Kakadu Plum

The Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana), also known as gubinge or billygoat plum, is a small fruit found in the Eucalypt open woodlands across Northern Australia. The kakadu plum tree loses its leaves in the dry season. It is small with large, round leaves and cream-colored flowers that bloom from August to October.

The plums are smooth, fleshy, and egg-shaped with a single seed inside, and they range from yellow to green in color. Some people make them into jam, but they can be eaten raw or added to smoothies as a powder.

In traditional medicine, Kakadu plums were used to treat colds, the flu, and headaches. They were also utilized as an antiseptic or soothing balm for the limbs.

Kakadu plums are low in calories and rich in nutrients, providing a quality source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Here is the nutritional breakdown of 3.5 ounces  of the edible part of the fruit:

• Calories: 59
• Protein: 0.8 grams
• Carbs: 17.2 grams
• Dietary fiber: 7.1 grams
• Fat: 0.5 grams
• Sodium: 13 mg
• Vitamin C: 3,230% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Copper: 100% of the DV
• Iron: 13.3% of the DV

It’s especially high in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that protects your body from damage caused by reactive molecules known as free radicals. Kakadu plums have the highest recorded natural amount of vitamin C of any food in the world. In fact, 3.5 ounces of the fruit provide well over 3,000% of your daily needs. The same serving of oranges contains 59.1% of the DV, while the same amount of blueberries provides just 10.8% of the DV.

Eating foods high in vitamin C can also aid the absorption of plant sources of iron. Adding 100 mg of vitamin C to a meal can improve iron absorption by 67%. This may be particularly useful for vegetarians, vegans, and people with iron deficiency. Kakadu plums are also rich in iron, which is essential for oxygen transport throughout your body and red blood cell production.

The vitamin C content of Kakadu plums drops rapidly after picking, so the fruits are usually frozen for transport and sale.

Kkakadu plums are an excellent source of copper, which is used to form red blood cells, bones, connective tissue, and important enzymes, as well as support proper immune system function and fetal development.

Kakadu plums contain 6 times the amount of polyphenols and 13.3 times more antioxidant activity than blueberries. Antioxidants can bind to excess free radicals, protecting your cells against their toxic effects.

Kakadu plums also have lots of ellagic acid. This is another antioxidant commonly found in strawberries, almonds, and walnuts. Ellagic acid might help damage or kill cancer cells and block tumor growth.  Currently, there are no recommendations regarding daily ellagic acid intake. Some reports estimate the average daily intake to be approximately 4.9–12 mg.

Kakadu plums contain roughly 228–14,020 mg of ellagic acid per 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of dried fruit. The exact amount is determined by the tree, climate, soil conditions, ripeness, and storage conditions.

Aside from vitamin C and ellagic acid, plums contain many other antioxidants, including:

• Flavonols. These are linked to heart health and may have stroke-reducing, cancer-fighting, and antiviral effects. The main types in Kakadu plums are kaempferol and quercetin.
• Aromatic acids. In Kakadu plums, the main types are ellagic and gallic acid. Gallic acid is associated with neurodegenerative disease prevention.
• Anthocyanins. They are the colored pigments in fruit and associated with good urinary tract health, a lower risk of some cancers, healthy aging, and improved memory and eye health.
• Lutein. This antioxidant is a carotenoid that is linked to eye health and may protect against macular degeneration and heart disease. This substance can help lower your risk for chronic eye disease and cataracts. The vitamin C and E in kakadu plums can also help lower your risk of cataracts, vision problems, age-related macular degeneration, and loss of healthy tissue.

The kakadu plum has a high potassium to sodium ratio. This might help lower high blood pressure. ‌

Kakadu plum seeds can be pressed into seed oil. The kakadu plum oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids as well as saturated fatty acids called palmitic acid and stearic acid. These fatty seed oils rich in omegas can help promote wound healing and moisturize the skin.Kakadu plum is added to lots of different lotions and facial washes because of its vitamin C content. Vitamin C can help brighten the skin, protect against signs of aging, and lower patches of darker skin (hyperpigmentation) and dark spots.

Kakadu plum fruit and leaf extracts are naturally antibacterial. Research shows that water-based and methanol kakadu plum extracts can stop food-borne bacteria growth like antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria and Listeria monocytogenes.

The antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the fruit have led to its use in some skin care and acne-fighting products.

How to Buy

The Australian Superfood Company sells kakadu powder on Amazon.

For products made with kakadu plum, try Vitacost, an online market. Nature’s Plus Face Cream

How to Store

Store all supplemental powders in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.

How to Cook

Kakadu plum can be eaten fresh, but because they’re very fibrous and sour, they’re more commonly used in jams, preserves, sauces, and juices.

To maintain their size and quality, Kakadu plums are typically frozen directly after harvesting. Specialty retailers may sell the fruits frozen whole or puréed.

Additionally, the fruits are often freeze-dried and turned into a powder.

The powder can be sprinkled over breakfast cereal and added to smoothies, juices, protein balls, salad dressings, and desserts.