by Leann Zotis

Created on: May 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

In an effort to eat healthful, nutritious foods, many of us are turning to a wide variety of new and sometimes exotic foods. With all the hype about the need for vitamins, minerals and the essential role of anti-oxidants in our diets, we are starting to search the world over for more of those perfect foods that will provide the vital element we need to live long and live strong. In the world of fruits, there are many avenues to explore.

Behold the magic and the mystery of the Camu Camu fruit. In the world of nutritional powerhouses, this Peruvian shrub is king. Camu Camu, scientifically known as the Myrciaria Dubia bush, is the leader when it comes to delivering Vitamin C in mega doses, having approximately 30 times the Vitamin C found in oranges. It is second to none in its ability to deliver antioxidants with a total antioxidant capacity of 145,000 per cup. Its next closest competition, a cup of wild blueberries, comes trailing in with a total antioxidant capacity of 13,427.

The major drawback, if indeed it can be a serious concern, is the fact that the fruit is highly acidic and, on its own, not delightful to the taste buds. This obstacle can be overcome with the addition of some sugar and milk and a quick spin in the blender.

In addition to its antioxidant powers, research on Camu Camu has yielded an exciting new natural approach to dealing with depression. In research described by nutritionist and researcher Gary Null, Ph.D., some patients have been successful in replacing such anti-depressant drugs as Zoloft and Prozac with Camu Camu.

Japan is the leader in consumption of this unique fruit, but the world will not be far behind. The Camu Camu fruit is receiving notoriety for its effectiveness in treating such health conditions as asthma, atherosclerosis, glaucoma, hepatitis, and migraine-cluster headaches. And that may be only the beginning. From its simple beginnings as a fruit harvested in the Amazon jungles of Peru and Brazil by natives using canoes, the fruit is becoming part of large-scale cultivation methods. It thrives in hot, damp, tropical environments, but is adaptable enough to survive in subtropic conditions as well. This adaptability will no doubt open the door to plantation-style cultivation of this wonder fruit.

There seems to be no end to the benefits of this nutrient-packed fruit. Camu Camu is also a significant source of potassium, natural beta-carotene, iron, calcium, niacin, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, thiamin and amino acids. Who could ask for more from any one food source? For your next dose of anti-oxidants, head for the produce aisle of your favorite specialty food market and seek out the camu-camu.

RESOURCES:

Null, Gary. A Woman's Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, Seven Stories Press, New York, N.Y., 1997.

Dr. James Duke's Ethnobotanical database: www.ars-grin.gov/duke/

Camu Camu Info Sheet, www.cocoonnutrition.org

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