Superfood of the Week: Kiwi
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This superfood is a perfect snack on a hot summer’s day. It’s refreshing and cool and tastes good alone, in a smoothie or on top of yogurt! Kiwi, which is grown in Italy, South Africa and Chile, is not only a delicious summer treat, it also has many added health benefits. Sadly, Kiwi is often overlooked and misunderstood. Not anymore! This week’s superfood deserves it’s time in the spotlight, and you will definitely want to stock up once you see what powerful vitamins and antioxidants are hidden inside!
Vitamins & Minerals Galore
Don’t let the tiny exterior fool you, this small fruit is full of vitamins and minerals! Kiwis contain over 20 key vitamins and minerals that are essential to healthy skin, healthy eyes, strong bones & muscles! To name a few, one kiwi has 215 mg of Potassium, 23 mg. of Calcium, 1.01 mg. of Vitamin E, 27.5 mg. of Vitamin K and 60 IU’s of Vitamin A! And that’s just in one little kiwi. For example, if you have two kiwis, you are getting more potassium that one banana!
Unlike most fruits, the vitamin E that is found in the kiwi fruit is known to fend off the free radicals in your body [that can lead to sickness and infection] as well as keep skin smoother [which makes you look younger!] One kiwi also has more skin boosting [and brightening] Vitamin C than an orange! [Which provides almost 100% of your necessary Vitamin C in one day!]
Weight Control & Weight Loss
Kiwi’s are not only full of vitamins & minerals, but are also full of fiber! Most of the fiber found in kiwi’s is located in the fuzzy skin, which is often removed due to the misconception that you can not eat it. So instead of peeling your kiwi, eat the skin for extra fiber! The fiber found in kiwis improves diseases such as diabetes by controlling sugar levels. The fiber also works to prevent colon cancer since the fibers bind to toxic compounds in the colon and expels them before they cause harm. Fiber also works to keep us full, which prevents overeating and weight gain.
Kiwis are also very low in calories, containing only 42 per kiwi! Kiwis also contain over 1 gram of protein and over 3 grams of dietary fiber, which is more than an orange and as much as a banana!
Respiratory Benefits
According to recent studies done [found on Kiwi-Fruit.Info], children who were fed fruits high in Vitamin C [especially kiwis’] had a 44% less probability of wheezing or developing asthma than kids who ate less or no kiwis/citrus fruits. The study also found a significant decrease in shortness of breath, nighttime coughing, chronic cough and runny nose in the children who ate kiwis.
Instead of grabbing your usual banana, apple or orange, grab a kiwi instead for a refreshing fruit that is full of health benefits! For a list of great recipes featuring this super-food, visit All Recipes!
Claire
Tags:antioxidants, fruit, healthy snack, healthy summer snack, kiwi, kiwi recipes, super fruit, Superfood of the Week
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