Now, more than ever, it is extremely important that we strengthen our immune systems and focus on eating nutrient-rich, antioxidant-packed foods. Camu Camu is a powerful superfood that can help the body fight off illness and it is super versatile to use. Read below to find out why and how to add this superfood to your diet.
What is it?
A bitter berry grown in the Amazon Rainforest. It can be consumed as full berries, powder, supplements, and juice. My favorite way of reaping all of the benefits that this superfood has to offer is by using Navitas Camu Camu Powder. Since the powder has all of the water removed, it contains more vitamin C per gram in comparison to fresh berries! The flavor is super tart and cherry-like, yet it is easy to sneak a little into different foods (think your kids’ smoothies) and drinks without tasting it-- you only need a bit each day anyways.
Powerful properties and benefits:
Strengthens immune system. Just one teaspoon of camu camu powder provides you with over 600 mg of vitamin C. This is 10x the amount of vitamin C that you’ll find in an orange!
Supports skin, muscles, and bones. The vitamin C found in camu camu also helps your body to form collagen in order to support your skin, muscles, and bones.
Fights free radicals and inflammation. Packed with antioxidants, camu camu can help our bodies to fight free radicals (cancer-causing cells) and reduce inflammation.
Reduces blood pressure. camu camu has properties that promote dilation of blood vessels, resulting in lower blood pressure.
Camu Berry Lemonade Recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Total time: 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
5 cups water
2 tbsp organic camu powder
2 tbsp honey
Handful of berries
2 cups ice
DIRECTIONS:
In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend for one minute.
Pour into a glass and add some sweet herbs if you’d like (basil is my favorite). Enjoy!
Other ways to use camu camu:
Add to smoothies, oats, muesli, yogurts, and salad dressings. Combining it with other flavors masks the sour taste and makes it taste better. A good tip is to always add camu camu to food after cooking (for example if you’re cooking your oats instead of making overnight oats in the refrigerator) to prevent the loss of nutrients from the heat, especially the vitamin C.