Have you seen or tried tasting kakadu plums before? Their name may seem a bit weird, but I am telling you, they are not weird at all. This particular kind of plum actually comes from Australia, often considered the home of the most powerful vitamin C rich foods (including kakadu plums). But its vitamin C isn’t its only benefit. If you want to learn more, keep reading. You’re sure to learn a lot!
What is a Kakadu Plum?
Also referred to as a billy goat plum or gubinge, the kakadu plum comes from a flowering plant that is actually closer in relation to almonds than other plums. Unlike most fruits, a ripe Kakadu plum will stay on the plant.
The plum is approximately the size of a cherry or olive, containing a hard, woody seed surrounded by a layer of edible fruit. It is usually harvested between early March and June, but this depends on monsoon season. It can be used as a concentrate, similar to rose hips, acerola cherry and black current extract. It has also been used as a powder supplement, or as a flavoring agent in ice cream, but it is most popularly used in sauces, preserves, juices, chutneys and jams.
As stated earlier, the kakadu plum is one of the most vitamin C-rich foods in the world. In fact, it has the highest recorded level of natural vitamin C content of any plant known to man, containing 100 times that of oranges. It contains about 150 to 450 milligrams of vitamin C for every gram, making it a real nutritional powerhouse. This makes it a perfect dietary addition for those struggling to eat enough fruits and vegetables to obtain that immune-boosting power of the vitamin.
For thousands of years, the fruit has been used as a traditional medicine for various conditions, while its bark is used to treat various skin conditions.
Nutritional Value of Kakadu Plums
If you hear the word ‘plum,’ you’re probably going to immediately think of the fleshy, plump ones at your local store. However, kakadu plums look a lot different. It still has a fleshy skin around a woody seed, but it is much smaller, closer in size to a cherry and shaped like an olive.
100 grams of kakadu plum may contain about:
| Principle | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Calories | 21.3 | – |
| Protein | 0.8 grams | – |
| Fat | 0.5 grams | – |
| Fiber | 7.1 grams | – |
| Vitamin C | 2907 milligrams | 4845% |
| Copper | 0.9 milligrams | 45% |
| Iron | 2.4 milligrams | 13% |
| Magnesium | 40 milligrams | 10% |
| Potassium | 261 milligrams | 7% |
| Calcium | 62 milligrams | 6% |
| Zinc | 0.7 milligrams | 5% |
In comparison, 100 grams of a normal raw plum contains the following essential nutrients:
| Principle | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Calories | 46 | – |
| Carbohydrates | 11.4 grams | – |
| Protein | 0.7 grams | – |
| Fat | 0.3 grams | – |
| Fiber | 1.4 grams | – |
| Vitamin C | 9.5 milligrams | 16% |
| Vitamin K | 6.4 micrograms | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 345 International Unit | 7% |
| Potassium | 157 milligrams | 4% |
Uses of Kakadu Plum
Here are some of the possible uses of kakadu plum:
- Power supplement
- Concentrate
- Fresh salads
- Yogurt
- Fruit salads
- Breakfast bowls
- Smoothies
- Ice cream flavoring
- Juices
- Chutneys
- Sauces
- Preserves
- Jams
Health Benefits of Kakadu Plums
Here are some of the most exceptional health benefits of kakadu plums:
- Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The vitamin C content of kakadu plums is essential in reducing the appearance of age spots and wrinkles. In fact, vitamin C provides collagen support to the skin and may also reduce hyperpigmentation and prevent skin changes due to aging.
- Helps fight Alzheimer’s disease. The antioxidant properties of the plum are essential in protecting against Alzheimer’s disease and warding off free radicals in the body, which may have negative effects on different essential organs.
- Helps lower the risk of cardiovascular illnesses. Since the kakadu plum is rich in vitamin C, it is a great help in protecting against coronary heart illness or disease. This is one of its best health benefits.
- Helps protect against immune system deficiency. The vitamin C in the kakadu plum prepares the defense system of the body by boosting the immunity before you come into contact with any viruses that may cause colds or any other conditions.
- Rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients. Kakadu plums have more antioxidant properties than blueberries. This makes it one of the most remarkable antioxidant-rich foods in the world.
