Kiwi fruit nutrition facts
Kiwi fruit, also known as Chinesegooseberry, is one of the delicious fruits with full of
promising health promoting
phyto-chemicals, vitamins and minerals. This widely recognized,
wonderfully unique fruit is native to eastern Chinese "Shaanxi"
province. This exotic fruit is also recognized as China’s national
fruit.
The kiwifruit plant is a
semitropical, deciduous, large woody vine belonging within the
family of Actinidiaceae;
Genus, Actinidia.
Scieintific name: Actinidiachinensis.
The journey of this humble gooseberry from China's
mainland to
Oceania, and thence to worldwide be quite interesting! During early
years of twentieth-century kiwifruit seeds were carried to New Zealand
by missionaries where it has become naturalized. From New Zealand, the
fruit spread all across the world, and now grown at a commercial scale
in many European and as far as in California regions in North America.
During each season which lasts
from September until November, The kiwivine bears numerous ovals shaped, fuzzy, brown colored fruits.
ovals shaped, fuzzy, brown colored fruits. Each
fruit measures approximately the size of large hen’s egg, and weighs up
to 125 g. internally; its flesh is soft, juicy, emerald green with rows
of tiny, black, edible seeds. Fruit texture is similar to strawberry
or sapodilla and the flavor resembles a blend of strawberry,
apple and
pineapple fruits.
Several other cultivars are grown apart from the
common kiwifruit variety.
"Hardy kiwi fruit" (A.arguta) also known as baby kiwi, are much
smaller than "Fuzzy kiwifruit" (A. deliciosa). Their size is similar to that of a
large grape with smooth,
edible skin. Inside, "hardy kiwi fruit" resembles "fuzzy kiwi-fruit" in
color, texture, but usually has intense flavor and sweetness. "Gold
Kiwifruit," developed by hybrid technique by agricultural
research
department in New Zealand, has a smooth, sparse hairs, bronze skin, a
pointed cap at one end and distinctive golden-yellow flesh with less
tart and more tropical flavor than green-kiwifruit. Commercially, it
has a higher market value than common green kiwifruit.
Health benefits of Kiwi fruit
-
Kiwifruit is a very rich
source of soluble dietary fiber (3.8 g per 100
g of fruit OR 10% of RDA), which makes it a good bulk laxative. The
fiber content
helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time
to toxins as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in
the colon.
-
The fruit is an excellentsource of antioxidant vitamin-C;
providing about 154% of
the DRI
(daily-recommended intake). Consumption of
foods rich in vitamin-C
helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and
scavenge
harmful free radicals.
-
Kiwi fruit contains verygoodlevels of vitamin-A, vitamin-E, vitamin-K
and flavonoid anti-oxidants
such as
beta-carotene, lutein and xanthin. Vitamin K has a potential role in
the
increase of bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bone.
It also has established role in Alzheimer's disease patients by
limiting neuronal damage in the brain. Total antioxidant strength
measured in terms of oxygen
radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of kiwifruit (gold,
raw)
is 1210 µmol TE/100 g.
-
Research studies have shown that certain
substances in kiwi-fruit functions as blood thinner function similar to
aspirin; thus, it helps prevent clot formation inside the blood vessels
and protect from stroke and heart-attack risk.
-
Kiwi-fruit seeds are an
excellent
source of omega-3 fattyacids. Research studies show that consumption of
foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart
disease, stroke, and help prevent the development of ADHD, autism, and
other developmental disorders in children.
-
Fresh kiwi fruit is a very rich source of
heart-healthy electrolyte "potassium." 100 g contains 312 mg or 7% of
daily-recommended levels of this electrolyte. Potassium is an important
component of cell and body fluids that help regulate heart rate and
blood pressure by countering malefic effects of sodium.
-
It also contains good amounts of minerals like manganese, iron and magnesium. Manganese is used in the body as a co-factor for the powerful antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Magnesium is an important bone-strengthening mineral like calcium.More details: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/kiwi-fruit.htmlBuy Kiwi seeds fromThe Jammu and Kashmir medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
"Ginkgo House", Nambalbal,
New Coloney Azizabad,
Via Wuyan-Meej Road,
Pampore PPR J&K 192121
Mob:09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.in
