FAQ: Smidge Kakadu Plum

Is Smidge® Kakadu Plum organic?

Yes, it is organic! Because it is harvested and grown in Australia, our Kakadu does not have the UDSA organic certification. Rather, Smidge® Kakadu Plum is Australian Certified Organic, a designation given by an independent body in Australia.

Are Smidge® Kakadu Plum capsules fortified (standardized) with ascorbic acid?

Absolutely not. Ascorbic acid is the synthetic version of vitamin C. Smidge® Kakadu Plum capsules contain only the naturally occurring vitamin C in the fruit, and nothing else.

Producers of powdered fruits high in vitamin C often use various production methods that can result in the degradation of vitamin C. Then, they add ascorbic acid to the final product.

At Smidge®, we chose to provide a real food vitamin C supplement that avoids ascorbic acid at all costs. This is because ascorbic acid is usually derived from GMO corn and can cause health issues, such as blocking the absorption of enzymes and nutrients and toxic build-up.

What is the difference between real vitamin C and ascorbic acid?

Most sources equate vitamin C with ascorbic acid, as though they were the same thing. They're not. Here's how to understand the difference: 

Ascorbic acid is an isolate, a fraction, a distillate of naturally occurring vitamin C.

In addition to ascorbic acid, vitamin C must include rutin, bioflavonoids, K-factor, J-factor, P-factor, tyrosinase, ascorbinogen and other components. Plus, mineral co-factors must be available in proper amounts.

If any of these parts are missing, there is no vitamin C and no vitamin activity. In all, you need the whole food to receive the full vitamin, and thus, all of the benefits it yields.

How do other real foods stack up to the vitamin C in Smidge® Kakadu Plum?

The vitamin C in Smidge® Kakadu Plum supplement beats all the rest.

On average, the Kakadu Plum has:

• Over 100 times the amount of vitamin C than oranges.
• And over 5 times the amount of antioxidants than blueberries.

It's the highest source of naturally occurring vitamin C out of any food in the world! One serving of two little capsules contains nearly 75% your daily value of vitamin C. But please note that the vitamin C levels will vary, since this is a fresh, natural supplement made from real food!

Isn't it enough to get my vitamin C from everyday foods?

Adults can reach their recommended daily allowance by eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. For example, half a cup of steamed broccoli and half a cup of freshly sliced strawberries equals 100 mg of vitamin C. But many health-conscious folks desire more, whether they're on dietary protocols, working to support their immune systems or are not getting enough in their diets. 

Is there a limit to the vitamin C I should take?

The amount that's right for you depends on your specific health goals; your healthcare provider can help you determine the proper dosage. Vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning the vitamin C is carried to your body's tissues but not absorbed, as it dissolves in water. So your body does not store any excess.

Tell me more about the Kakadu plum. I've never heard of it before.

Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) is a small, wild-growing deciduous tree found extensively throughout the subtropical woodlands of northern and western Australia. It has broad leaves and bears an abundant crop of small plum-like fruits that, as you may know by now, contain the highest amount of vitamin C in any food in the world! The trees typically bear fruit annually in May, the start of the dry season. 

This dynamic fruit is about the size of a cherry. The Kakadu plum has thick skin and a small nut in its center. It's tart-tasting, not sweet like the purple plums we sink our teeth into in the U.S.

For thousands of years, the Kakadu plum has been used by the indigenous Aboriginal peoples of Australia.* The sap and bark were used to treat skin conditions and make tea for common colds.* Now, Smidge® brings this little-known, ancient superfood home to you.

Where is Smidge® Kakadu Plum sourced and produced?

As the Kakadu plum is native to Australia, our is grown, harvested and produced in Australia, mate!

Can you tell me more about refractance window drying?

It is a unique, self-limiting dehydration method that uses infrared light, rather than direct extremes of temperature, to remove water from food.

Relying on water's conductivity with infrared properties and the refraction of light, this is the preferred method for preserving the precious nutrients and phytonutrients found in whole foods. In this process, the fresh, whole food's essential sensory qualities, such as color, aroma, taste, and nutritional value are retained.

This indicates that the active aromatic and pigment compounds that impart sensory and nutritionally invaluable properties have been preserved throughout the drying process. And it means your Smidge® Kakadu Plum capsules retain the most natural vitamin C possible. As mentioned above, it also enables your body to absorb and use the vitamin C, rather than excreting large amounts shortly after consuming the harsh, synthetic stuff (leaving you with inflammation in the gut or urinary tract).  

Is it possible to consume too much vitamin C?

Yes and if you do, your body will tell you. If you consume too much vitamin C, you may experience digestive upset symptoms, such as gas and diarrhea. Just back down on your dosage until the symptoms resolve.