Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients Camu Camu Is Gaining Popularity—But Are the Health Benefits of the Anti-Inflammatory Fruit Legit? Is this berry worth the hype? Spoiler alert: Most definitely! By Maki Yazawa Maki Yazawa Maki Yazawa is a food writer at Well+Good and a former food writer at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 1, 2022 Fact checked by Emily Peterson Fact checked by Emily Peterson Emily Peterson is an experienced fact-checker and editor with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and French. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email You may have heard about the wellness benefits of camu camu and wondered whether or not you should try it yourself—after all, it's supposedly antioxidant-rich and vitamin-packed. But is this Amazonian berry all it's made out to be? We asked a registered dietitian to get to the bottom of it. 7 Top Anti-Inflammatory Foods What Is Camu Camu? Camu camu is a small, bushy tree that grows along the Amazon rainforest riverside, primarily in Peru and Brazil. This plant yields a tart red berry with several health properties that may help boost the immune system. Nutritional Benefits According to Roxana Ehsani, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "A teaspoon of raw camu camu provides 10 calories, 0 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, and 240 percent of the daily value of vitamin C." 01 of 02 Reduces inflammation Ehsani notes that camu camu contains powerful antioxidants, "such as vitamin C and flavonoid antioxidants, like anthocyanins and ellagic acid, that protect cells against free radicals that can damage them." According to Ehsani, ellagic acid also may inhibit inflammation. She notes that a small study conducted on smokers found that "drinking 70 milliliters of camu camu juice containing 1,050 milligrams of vitamin C for one week decreased inflammation markers." However, the topic needs further research for more conclusive evidence. RELATED: This Anti-Inflammatory Berry Matcha Smoothie Is the Best Healthy Breakfast for Busy Mornings 02 of 02 Regulates blood sugar levels According to another small study, researchers found that "incorporating camu camu into one's diet may be helpful for anyone who has pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol." For the experiment, 18 participants were given camu camu capsules for 15 days. Ehsani explains that "researchers found a significant increase in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and significant decreases in fasting blood sugars (blood glucose), as well as LDL cholesterol levels among participants." Best Ways to Consume Camu Camu Camu camu can be found in both pill and powder form, as most consider the raw berry too sour or bitter to consume on its own. This tart antioxidant becomes more palatable when mixed into smoothies, drinks, batters, or even hot cereals like oatmeal. Ehsani says that camu camu is "not believed to cause any serious adverse effects at high intakes, however consuming excess amounts of vitamin C may cause upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea." Always consult with a medical professional or a registered dietitian before consuming supplements to discuss any potential interactions or side effects. These Are Going to Be the 10 Biggest Food Trends of 2021, According to Whole Foods Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Langley PC, Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, et al. 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 Languar VB, Amaro GF, Ozaki YLK, et al. Effect of camu-camu capsules on blood glucose and lipid profile of healthy adults. Rev Cubana Plant Med. 2015; 20 (1): 48-61.