Most people associate vitamin C with improved immunity. And that’s spot on – vitamin C is needed by your immune cells to perform their defense duties and thus it’s an essential nutrient for a healthy immune system response. As we’re smack dab in the middle of cold and flu season, I recommend all my clients ramp up their dietary intake of vitamin C to ward off any sickness going around.
While including citrus fruits in your diet is great, a South American fruit called camu camu leaves oranges and lemons in the dust with respect to vitamin C content. Camu camu contains up to 60 times more vitamin C per serving than an orange!
What is camu camu?
Camu camu is a small bushy tree that grows along the riverside in the rainforests of the Amazon and bears a reddish-purple cherry-like fruit, called the camu berry. As one of the world’s most abundant sources of vitamin C, camu camu has some major health benefits in addition to boosting immunity.
It is also amazing for giving your skin a healthy glow. Skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, which stimulates collagen synthesis and assists in antioxidant protection against sun damage and free radicals which can lead to inflammation and premature aging.
Natural food sources of vitamin C like camu camu contain other co-factors which enhance vitamin C’s efficiency and utilization by the body. The natural vitamin C content in this superfruit is enhanced by a full profile of other vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants which nourish your body from the inside out.
These camu berries are too acidic to consume raw so they are commonly dried and milled into a fine powder. The camu powder has a tart berry flavor that blends well in yogurt, smoothies, popsicles, salad vinaigrettes, protein bars and in the superfood balls below!
P.S. You can also use camu camu to make your own vitamin C serum!
Pumpkin Spice Superfood Balls
Equipment
- Baking sheet or plate
- Food processor
- Airtight storage container
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tablespoon maca powder
- 1 tablespoon camu camu powder
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
- Pinch of sea salt
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- Extra shredded coconut for rolling
Instructions
- Soak the dates for 10 minutes in warm water before draining and patting dry.
- Place dates in a food processor with the vanilla extract and pulse until crumbled.
- Add the walnuts, coconut, maca, camu camu and pumpkin spice, ginger and salt and pulse.
- Add the pumpkin puree a little at a time while pulsing. It should form a sticky ball of dough.
- Place the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Roll into balls and dust with shredded coconut.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
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