by Amanda Baker

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: May 13, 2009

Camu-Camu or Myrciaria dubia is a bush that is native to the amazonian rain forest particularly near and around Peru. While the fruit of this Peruvian plant has not been highly utilized in past times. It's extremely high levels of Vitamin C have taken the U.S. health market by storm. Although Camu-Camu does not have extensive research in it's favor, there are many new claims around that the fruit has become quite a hot topic. In particular, it has been reported to be replacing synthetic Vitamin C. The natural craze in the food and nutrition market are of course playing a large role in the use of organic and natural plants and foods. Camu-Camu boasts some powerful and essential chemicals that can be useful in any vitamin cabinet. The fruit contains the essential amino acids valine, leucine, and the semiessensial amino acid serine. Camu-Camu has also been found to boast higher levels of flavonoids.

The question of the health benefits of the fruit are mostly attributed to it's very high concentration of Vitamin C. Vitamin C or asorbic acid is a vitamin that humans cannot produce. The vitamin is essential in many bodily functions. One of the most important functions for Vitamin C in the human body is for the synthesis of collagen. This is important to the structural components of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Among other important uses in the human body, Vitamin C has been recently linked as a component for the metabolising of cholesterol. As an antioxidant this vitamin also plays an important role in protecting molecules in the body that are key to bodily function, and can be considered indispensable.

The amino acids found in camu-camu also play a role in the metabolic system of the body. The human body can only produce ten of the twenty essential amino acids, and it is important that daily consumption of these essentials are consumed. Consuming foods that are rich in amino acids is a key in keeping your body healthy as well as helping create the proteins needed for muscle tissue as well as other proteins that help aid in and sustain bodily functions.

While studies show that Camu-Camu is in fact high in Vitamin C, as well as a few amino acids and flavonoids. The fruit itself has not been recorded to be used as a staple in any indigenous cultures. However, the newer studies of Camu-Camu have shown that it's nutritional value should not be overlooked. While it has been reported to be used in many different nutritional and dietary substances

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