Kiwifruit's Secrets Revealed
Finnegan Flynn
| 26-01-2024
· Food Team
Kiwi stands out as the perfect fruit for many due to its delightful combination of sweetness and tartness and ease of consumption.
Beyond its appealing taste, kiwi is a powerhouse of nutrition, offering many benefits when integrated into your daily diet.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of kiwifruit is its exceptional vitamin C content, boasting an impressive 62mg per 100g. In perspective, this is nearly double the vitamin C found in oranges and a staggering 21 times more than that in apples.
Considering the recommended daily intake of 100mg for the general population, indulging in 1 to 2 kiwifruits can effortlessly meet this vitamin C requirement.
Now, let's delve into the various health advantages associated with regular kiwifruit consumption:
1. Beauty and Skin Care: Kiwifruit's richness in vitamin C makes it a natural ally for skin health. Vitamin C actively participates in collagen synthesis, maintaining skin elasticity and diminishing the development of wrinkles.
Moreover, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, aiding the body in scavenging excess free radicals and thwarting lipid peroxidation reactions, thereby fortifying the skin.
2. Gum Protection: A deficiency in vitamin C can lead to impaired collagen synthesis, resulting in delayed wound healing and increased fragility of capillary walls, leading to gum bleeding. Consuming just one kiwifruit daily ensures an ample vitamin C intake, contributing to oral health and preventing gum-related issues.
3. Constipation Prevention: Kiwifruit boasts an advanced dietary fibre content among fruits, with 2.6g of insoluble dietary fibre per 100g—1.5 times more than apples and 2.2 times more than bananas. Insoluble dietary fibre aids in promoting mechanical movement in the stomach and intestines.
4. Bone Health: Apart from being rich in vitamin C, kiwifruit is a valuable reservoir of vitamin K, with both playing essential roles in upholding sturdy and well-conditioned bones, thereby preventing ailments like osteoporosis.
Vitamin C deficiency can lead to collagen synthesis disorders, impacting bone matrix formation. In contrast, vitamin K promotes calcium deposition in bones, aiding in calcium absorption, promoting osteoblasts, and inhibiting osteoclasts, thereby preventing bone fractures.
Kiwifruit is a delectable addition to your palate and a health-boosting powerhouse. As a practical storage tip, if your kiwifruit is firm, keep it at room temperature alongside apples and bananas to facilitate softening and enhance sweetness.
Conversely, if the fruit is slightly soft, refrigerate it at four °C to slow down further softening, prolong shelf life, and effectively preserve its vitamin C content. Embracing this versatile fruit into your daily routine can yield various health benefits, contributing to your overall well-being.