Kiwi fruit is definitely a popular summer choice, but it has so many great health benefits that it’s a good idea to eat it all year round.
Kiwi has a hairy brown outer skin but beneath the surface is a brilliant and vibrant green flesh that tastes crisp and exotic.
So why is Kiwi Fruit so good for you?
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It contains natural digestive enzymes (called actinidain) that dissolve proteins, helping to digest your food more easily.
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It helps to regulate blood pressure and lowers blood pressure when it’s too high. This it thanks to the high levels of potassium found in kiwi fruit, as this helps to keep the balance of electrolytes healthy, helping to reduce the effect of salt/sodium.
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Kiwifruit contains natural antioxidants that disable free radicals toxic effects, and protecting against cell DNA damage. This makes it a great cancer fighting fruit to eat too.
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Vitamin C is found in kiwi and this helps to keep a healthy a strong immune system, so you’re less likely to get ill, especially in winter when colds and flu are rife.
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Kiwi contains lots of fibre and has a low glycemic index so it doesn’t cause a rush of insulin like some other fruits (due to high fructose content). This means that the body doesn’t respond by storing fat and so it’s a great one to eat when you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
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Kiwi helps to fight against heart disease if you eat around 2-3 fruits daily (think smoothies for breakfast as a good way to get 2-3 fruits in). This is due to the fact that eating this many kiwis each day can reduce the risk of blood clotting by nearly one fifth, and it also reduces bad cholesterol by 15%. It can have a similar effect as taking aspirin to reduce blood clotting without the side effects.
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Kiwi is one of the few fruits that is safe for diabetics because of the low glycemic index so you won’t get a spike in blood sugar levels when you eat them.
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The high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in kiwi help to reduce the risk of macular degeneratin and other problems with your eyes. Eating three or more kiwis each day in one study showed a reduced risk of macular degeneration by over 35%.
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Kiwifruit is an alkaline fruit, rather than acidic like many other fruits and so it’s a great one to add into your diet to get the right acid/alkaline balance.
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The high content of vitamin E in kiwis means that it promotes healthy younger looking skin – something we all want!
Remember though that when buying any fresh produce, go for organic to ensure that there are no toxic chemicals used in farming your produce.
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