Kiwi Power!

Kiwi Power! - This fuzzy fruit is power-packed with nutrients, as Maya Calica discovers.

You know that adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” Well; the latest health findings on the kiwifruit may earn the fuzzy brown fruit from New Zealand its very own slogan. Based on tests, the kiwifruit (also known as the Chinese gooseberry) has emerged as a winner among popular fruits like oranges, papayas and bananas when it comes to fending off disease and enhancing one’s immunity.

That’s because this nutritional heavy weight contains high level of vitamin C, natural fibre, magnesium, and lutein, an antioxidant known to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Plus, it’s low in fat and cholesterol. Take a bite into this luscious super fruit, and start enjoying all the goodness it has to offer.

Better heart healthWant a happy, healthy ticker? Indulge in nature’s aspirin – kiwifruit – which enhances your cardiovascular system by limiting the blood’s tendency to clot. The super nutrients responsible for this are the vitamins C and E, polyphenols, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins and copper. How much do you need to yield the benefits? According to a study conducted in Norway, consuming two to three kiwifruit per day can help to thin the blood, reducing clotting and lowering fat in the blood that can cause blockage, without negatively affecting your cholesterol levels.” Our study shows that consuming two or three kiwifruit per day for 28 days significantly reduces platelet aggregation (blood clotting) in human volunteers, “says Professor Asim K Duttaroy, who spearheaded the research, at the institute for Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Odo. The bonus-scooping kiwifruit is way tastier than popping aspirin, and does not have the side effects of taking medication.

Improved laxation
If you find yourself always constipated, here’s an incentive to eat kiwifruit. A 12-week study headed by Professor Elaine Rush at the Auckland University of Technology revealed that consuming the fruit improved a person’s bowel movements. The study’s participants were each given one zespri Green kiwifruit a day, which was taken at midday. They were also encouraged to make some lifestyle changes, such as walking more, and cutting out visible fat from their diet. The result: Almost all enjoyed better laxation and maintained the result 52 weeks after the study.

1 kiwi > vitamins C than 2 oranges
1 kiwi = the amount of potassium in a banana
1 kiwi = all the fibre of one bowl of bran