Kiwi Fruit will make your Heart Healthier

One of the stranger fruits in the world can really improve your health…

Kiwi Fruit is very odd looking, but these little natural morsels have a bit of magic that can help your heart, prevent some cancers, and provide many other benefits to your body.

Some have even attributed the origins of this fruit to ancient intergalactic visitors to our humble planet. It is, of course, a very sweet unusually colored fruit that is covered by a little brown skin that almost resembles a rodent. But this fruit, no matter where ever it came from, is loaded with benefits to your health. It could make you live longer and live better, so you may want to think about making the Kiwi a part of your everyday diet.

The kiwi was originally called the Chinese Gooseberry and later the “sunny peach”. It was renamed the Kiwi by New Zealand natives after their national bird. There are over 400 varieties of this fuzzy fruit, which grows off of vines on a trellis, much like grapes are cultivated.

It seems that perhaps the Kiwi was designed by nature or God or some other higher level force specifically to help make our cardiac system work better. Kiwi is a natural blood thinner which means it can naturally prevent blood clots and lowers the fat content in the blood to prevent blockages. Kiwis help lower triglyceride levels, which in turn reduces platelet clumping. Although platelets aid in blood clotting, when the cells stick together too much, it could set the stage for a heart attack or stroke. Kiwis also contain Chromium, which aids in regulating heartbeats.

And the Kiwi is loaded with nutrition. This little fruit contains more Vitamin C than an Orange, beats bananas for potassium (230% of the RDA for Vitamin C with 1 Kiwi), and has high levels of Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Magnesium. Kiwi provides 10% of the RDA for folic acid, which is important for expectant mothers and works to produce red blood cells. Kiwi is also an excellent source of beta-carotene. Kiwis have a very high fiber content (1 Kiwi has 16% of RDA) which helps people with cardiovascular problems, and helps fight diseases such as diabetes and assists our bodies to expel toxic compounds in the colon, and prevent colon cancer. Kiwis have phytonutrients, which repair DNA, act as the body’s protection against some cancers, and function as antioxidants. And the Kiwi has Zinc, which helps keep hair, skin and nails healthy.

Kiwis can help you lose weight. One medium-sized Kiwi has just 46 calories, and a full cup of kiwi slices contains 108 calories, about the same amount as a medium banana. Use kiwi to replace half of your morning cereal to save calories; add it to cottage cheese for a high-protein, low-calorie snack; mix with yogurt or blend it into a smoothie with mint leaves and strawberries.

When buying a Kiwi, look for a fruit that is plump and fragrant with no visible bruising or wrinkles and a slightly firm feel. Ripe kiwi fruit can last in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

Kiwi fruit can be enjoyed in smoothies, sprinkled into your morning yogurt, mixed into fruit salad, or eaten plain. They can be eaten fresh, pureed or dried.

So here is the Expat’s healthy choice for a Tropical Banana-Kiwi Salad, taken from eatingwell.com:

Ingredients

tablespoon(s) lime juice
1 tablespoon(s) canola oil
1 tablespoon(s) minced shallot
2 teaspoon(s) rice vinegar
1 teaspoon(s) honey
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
1 pinch(s) cayenne pepper, or to taste
4 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 firm ripe bananas, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup(s) diced red bell pepper
2 tablespoon(s) thinly sliced fresh mint
2 tablespoon(s) chopped cashews, toasted

Whisk lime juice, oil, shallot, vinegar, honey, salt, and cayenne in a medium bowl. Add kiwis, bananas, bell pepper, and mint; toss to coat. Serve sprinkled with cashews.