An expert skin corrector that shows remarkable results on ageing, acne-prone skin, Kakadu plum is an ingredient you must invest in to get glowing, youthful skin.
Kakadu plum is the fruit of the plant Terminalia ferdinandiana, a native Australian flowering plant. It is full of Vitamin C and has been used as food and medicine by indigenous Australian tribes for thousands of years.
The fruit is referred to by various names including gubinge, billygoat plum, green plum, salty plum, murunga, mador, etc.
The Kakadu plum fruit tastes not sweet, but sour and slightly bland and a little salty. The fruit is not just edible but is also used as a preservative for prawns and other frozen foods.
Nutrient Profile
The main reason Kakadu plum keeps appearing in the ingredient list of anti-acne and anti-ageing products is its rich nutrient structure.
The fruit is said to be rich in Vitamins C & E, dietary fibre, iron, sodium and copper along with small amounts of micronutrients such as thiamine, riboflavin, magnesium, zinc, and calcium.
It also has high amounts of organic plant compounds like gallic acid, ellagic acid, and flavonoids all of which exhibit excellent abilities to put off the effects of free radicals on skin.
This fruit is particularly rich in Vitamin C; around 7,000 mg of Vitamin C is found in 100 gm of the fruit which is the highest known and recorded amount of Vitamin C in any food in the world.
This amount of Vitamin C constitutes about 3230% of your body’s daily needs.
Health Benefits of Kakadu Plum
There are many reasons to always have the fruit and products containing Kakadu plum around you.
A rich source of essential micronutrients it helps curb deficiencies and keeps you in the best state of health. Here are some surprising health benefits of Kakadu plum:
- The high amount of Vitamin C found in Kakadu plum helps reduce the blood pressure in hypertensive patients significantly.
- Studies have also shown that people with diets high in Vitamin C tend to be less susceptible to heart diseases by about 16%.
- Its consumption helps increase the body’s iron absorption by about 67% which is extremely beneficial in patients with iron deficiency and people with a diet deficient in iron (vegetarians, vegans, etc).
- The high fibre content helps maintain gut health and blood glucose levels and eases colon movements.
- It is particularly helpful in managing constipation and conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
- Kakadu plums are a very good source of antioxidants. The polyphenol – ellagic acid especially is a strong antioxidant with other beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial and also possesses probiotic characteristics.
Precautions:
Kakadu plum seeds, in certain cases, can make you sick. While some people can have any amount of these fruits without any adverse effects, it has been reported frequently that others have shown a mildly toxic reaction to these fruits.
The high concentration of Vitamin C means these fruits are also high in another chemical substance called oxalates or oxalic acid. Oxalates can also be formed as a result of the metabolism of Vitamin C by our body.
Regular intake of oxalates or an increase in the formation of oxalates or oxalic acid by our body can lead to kidney stones.
This is especially common in people who are already diagnosed with Hyperparathyroidism, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, Renal tubular acidosis and Kidney disease.
We can safely conclude that while Kakadu plums have a lot of beneficial effects on our health, it is also better to limit their consumption to a safe quantity.
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Kakadu Plums and their effects on the skin:
1. Enhanced radiance
One of the best skin benefits of Kakadu plum is enhanced radiance. With a high amount of Vitamin C and antioxidants in Kakadu plums, their extracts give your skin a healthy, glowing look with regular use.
The radiance comes from reduced oxidative stress damage to the skin. Consistent use of face serums with Kakadu plum extracts guarantees naturally flawless skin.
2. Improved skin texture
Sensitive skin types and those with inflammatory conditions of the skin can get improved skin tone and texture with the use of Kakadu plum skin products.
The gallic acid and ellagic acid in these plums reduce sunburns, keep the skin nourished and give it a healthy glow from within.
3. Antioxidants
Constant exposure to the sun, poor skincare and many other reasons result in free radical damage that gives rise to premature skin ageing.
It not only results in poor-looking skin but also in compromised skin protection that cannot safeguard you against pollution, dust and sun. The moisture level falls and skin ageing gets accelerated.
Applying a face cream or face serum rich in antioxidants helps protect your skin against free radical damage and keeps it healthier to protect your body against harmful environmental toxins and UV rays.
What better ingredient to choose than Kakadu plum extracts with the highest concentration of Vitamin C than any other food, which is an antioxidant itself?
4. Anti-ageing effects
Premature ageing of the skin causes wrinkles, loss of elasticity, fine lines and loss of the healthy glow you should possess naturally.
Anti-ageing creams have been using Vitamin C extracts, folic acid, carotenoids and Vitamin E to reduce signs of ageing on the skin. Kakadu plums are naturally rich in these sources which makes them a clear winner on all accounts.
They also have an amazing effect on dark circles and puffiness of the eyes. Kakadu plum extract is a popular ingredient in skincare serums and creams for all these reasons.
5. Acne prevention
As we mentioned earlier, Kakadu plums have a generous reserve of phytochemical constituents, gallic acid and ellagic acid.
Both these acids have antimicrobial properties that fight skin infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
Using Kakadu plum in your regular skincare routine can help reduce the infections that lead to acne on sensitive, oily skin.
They also heal the blemishes and scars from acne, reduce the redness, and even the skin tone and improve the general health of your skin.
6. Excellent absorption of nutrients
The lightweight nature of plum extract enables it to be absorbed more effectively than other products. This supplies antioxidants to protect the skin and phytochemicals that fight against microbes.
The high concentration of useful constituents along with the increased absorption factor improves the luminosity of skin aside from hydrating it to retain enough moisture for its health.
Kakadu Plums are not just richly nutritious fruits for the body. Although their effects on general health are now insignificant, their effects on skincare are much more potent.
Especially when you are conscious about including chemical-free, natural ingredient-based products in your daily beauty routine, Kakadu plum extracts are the way to go.
A skincare expert, Dr Gagan Bhatia, the founder of Uniqaya, says, “Kakadu plums are helpful in hydrating the skin, preventing burns, promoting skin radiance and luminosity and minimising the appearance of wrinkles.
The products, which contain Kakadu plum extracts, tend to get absorbed more deeply into the skin, which is exactly why they should be preferred.”
Summary:
Kakadu Plums, the bush food and bush medicine found in the tropical woodlands of Australia are a powerhouse of Vitamin C.
Aboriginal Australians have been using Kakadu plums as traditional food and medicine for centuries. These are fruits of the flowering plant known as Terminalia ferdinandiana.
Kakadu plums have the highest known content of Vitamin C in the world than any other food substance. They are also a rich source of iron, copper, zinc, magnesium and phytochemical compounds such as gallic acid and ellagic acid.
These nutrients have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that have protective effects on the general body health as well as on the skin.
Plum extracts are a popular skincare ingredient used for their antioxidant properties that give your skin a natural, luminous radiance.
They are effective on acne-prone skin to prevent acne, heal blemishes and dark spots from acne and maintain the hydration of the skin.
With high antioxidant levels, they delay the ageing of the skin and reduce wrinkles and fine lines that appear due to stress and damage to the skin from the sun and environmental pollution.
For skin that’s in need of hydration, nourishment and intensive repair, Kakadu plum is an ingredient you can trust to help your skin regain its original beauty.
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