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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Kiwi Fruit’s Healthy Impact on Weight Loss and the Immune System

The Kiwi is also known as both the Chinese gooseberry and also the “sunny peach.”. It is the large edible berry of a woody vine. Originally it was indigenous to the Easter Chinese “Shaanxi” province even though it is now widely grown in New Zealand.

In North America, the kiwis that are grown are generally the size of a Hen’s egg. This commonly available variety has a fuzzy brown skin and bright green flesh and is known as the Hayward.   A smaller North American type called the Blake is more smooth skinned and oval in shape.

Kiwifruit by species A = A. arguta, C = A. chinensis,
 D = A. deliciosa, E = A. eriantha, I = A. indochinensis,
 P = A. polygama, S = A. setosa;
Fruits of different species af Actinidia. A = A. arguta, 
C = A. chinensis, D = A. deliciosa, E = A. eriantha,
 I = A. indochinensis, P = A. polygama, S = A. setosa.
Golden Kiwi fruit, grown in China has lime green flesh with large black seeds and a red inner ring. Exotic varieties boast green to golden flesh with a red ring of black seeds inside. All kiwis have as small white ring inside the center.

Kiwis can taste different from batch to batch.  The taste is usually a hybrid of strawberries, lime, pineapple and a bit of banana with one flavour being slightly more prominent than another depending on where it was grown.

A Superfruit That is a Metabolic Bargain
Kiwi qualifies as being a superfruit because it is highly nutritious as each fruit is only 41 calories.  However, if you are trying to eat highly alkaline foods as part of special diet plan then kiwi is not for you as it registers quite highly on the acidic scale with a rating of 3.5.  Foods above 7 on the pH scale are considered to be alkaline.

Eating a kiwi can be compared to eating a very large organic vitamin pill. Kiwis are extremely rich in vitamin C, folate, potassium, carotenoids, chlorophyll, glutathione and pectin.  You can shorten the duration of a cold by eating kiwi.

Kiwi is also an unusually rich source of low fat and low-calorie Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a rare vegan sources and usually found in high-fat sources like avocado and nuts.

One serving of California Kiwifruit has more potassium than a banana. They are also a rich source of antioxidants, which reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Each Kiwi has about 2 grams of protein and 133 mg of Vitamin C.  They are 5% calcium, 3% Vitamin E and 3% iron. One kiwifruit has 30 mg of magnesium, which aids in muscle and nerve function.

Kiwi Fruit’s Many Health Benefits
Kiwi’s antioxidants neutralize the free radicals that cause inflammation and cancer.  The high Vitamin C content helps prevent asthma, arteriosclerosis, osteoarthritis and colon cancer.

The fruits high Vitamin E content helps lower cholesterol and boost immunity. Eating two to three Kiwi fruits a day can reduce the potential for blood clots and decrease triglycerides.

Kiwi is a well-known weight loss food because it has only 3.8 calories per fruit.  Only cantaloupes, papaya, strawberry and lemon have fewer calories. Diabetics can safely enjoy Kiwi Fruit. They have a low glycemic index of 52.  This is also beneficial for those looking for a fat-free, low-carb way to lose weight.

Kiwi also prevents colon cancer, optimizes metabolism and is a natural blood thinner and anti-depressant.

Where to Find Kiwi Fruit

You can find kiwi fruit is most grocery stores nowadays and definitely at Asian markets. Be sure to choose plump, aromatic Kiwi that yields to gentle pressure. Avoid those that are mushy or that have bruises or wet spots.

It is preferable to not eat the skin so it is best to peel the Kiwi before you slice it.   Don’t try to suspend it in gelatin. It has a compound in it that will not allow it to set.


For more information or to book a consultation about nutrition and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Centre website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.

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