There’s a “new kids on the block” that health experts and laypeople alike are talking about when it comes to beneficial botanicals. It’s called camu camu and it’s said to contain more vitamin C than any other source for immune system strength and collagen synthesis.
Health Benefits of Vitamin C: Why It’s Vital for Your Immune System
Before we get into what camu camu has to offer health-wise, let’s take a step back and talk a little about the importance of vitamin C.
First of all, vitamin C is an intricate part of dozens of functions in the immune system. This includes cytokine production by white blood cells, nitric oxide production, detoxification, antioxidant protection, and boosting Natural Killer (NK) cell production.
NK cells are created to hunt out and destroy cancer cells and other dangerous, disease-causing microorganisms. Vitamin C is also used in the production of special signaling proteins called “interferons [1].” Interferons are part of the immune system and are released by cells when harmful bacteria and other pathogens are present.
Vitamin C assists in the “synthesis” of other important substances outside of the immune system as well. Synthesis is the process of building organic compounds like proteins.
Vitamin C aids in the synthesis of:
- cellular “basement membranes” – tissues that form the lining of the blood vessels as well as the stomach.
- the amino acid carnitine, which is essential for fatty acid transportation.
- neurotransmitters, which are vital for brain health.
Another important job of vitamin C has to do with collagen synthesis.
Vitamin C and Collagen Synthesis
Collagen makes up about a third of the total protein content in the body. It’s what forms skin tissue. Along with collagen, the substance that is the most abundant in all levels of the skin is vitamin C [2].
Vitamin C helps to protect the skin by supporting wound healing. It also defends the skin against premature aging and helps smooth out wrinkles. In the skin and other parts of the body, vitamin C assists in synthesizing Type 1 collagen. This is the most abundant kind of collagen and can be found in the cartilage, blood vessels, bones, intestinal tract, and ligaments, as well as the skin.
Finally, vitamin C helps to form another important type of collagen. This is Type IV, which is very important for the internal organs, such as the kidneys, the cardiovascular system, and the brain. Type IV collagen also helps in the creation of the blood-brain barrier whose job it is to keep harmful substances from reaching the brain.
What Is Camu Camu?
Camu camu is a shrub that grows in the Amazon rain forest. It produces small fruit that look like cherries, which is where most of the nutritional value can be found. Camu camu fruit may be fairly ordinary looking, but it’s unique when it comes to vitamin C content.
Camu Camu Benefits: More Vitamin C Than Orange Juice
One study published in the journal Food Research International found that the camu camu berry had a vitamin C content of between 1,882 milligrams to 2,280 milligrams per 100 grams of fresh fruit [3].
To put this into perspective, a typical glass of orange juice only has about 50 to 100 milligrams of vitamin C in 100 grams of juice!
Camu Camu Beneficial for Type 2 Diabetes & Inflammation
This same study, conducted by researchers from Brazil and the U.S., found that camu camu may be a strong nutritional candidate for helping people with certain kinds of diabetes. According to the researchers, “Camu-camu has potential for the management of early stage type 2 diabetes.”
This is due not only to vitamin C but also to the high phytonutrient load of other substances in camu camu fruit such as ellagic acid, quercetin [4], and myricetin. Its off-the-charts antioxidant content makes it an anti-microbial as well.
Another study conducted in part by John Hopkins University and published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine [5] focused on the plant’s ability to lower inflammatory mechanisms in the body.
In fact, the researchers were so impressed with camu camu’s anti-inflammatory abilities, in their report they stated that:
“(a) program to increase the visibility of camu camu can contribute substantially not only to the management of inflammatory conditions and its positive contribution to overall good health but also to its potential role in many disease states.”
Does Your Collagen Supplement Contain Vitamin C?
Research is discovering dozens of health benefits of this little shrub from the Amazon rain forest. When it comes to collagen synthesis, however, the most important thing to remember is that, thus far, the camu camu berry appears to contain the highest vitamin C content of any botanical anywhere.
Read more here on why vitamin C is critical when taking a collagen supplement.
Vitamin C is absolutely essential for collagen synthesis. This is why Organixx Clean Sourced Collagens includes camu camu, along with acerola cherry, another plant long known for its high vitamin C content. (As a side note, Organixx Brain Health 8 formula also includes camu camu as one of eight key ingredients that support brain health.)
Organixx Clean Sourced Collagens blend contains five types of collagen from four sources. What’s more, it’s combined with targeted nutrients such as zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 which specifically enhance the bioavailability and potency of collagen. Clean Sourced Collagens is formulated from the ground up to enhance and support your body’s natural ability to heal and rebuild itself from the INSIDE out.
