A Superfood to nourish body, mind and soul
Origins of the kiwifruit
The first question you may be tempted to ask upon the purchase of a kiwifruit is whether the brown fuzzy fruit has anything to do with the Kiwi bird native to New Zealand. The story of the kiwifruit traces back to ancient China where it was actually known as the gooseberry. Once the white men arrived on the island of New Zealand and found that the Chinese gooseberry could be cultivated quite successfully for import they decided to rename the fruit in honour of their adopted national fowl. So yes, the kiwifruit and the Kiwi bird are intimately related.
Kiwifruit is the nutritional powerhouse that should be piled into shopping carts and lunch boxes.
Fast becoming the natural Superfood of the decade - trendy but worthy of the acclaim, the kiwifruit boasts health benefits that are incredibly numerous for a brown fuzzy fruit. It is chock full of nutrients that can help fight off diseases, provide energy and offer a convenient daily diet choice.
Kiwi not only comes in the familiar bright green variety, but also a sunny golden colour speckled with tiny black seeds. The flavour is best described as tangy, though with enough sweetness to cut loose the need to contort your facial features as though you sucked on a lime. The relatively new gold kiwifruit has a smoother skin and a sweet tropical flavour than its green cousin.
A nutritional superstar
Every mouthful of kiwifruit is bursting with vitamin C and potassium, giving oranges and bananas a run for their money. The nutrient density of vitamin C in kiwifruit is almost twice that of an orange.
It is rare to find a fruit with significant amounts of antioxidants. Kiwifruit is a low calorie food item which contains vitamin E, an antioxidant for those interested in improving their diets. More than 90% of the fruit is made up of water, and it only has 90 calories per serving (equivalent to two kiwifruit).
Digestion releases free radicals from food. Both vitamins C and E work hand in hand to destroy free radicals and slow oxidation, reducing allergies, heart disease, cancer and aging effects.
More fibre, too
Kiwifruit fibre content out classes that of the vast majority of breakfast cereals, even that of bran flakes. With high fibre content, kiwifruit can increase good bacteria in the intestines, and helps with digestion and bowel movements. Fibre is also good for binding and removing toxins from the colon, which is helpful for preventing colon cancer. Fibre-rich foods, like kiwifruit are also good for keeping the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients under control.
A delicious way to a healthy heart
Enjoying just a couple of kiwifruit each day may significantly lower your risk for blood clots and reduce the amount of fats in your blood, therefore helping to protect the cardiovascular health.
Protects the eye
Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like kiwifruit is even more important for keeping your sight. Kiwifruit contains the highest concentrations of lutein in fruits. A study published that eating three kiwifruit a day may lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
A healing property
Kiwifruit has fascinated researchers for its ability to protect DNA in the nucleus of human cells from oxygen-related damage. The phytonutrients in kiwifruit is responsible for providing protection in respiratory-related problems including wheezing, night coughing and shortness of breath.
Think 'whole'
Nutritionally, kiwifruit is best eaten raw and whole.
With kiwifruit, there is no need to remove the seeds. They are delicate and easily chewed. There is also no need to cook kiwifruit to make it palatable. Thus, we are likely to get almost all its nutrition potential. The skin is 100% edible and it offers extra vitamins, mineral and fibre. Much like the skin of a potato, kiwifruit skin adds flavour along with a chewable substance many people enjoy.
Easy to eat, too - just cut and scoop!
Slice kiwis in half and scoop the tasty fruit with a spoon for a quick, easy snack on the go, or pack in lunches for a healthy treat.
The interest in kiwifruit, particularly as a nutritional powerhouse and the evidence that elevates it to a Superfood, has brought about resurgence in the fruit. It has seen strong popularity growth lately due to its high levels of antioxidants.
Global plantings are on the rise, demand is good, consumers are increasingly aware of kiwifruit as a good choice - mainly due to ZESPRI's worldwide promotional efforts as the acknowledged market leader - and big interest by world leading researchers in the fruit's nutritional attributes.
Extreme Nutrition For Such A Little Fruit!
Kiwifruit is added to the elite list of Superfoods - it is low fat, low sugar and low calorie, and each one offers all this nutrition: FOLATE. POTASSIUM. ANTIOXIDANTS. FOLATE, VITAMIN C. VITAMIN E. MAGNESIUM. LUTEIN. ZINC.
