The Skin-Boosting Fruit You Can Only Find In Australia
The maca from Peru, the matcha from Japan, the reishi mushroom from China… We’re often bombarded by the latest superfood coming from various places around the world. But many Australians don’t know that our own land is home to a vast array of “superfoods” (what does that even mean right?) that grow natively in this country. These are Australian native plants and they deserve just as much clout as their global counterparts.
You may have heard of wattleseed, lemon myrtle, and strawberry gum (or maybe you haven’t). Australia is home to some seriously unique and amazing plants that stand up tall in superfood status. Especially when compared to the many that we import in and buy for a crazy marked up price from our local health food store, foods that have often traveled miles before they’re even in our kitchens.
This country is home to some of the most unique flora and fauna on the planet because Australia was geographically separated early on, and thanks to evolution and also our naturally harsh climate, our plants evolved to thrive on this land in a way that is found nowhere else in the world. Pretty cool right?
When you look at our native animals like koalas and crocodiles, you can see that physically they are quite unique. And Australian native plants are no different. Indigenous Australian cultures have been using such herbs and plants for many years, and these practices are ingrained in their traditions.
Recently, local chefs are incorporating these herbs and plants into trendy menus all over the country. In fact, we’ve even seen it in skincare! Like most herbs, they have many uses that extend beyond just eating.
Some of the most commonly known are wattleseed, lemon myrtle, warrigal greens, bush tomato, mountain pepper and many more. But today we’re getting to know the Kakadu plum, and answering the burning question:
Why is Kakadu plum so good for your skin?
This plum, which is small and green and appears more like an almond-shaped grape than what you traditionally picture when you think of a plum, grows in the subtropical lands around the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Kakadu plum rose to fame (ok it’s no Kimye but still famous to us… Kakadu Kardashian? Let’s make it a thing) when it was discovered that it has some of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in the world. Yes, the world!
So what does this mean for us?
You know vitamin C is what you’re meant to take when you get a cold, but you don’t actually know why. Well, this is actually a little far from the truth.
Vitamin C plays a strong role in maintaining a healthy immune system and this is what allows your body to fight off germs when you come into contact with them. So vitamin C itself doesn’t fight off colds, your bodies’ immune system does.
And the power of the immune system doesn’t stop there. The immune system governs inflammation in the body - in fact, this is the process by which it fights off said germs, but inflammation is now being linked to almost all disease states - cancer, CVD, diabetes and even mental health conditions like depression.
We’ll go deep on this a little later, but for now, just know the immune system is vitally important and vitamin C is necessary for it to function.
Ok we know what you're thinking: I wanted to read about my skin not my immune system!
But that’s just it… Vitamin C aids in your bodies’ regeneration process, helping to neutralize free radicals and stimulate collagen production. Basically… Youthful skin from the inside out! And since Kakadu plum has some of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in the world, you can see why this little gem does wonders for your complexion.
And now we’re about to throw some more words at you. Phenolic compounds. Phe-no-lic compounds. Say it again.
Phenolic compounds have many benefits but notably, they too have antioxidant activity (at this point you probably think this blog post is all about antioxidants but we swear it’s about Kakadu plum!). And just like vitamic C, these compounds contribute to disease prevention and youthful skin.
A recent study showed that Kakadu plum is six times the phenolic compounds when compared to blueberries! This native fruit is a serious superfood underdog.
But there’s also some bad news… Kakadu plum is very seasonal and it’s only available for half the year if you can find it in the first place! This is why powdered Kakadu plum is very popular.
But word on the street is you can also get it in the form of a tasty gummy called BeautyBare and that friends, is available very soon.
