KIWI FRUIT

Kiwis are small fruits, typically with a fuzzy brown skin and green flesh with black seeds. Although the skin is edible, many people just eat the sweet and tart fruit inside. These fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, and may be beneficial for heart health as well. You can eat them in salads or as a snack. You can even use them in main dishes to help tenderize your meat. Nutrition Facts A medium kiwi fruit without the skin contains only 45 calories and no fat, while providing 1 g of protein and 3 g of fiber. A kiwi contains 120 percent of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C, 8 percent of the DV of folate, 6 percent of the DV of magnesium, 4 percent of the DV of phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin B6, and 2 percent of the DV of calcium, iron, niacin and riboflavin. It is also a good source of copper, potassium and vitamin E. advertisement Sponsored Links Dental Implant Warnings What You Should Know Before Getting Dental Implants. Read Expert Advice symptomfind.com/CosmeticDentalCare Kiwi and Heart Disease Eating two or three kiwi fruits per day may lower your triglycerides, as well as your risk for plaque buildup in your arteries and heart disease, according to a study published in "Platelets" in August 2004. These beneficial effects may be due to the high levels of flavonoids, vitamin E and vitamin C present in kiwi fruit. Comparisons People describe the taste of kiwi fruit as similar to a mix of melon, peach and strawberry or a mix of strawberry and pineapple. Kiwis are one of the most nutrient dense fruits commonly available, with more vitamin C than oranges, the second highest amount of lutein per serving after corn and more potassium than bananas. Mangos, oranges and papayas are almost as nutrient dense as kiwi fruit, so these are good options when kiwi are not in season. Considerations Some people are allergic to kiwi fruit, and although allergic reactions in adults tend to be mild, in children they can be severe and include anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. If you are allergic to birch pollen or latex, you are more likely to be allergic to kiwi, since they contain similar allergens.