by Addie

Created on: May 14, 2008   Last Updated: June 16, 2008

The kiwifruit, originally known as the Chinese gooseberry, is an edible berry native to China. The popular fruit derives its name from an indigenous bird from New Zealand, the kiwi'. The fruit's oval shape and brown fuzzy exterior very much resembles the flightless bird.

Kiwifruit are an incredibly rich food source. A study conducted by Dr. Paul Lachance of Rutgers University showed that ounce for ounce, kiwifruits provides the most nutrition than the majority of commonly consumed fruits. A medium-sized kiwifruit contains about 46 kilocalories, 2.6 gm dietary fiber, 75 mg of vitamins, 0.3-gm fats, 1 gm proteins and 11 gm carbohydrates. It also contains vitamins A, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, lutein, beta-carotene, potassium, alpha-linolenic acid and omega-3 fatty acids.

The kiwifruit is perhaps best known for its remarkable vitamin C content, which is in fact, more than that of an orange. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C, works to protect the body from free radicals. So, the regular consumption of kiwifruit can dramatically improve health by protecting it against all kinds of diseases, including obesity and DNA mutations.
A study published in the April 2004 issue of Thorax also found that the vitamin C content of kiwifruit can help reduce the incidence of respiratory problems, including wheezing, coughing and asthma in children if they consume about 5 to 7 servings per week.

The kiwifruit's high dietary fiber content also means it is useful in decreasing the probability of colon cancer, since fiber binds to toxic compounds in the colon and helps us expel them. Fiber also helps improve diabetes by controlling sugar levels. It also reduces cholesterol levels, which prevents and improves cardiovascular diseases and lowers the probability of heart attacks.

Incredibly versatile, kiwifruit can be eaten whole, even with its skin on, since it is rich in flavonoids (another antioxidant). It can also be cut in half and its flesh scooped out with a spoon or peeled and sliced.

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