Guide To The Health Benefits Of Juicy Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi fruit, originally known as Chinese gooseberry, is an edible berry of a species of woody vines. New Zealanders brought about the name kiwi fruit when they began growing and marketing it to other countries. However, the kiwi fruit is native to China, and China produces over fifty-six percent of the world’s supply. The fruit is the size and shape of a hen’s egg with a brown, roughly textured skin. Beneath the skin is a fleshy green layer and rows of seeds that can be eaten. It has a unique, sweet flavor and soft texture. The skin is edible, but many individuals do not enjoy the texture. Kiwi fruit can be eaten raw, made into juice, used in baked goods, or used as a garnish.
Kiwi fruit also has numerous health benefits. Get to know these now.
Reduce The Risk Of Blood Clots
Blood clots can form within the veins and arteries for a number of reasons including sitting for too long without moving, family history of blood clots, obesity, or certain autoimmune diseases. Blood clots that travel to the lungs can cause an embolism, and clots that block the arteries to the brain cause strokes, both of which are life-threatening emergencies. Kiwi fruit helps reduce the risk of blood clots by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. It also contains salicylates, a salt of salicylic acid, which is known to thin the blood in much the same way as an acetylsalicylic acid regimen. Therefore, not only does kiwi fruit reduce an individual's risk of developing a blood clot, it also reduces the risk of complications and even death from blood clots should they occur anyway.
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Helps Treat Symptoms of Asthma
It is thought the kiwi fruit’s high levels of vitamin C and other antioxidants are what helps treat symptoms of asthma. Studies have shown a daily intake of fresh kiwi fruit by children over the course of a month lowers asthma symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chronic cough by thirty-five percent. This makes sense since antioxidants fight the free radicals inside the body and are known for reducing inflammation. Asthma is the swelling of airways in the lungs making breathing difficult. It is thought to be caused by a combination of environmental factors and an individual’s genetic makeup. Those who remain eating kiwi fruit daily maintain healthier lung function.
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Protects Against Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in adults. Also known as central vision loss, it does not affect peripheral vision so it does not cause complete blindness. Individuals affected may not be able to see well enough to drive, read, or watch television. They also sometimes have visual hallucinations. Kiwi fruit protects against macular degeneration because of its high lutein and zeaxanthin content. Both of these antioxidants reside in the macula and help protect it by absorbing the damaging ultraviolet light. A diet that incorporates kiwi fruit intake three times daily can help build up lutein and zeaxanthin levels in the eye and can stave off the devastating effects of macular degeneration.
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Helps With Digestion
Eating kiwi fruit helps with digestion because it is full of fiber, which helps bind to and sweep out fats and carbohydrates and eases bowel movements. This can help relieve conditions like constipation. Additionally, kiwi fruit contains a fair amount of a proteolytic enzyme called actinidin, which is responsible for breaking down proteins into smaller molecules for easier absorption. Proteins that have not been sufficiently broken down will result in gas, bloating, and sometimes pain in the intestines. Actinidin is often used as a meat tenderizer, but it cannot be used with gelatin desserts or milk dishes as it digests these proteins. When patients eat two kiwi fruits per day, they had softer, bulkier stools on a more regular basis.
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Assists with Blood Pressure Management
High blood pressure is a serious medical condition that ultimately can lead to kidney failure, congestive heart failure, and heart attack. Initially, high blood pressure can present with severe headaches, shortness of breath, anxiety, throbbing pulse, or nosebleeds. Many patients are given medications to manage blood pressure. Tests have shown daily kiwi fruit intake lowers blood pressure better than a daily apple by 3.6 points. Kiwi fruit removes triglycerides from the blood, allowing it to flow more freely reducing pressure on the veins. For individuals who prefer not to take prescription medications, kiwi fruit effectively assists with blood pressure management.