A Davidson Plum role

Growing in several varieties, the Davidson Plum was traditionally ‘bush tucker’ for the Aborigines of Northern NSW and QLD, who had the fortitude to eat them raw despite the fruit’s sharp acidity.

The strikingly sumptuous, deep, dark purple fruit with blood red flesh, boasts a soft juicy pulp and is one of the most nutritionally powerful native Australian fruits. High in antioxidants, Vitmain E, zinc and potassium, the humble Davidson Plum is garnering rockstar status thanks to emerging research that suggests its role as a potential complementary treatment for metabolic syndrome.

The study, published in the Journal of Functional Foods, celebrates Davidson Plum’s ability to attenuate the symptoms of metabolic syndrome in heart, liver and bone. The anthocyanins – the deep purple colour of the fruit – are the most likely health-promoting factor of the fruit, however the other present polyphenols (naturally present chemicals) such as quercetin, are thought to work together to produce the noted anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic (fat producing) and anti-osteoarthritic changes.

“Davidson’s plum reduced visceral fat accumulation, total abdominal fat weight, size of retroperitoneal adipocytes, and plasma triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids, normalised blood pressure, reduced left ventricular stiffness, decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells in both left ventricle and liver, decreased collagen deposition in heart, and reduced both fat vacuoles in liver and obesity-induced degeneration of knee cartilage.”

(The edible native Australian fruit, Davidson’s plum (Davidsonia pruriens), Oliver D. John, Peter Mouatt, Indira Prasadam, Yin Xiao, Sunil K. Panchal, Lindsay Brown)

 

In addition to this research, Davidson plum is:

• An excellent source of potassium

Potassium plays a vital role in every single heartbeat. It helps our muscles move, our nerves function and our kidneys filter out toxins

• A good source of Vitamin E and zinc

Two nutrients required for glowing, youthful looking skin

• A unique dairy-free source of calcium

One of just a handful of non-animal produced, but still naturally occurring, high calcium sources

• An antioxidant powerhouse

Containing high levels of anthocyanin, which is thought to improve cognitive function and protect against certain cancers and heart disease

• Contains significantly more lutein than an avocado

Lutein is a carotenoid vitamin that plays an important role in eye health, improving symptoms in atrophic age-related macular degeneration by inhibiting inflammation. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in aging Western societies.

• Contains properties believed to have anti-diabetic effects and a capacity to reduce hypertension and obesity
• Antimicrobial properties

Research is currently being conducted on the Davidson Plum’s antimicrobial properties, which are thought to act as a natural food preservative.

With an intense acidic flavour and low sugar content, the Davidson Plum is not often eaten fresh, rather, used in a range of sweet and savoury dishes, including cakes, jams, sauces, yoghurt and ice-cream. Click here for recipes incorporating Davidson plum. Research suggests that humans will reap the extraordinary benefits of Davidson Plum by simply adding free-dried powder to food each day.

You can purchase freeze dried Davidson Plum or Davidson Plum extract here.

News, Nutrition