Nutrition Facts Fruit and Vegetables Camu Camu Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Reviewed by Reviewed by Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN on August 11, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin instagram Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist. Learn about our Review Board Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN on August 11, 2020 Print Lew Robertson / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Nutrition Facts Health Benefits Allergies Adverse Effects Varieties When It's Best Storage and Food Safety How to Prepare Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) is a small, sour berry from South America. The berry is too tart to eat on its own, but in powder form, it's abundant in vitamin C and antioxidant compounds. If you've never heard of camu camu, you might be wary about trying it. Although caution should be always be taken with dietary supplements, camu camu offers several promising health benefits worth considering. Camu Camu Nutrition Facts The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for 1 teaspoon (3g) of raw camu camu powder. Calories: 10Fat: 0gSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugars: 0gProtein: 0g Carbs The USDA does not provide any nutrition information for the whole fruit, but in powder form, a serving of camu camu is likely 1–2 teaspoons. In 1 teaspoon of camu camu powder, you'll get 3 grams of carbohydrates, of which, 1 gram comes from natural fiber. Fats Camu camu powder is naturally fat-free. This is true for both a small 3-gram serving and a larger serving of 100 grams. Protein Camu camu powder does not provide any protein. Vitamins and Minerals The most impressive nutrient in camu camu is its vitamin C content. A teaspoon provides 144 milligrams, which is 240% of the daily value. Camu camu also provides some potassium and the B-vitamin, niacin. Health Benefits Although no long-term human studies are available, the compounds found in camu camu are suspected to offer benefits in the prevention of certain diseases. May Support Cancer Prevention Camu camu contains powerful antioxidants. In addition to vitamin C, camu camu has polyphenols such as ellagic acid, ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins. These bioactive compounds help fight off free radicals that lead to cancer-causing damage to DNA. Supports Heart Health Beyond their antioxidant effects, the polyphenols in camu camu are also anti-inflammatory. In a vast majority of heart disease cases, inflammation is a major risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. Camu camu also provides fiber, offering 1 gram for every teaspoon in powder form. Fiber's ability to help lower cholesterol makes it an essential nutrient for heart health. Just like other fruits and vegetables, camu camu fits perfectly into a heart-healthy eating plan. May Aid Weight Loss Although more human studies are needed, preliminary studies on rats show promise for camu camu in the treatment of obesity. Rats fed camu camu eliminated significantly more fat via the liver and feces than those in the control group. As a result, body fat and more specifically, visceral fat, were reduced. This study suggests that camu camu be further investigated as a dietary aid for weight loss. Reduces Sun Damage UV light exposure leads to the breakdown of collagen, causing wrinkles, sunburns, and skin cancer. Along with high levels of vitamin C (a precursor to collagen formation), camu camu contains the phenolic compound, quercetin. Quercetin acts as an antioxidant. Studies show that quercetin directly targets skin tissues, combating the effects of sun damage. While there's no substitute for proper sun protection (like wearing sunscreen and limiting your exposure during peak times), camu camu may boost your body's natural resilience against the sun. May Help Improve Cognitive Function The antioxidant effects of quercetin have also shown promise in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Preliminary studies demonstrate positive effects from oral dosages of quercetin on cognitive function and memory. Several fruits and vegetables provide quercetin and other antioxidants, so camu camu is just one way to reap this benefit. Allergies There are no known allergies to camu camu. As with any food, however, allergies are always possible. Typical signs of a food allergy include hives, dizziness, chest tightness, or swelling of the throat or tongue. If you notice a reaction that occurs immediately following or up to 1 hour after ingesting camu camu, speak to allergist to determine if you are allergic. Adverse Effects Adverse effects to camu camu are not well documented. However, one case study describes a 45-year-old man who experienced acute hepatitis as a result of camu camu. Because the man was otherwise healthy and did not consume medications or alcohol, camu camu was suspected to be the culprit. He was using 1 spoonful per day. Because dietary supplements are not regulated, it can be difficult to evaluate how safe or effective they are. Always use caution and inform your doctor of any supplement you use. Varieties Camu camu comes from the highly diverse ecosystem of the Amazon. However, wild and domesticated varieties show no major genetic differences, suggesting that there is one general variety of the plant. Camu camu fruit may show varying characteristics based on the environment where it is grown. When It's Best Camu camu is sold in powder or pill form, so it is available year-round at health food stores and online. The fresh berry is too bitter to eat as is and therefore was not considered an edible food by indigenous people in the past. Most camu camu products are also organic. Storage and Food Safety Store camu camu powder in a dry, airtight container and use by the expiration date listed on the specific product you purchase. How to Prepare Camu camu is sour and tart. As a powder, it's commonly mixed into juices or smoothies. As a pill or capsule, camu camu supplements can be taken with water, with or without food. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Raw organic camu camu powder. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published April 1, 2019. Serrano A, Ros G, Nieto G. Bioactive compounds and extracts from traditional herbs and their potential anti-inflammatory health effects. Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3). doi:10.3390/medicines5030076 Nascimento OV, Boleti AP, Yuyama LK, Lima ES. Effects of diet supplementation with camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia HBK McVaugh) fruit in a rat model of diet-induced obesity. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2013;85(1):355-63. doi:10.1590/s0001-37652013005000001 Shin EJ, Lee JS, Hong S, Lim TG, Byun S. Quercetin directly targets JAK2 and PKCδ and prevents UV-induced photoaging in human skin. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(21). doi:10.3390/ijms20215262 Nakagawa T, Ohta K. Quercetin regulates the integrated stress response to improve memory. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(11). doi:10.3390/ijms20112761 Langley PC, Pergolizzi JV, Taylor R, Ridgway C. Antioxidant and associated capacities of Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia): A systematic review. J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(1):8-14. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0130 Bertoli R, Mazzuchelli L, Cerny A. Acute hepatitis associated with the use of natural product camu-camu. Open Journal of Gastroenterology. 2013;3(3):214. doi:10.4236/ojgas.2013.33035 Šmíd J, Kalousová M, Mandák B, et al. Morphological and genetic diversity of camu-camu [Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh] in the Peruvian Amazon. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(6):e0179886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179886