Davidsonia pruriens /Davidson Plum knew as Ouray is a medium-sized tree that is found typically in North-Eastern New South Wales as well as Queensland. It has large and distinct leaves. It reaches up to 6 to 8 meters high and 2- 4 meters wide. It prefers warm climates but can tolerate mild frosts. The fruit resembles plums that hang from the trunk. The fruit is sour when consumed raw which is mostly used to make jellies or jams.

Davidsonia pruriens is a small slender tree native to Australia and Northeastern Queensland. Common names include Davidson plum, Davidsonia Plum, Davidson’s Plum, and Queensland Davidson plum. This plant is grown as an ornamental tree for its fruit which is known as the Davidson plum. This species bears the sour dark burgundy fruit which is edible and resembles the European plum. The plant of this species reaches up to 12 meters in height which belongs to the family Cunoniaceae. The berry has an earthy, tart, intense flavor with a sharp acidic taste.

Plant

The small, slender, ornamental tree can naturally reach upto 6-12 m high. It has alternately arranged, pinnate, cordate to suborbicular green leaves which is upto 18-35(-46) cm long and (6-)8-12(-16) cm wide. The tree has recurved, dark pink flowers of 5-8 mm long which flowers between November to February and later convert into a fruit. Fruit is a dark burgundy drupe (berries), obovoid or ellipsoid, compressed; 3.8–6.0 cm long and 3.0–5.3 cm wide. The fruit’s flesh is usually dark red-colored. The bark is brown to dark grey and flaky.

Nutritional Value

100 grams of raw Davidson plum provides 63 calories, 0.2 grams of total fat, 1 gram of protein, 14.3 grams of carbohydrate, 3.9 grams of total sugars, and 10.4 grams of starch. The same amount provides 30 mg of vitamin C, 364 mg of potassium, 27 mg of magnesium, 45 mg of sodium, 18 mg of phosphorus, 16 mg of calcium, and 0.17 mg of niacin.

Health Benefits of Davidson plum

Davidson plum has a high amount of anthocyanins which is an antioxidant higher in comparison to the blueberry.  It promotes overall health and prevents diseases. The intake of Davidson plum in small amounts also provides identical benefits. The plum is an excellent source of potassium, Vitamin E, lutein, zinc, folate, calcium, and magnesium. Potassium is vital for the heartbeat, movement of muscles, nerves, and kidney functions. Zinc and Vitamin E is needed for youthful and glowing skin. The content of Lutein is more in comparison to avocado which assists to maintain eye health. It also possesses antidiabetic properties and has the ability to lower obesity and hypertension.

1. Skin health

The study shows that a high intake of Vitamin C helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, skin dryness and also slows down the aging process. Vitamin C is essential for the formation of tendons, skin, blood vessels, and ligaments. It assists to heal the wound and forms scar tissue. The evidence shows that skin cream with Vitamin C reduces skin redness. A diet rich in antioxidants helps to maintain skin health and also prevents from skin cancer.

2. Absorbs minerals

The body should function properly to absorb the nutrients from the food. The digestive system should absorb the nutrients and absorb them in the bloodstream. The cells absorb the nutrients and vitamins which are used by the body to lower inflammation and chances of disease. The intake of Vitamin C with iron increases iron absorption in children and adults.

3. Treats cancer

The high intake of Vitamin C promotes the effects of cancer-fighting drugs which are used in chemotherapy. Vitamin C targets the cells which need these nutrients without harming normal cells. The research shows that Vitamin C is a cost-effective aid for lung and ovarian cancer.

4. Reduce stroke

The study shows that people with a high intake of Vitamin C help to reduce the chances of stroke by about 42%. The people who consume more veggies and fruits have a high amount of Vitamin C in their blood. So one should increase the intake of veggies and fruits in a day.

5. Eliminates cold

Vitamin C enhances the immunity power and the body’s ability to eradicate viruses and colds. The intake of 1000 mg helps to counteract the oncoming cold and 4000 mg helps to eliminate the existing cold. The evidence shows that Vitamin C effectively reduces the complications such as lung infections and pneumonia caused due to colds and flu.

6. Promotes metabolism

Potassium is essential for promoting metabolism because it has a vital role in breaking the carbohydrates in form of glucose and converting them into useable energy. In addition, potassium assists the body to utilize amino acids to make proteins which builds muscle.

The athlete’s intake foods are rich in potassium such as banana, potato, or orange juice which helps to replace the lost potassium during exercise. Potassium balances the minerals in the body which is essential for the maintenance and growth of bones and muscles.

7. Relax muscles

Potassium balances the fluid levels and relaxes muscles. The low amount of potassium leads to muscle pain, cramps, and spasms. It breakdown the carb and protein which the muscles depend on for repair and energy. The low presence of potassium leads to fatigue, weight gain, and problem in exercise.

8. Bone health

Potassium is required to prevent the bones from weakness and chances of fractures or breaks. The low amount of potassium is related to the low bicarbonate precursors which help to neutralize acids that are found in the animal proteins. The bones could be weak, porous, and demineralized due to the deficiency of potassium. This could raise the chances of fractures and osteoporosis.

9. Digestion

Potassium performs as an electrolyte that helps to balance fluid, water, and the level of sodium in the digestive tract. The deficiency of potassium leads to constipation, bloating and abdominal pain caused due to the buildup of fluid and imbalance in minerals. It also helps to balance the acid in the stomach, heals the gut, and maintains the optimal pH level. This helps to eradicate harmful bacteria which could reduce immunity.

10. Kidney ailments

The high intake of potassium helps to reduce the formation of kidney stones. The studies show that the intake of food rich in sodium and low in potassium has a high chance of kidney stones. The low level of potassium is related to the high chances of kidney stones because of the inverse relationship between calcium and potassium. In the low presence of potassium, more calcium is excreted through urine which is passed from the kidneys. Kidney stones are deposits of calcium. The kidney ailments could be reduced by lowering the calcium in the urine.

How to Eat

• The fruit is used to make sauces, jam, wine, and cordial.
• It is used to make sweet and savory dishes such as cakes, sauces, jams, ice cream, and yogurt.
• The intense color of Davidson plum adds a natural color to foods.
• The fruit is mostly used in yogurt, dairy foods, sauces, jams, fruit wines, and others.
• It could be used as frozen flesh, frozen puree, and dried pulp.
• It is a great accompany quince, rhubarb, and pickles.
• It could be consumed raw by scattering thin slices along with salt, sugar, and chili powder.
• It accompanies well to meat.
• The fruit could be used as a sauce along with beef or kangaroo.

References

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