Singapore - 3 superfruit properties of kiwifruit

While there are no shortcuts to good health and vitality, there are some fruits you can include into your daily diet to ensure sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals that can provide a great boost to your immune system.

Kiwifruits are a great option to start with. Known for their "superfruit" properties, each kiwifruit packs a natural nutrition punch.

Below are three key benefits of kiwifruit:

1. Rich in Vitamin C and a natural boost for your immunity

Think oranges are a great source of Vitamin C?

Well, did you know that kiwifruit, in fact, contains twice as much Vitamin C as there are in oranges?

So much in fact, that eating kiwifruit daily can help you meet your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C.

This is especially important, since Vitamin C has been proven to help our bodies fend against common illnesses such as flu.

Vitamin C can also only be replenished daily from food sources as our bodies are not able to synthesise this vitamin.

For those who suffer from flu, the good news is also that gold kiwifruit - a distict species of kiwifruit with yellow flesh - can help to reduce the duration of symptoms such as sore throats and headaches.

In addition to being a rich source of Vitamin C, kiwifruit also contains a wide range of antioxidants that protect against free radical damage, a process that speeds up ageing and that might cause the onset of chronic diseases such as heart diseases and various forms of cancer.

2. Low in calories, making it a great snack

If you're watching your waistline, then kiwifruit is the way to go.

Each kiwifruit contains about 60 calories and is also low in fat. The glycaemic index of kiwifruit is also relatively low, at around 50.

This means that the energy in the fruit is released slowly into the body, helping your body to maintain blood sugar levels.

This makes kiwifruit a great natural afternoon snack as it helps you to keep energy levels up while ensuring that you also get the vitamins and minerals that you need.

3. Contains fibre to relieves bloating and helps keep digestive system healthy

Most of us are also well aware of the digestive properties of fruit, thanks to the high fibre content of the fruit.

Fibre can help relieve the bloated feeling after a heavy meal and is also essential for a healthy digestive system.

Kiwifruit is widely recognized as a natural digestive aid due to the high amount of soluble fibre it contains.

For example, 100g of green kiwifruit contains 3.0g of fibre, comparatively higher than many other common fruit such as apples (2.4g) and bananas (2.6g).

Regularly eating kiwifruit can thus promote normal bowel habits and prevent bloating in the digestive system.

Actinidin, a unique enzyme found in green kiwifruit, has also been proven to help the body better digest protein from meat, milk and legumes.

KIWI TIP!: For a natural meat tenderiser, just spread a mashed up a green kiwifruit onto your steak, leave it on for 15 minutes and scrape off the pulp before cooking.

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