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| Kiwi Fruit |
The kiwi is a small fruit that packs a wallop of nutrition. Ounce
for ounce, it contains more vitamin C than an orange. The national
fruit of China, where it has been called a macaque peach, vine pear, or
hairy bush fruit, among other names, it was introduced to New Zealand at
the turn of the last century. The kiwi was called the Chinese
gooseberry before its name was changed to kiwifruit upon its move to the
USA in the 1960s. Currently, Italy, New Zealand, Chile, France, Japan
and the United States are the world's top producers of kiwis.
Here are six health benefits of kiwis.
Cardiovascular Benefits
The fiber in kiwifruit may be an effective against a number of ailments.
Studies have found that eating a high fiber diet can lower cholesterol
levels and in turn reduce the risk of heart disease. Kiwis are also
abundant in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that protects our bodies
from free radicals that can cause oxidative stress and lead to a host of
severe medical conditions, such as atherosclerosis that can cause heart
disease.
Vitamin C has been shown to lower blood pressure, and thereby lower
the chances of developing of hypertension, as well as cardiovascular
disease. Vitamin C also ensures proper dilation of blood vessels, which
may prevent atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, congestive heart failure,
and angina pectoris. Having a few kiwifruit a day may also reduce the
amount of triglycerides in your blood, avoiding blood clots and helping
to protect cardiovascular health. Kiwi is a good source of vitamin E,
magnesium, potassium, and copper, all of which may function separately
or together to protect the cardiovascular system.
Cancer Prevention
Excessive oxidative stress caused by free radicals is associated with
many different types of cancer, including lung, mouth, throat, colon,
stomach and esophagus. The vitamin C in kiwis protects our bodies from
this oxidative stress. Vitamin C also helps to regenerate the body's
supplies of vitamin E (another useful antioxidant).
Bone and Connective Tissue Support
The vitamin C in kiwis is an indispensable antioxidant that moves
through the body, neutralizing all free radicals it comes into contact
with. Free radicals can damage healthy cells and cause inflammation in
bone and connective tissue. For this reason, Vitamin C may reduce the
the severity of symptoms in people with rheumatoid arthritis or
osteoarthritis. Kiwis are also a good source of potassium, which
prevents the weakening of bones.
Digestive Tract Health
The fiber in kiwis helps to move food through the stomach to the large
intestine at a healthier pace. This keeps any one part of the digestive
tract from having to work too hard and supports the ideal balance of
chemicals and populations of microorganisms required for a healthy
digestive system.
Blood Sugar Regulation
The fiber in kiwis helps move food through the digestive system at an
even pace and regulates blood sugar absorption. An excess of sugar
uptake all at once can produce an unwanted sugar spike. A lack of simple
sugar uptake may produce a rapid blood sugar drop. Either extreme can
upset blood sugar balance. The fiber in kiwis helps avoid both extremes.
Lung Health
Kiwi fruit contains more vitamin C than oranges and is especially
effective against respiratory health problems such as shortness of
breath, asthma and cough. A famous study in Italy followed more than
18,000 6 and 7 year old children and found that those who consumed the
most citrus and kiwi were 44% less likely than the control group to
experience wheezing, 32% less likely to have shortness of breath, 28%
less likely to experience runny nose, and 25% less likely to have
chronic cough.
source: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/6-health-benefits-of-kiwis.html
