavonoid that is proven to contain anti-diabetic effects. This fact, coupled with the fruit's low glycemic index score (meaning it has little effect on blood sugar levels), makes camu camu a safe and even desirable fruit for diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals.

Rich in flavonoids - Aside from ellagic acid, camu camu berries also contain high amounts of other flavonoids including catechins, rutin, anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, delphinidin 3-glucoside, and cyanidin 3-glucoside. Like vitamin C, flavonoids (of which there are over 4,000 known to science) are antioxidants that scavenge cell-damaging free radicals and metallic ions, thereby providing us with anti-aging benefits, memory-enhancing properties, and a lowered risk of cancer, asthma, heart disease, and strokes.

Weight loss properties - Like most fruits, camu camu berries are low in calories, rich in dietary fiber, and contain almost no fat. Consequently, you won't ever need to worry about weight gain when eating camu camu products, and they can be incorporated into a healthy eating plan. Due to the sizable amounts of natural energy they provide, camu camu berry products are best consumed during breakfast or before a workout.

One-hundred grams of camu camu berries also provide us with 1.55 grams of protein, various B-vitamins (including B1, B2, and niacin), and trace minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and iron. The fruit is also known to improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and increase serotonin levels, which in turn improves mood.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11464674

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0914508708001500

http://www.ajpcr.com/Vol4Issue3/448.pdf

http://www.naturalnews.com/report_camu_camu_0.html

About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer from the United Kingdom whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website Spiritfoods, through which he helps to promote the world's healthiest foods, whether they be established superfruits such as mangosteen or lesser-known health supplements like propolis.

Michael is also the creator of the companion site Spiritcures, which details his research into the best home remedies for common medical conditions such as hemorrhoids.

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