History, Heatlh Properties and Nutritional Content of the Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit May Be A Little Unusual But It Is Packed With Nutrients
Apr 24, 2009
Kiwi (pronounced Kee-Wee) is a funny little fruit. It is a sweet fruit that tastes like bananas and strawberries combined. On the inside, it is soft, green and has little black seeds arranged in a circular pattern.
History Of Kiwi
Originating in China, the Kiwifruit was first called Yang Tao. Over the years, they made their way to New Zealand by missionaries who renamed them Chinese Gooseberries. They were then imported to the United States in the early '60's where they were renamed yet again to Kiwi in honor of the Kiwi bird of New Zealand. The Kiwi bird is reported to have a brown, furry skin like the Kiwi.
Nutritional Content Of The Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit has as much Vitamin C as an orange and as much potassium as a banana. It is also rich in magnesium, manganese, fiber and Vitamin E. Phytonutrients such as Vitamin E, C, and A and carotenoids in Kiwi have been found by researchers to have anti-oxidant activity, protecting the DNA in our cells from oxygen-related free radical damage. The fiber in Kiwi is beneficial in reducing cholesterol levels, which may have cardioprotective value. Dietary fiber binds to intestinal toxins, pulling them out, reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Protection Against Macular Degeneration And Asthma
A study published in Thorax followed over 18,000 children ages 6 and 7 years who live in Italy. Those children who ate 5-7 servings of fruit including Kiwi had 44% reduction in wheezing, 32% reduction in shortness of breath,27% reduction in night time cough, and 25% reduction in chronic cough.
A study published in the Archives Of Opthamology followed 110,000 men and women to see the effects of consumption of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidant Vitamins A,C, and E and carotenoids had on the development of age related macular degeneration (ARMD). Men were followed for 12 years and women were followed for 18 years. Fruit intake was found to be protective against the severe form of ARMD.
Allergies
If you have an allergy to latex, use caution when eating Kiwi. Consult your health care provider prior to eating Kiwi. Also if you have existing kidney or gallbladder problems, you may not want to eat Kiwi. It contains oxalates, which become concentrated in the body and crystallize, causing some problems.
Serving Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit can be peeled and eaten just by themselves. They can be mixed into a salad, mixed into a marinade for chicken. As all fruits are, Kiwi are good topped with yogurt.
Sources:
www.kiwi-fruit.info
Worlds Healthiest Foods www.whfoods.org
