Benefits of Eating Kiwi

Kiwifruit, usually just known as Kiwi, is an exotic and beneficial fruit that is available all year round. California kiwifruit is available from November through May, and crops from New Zealand (the kiwifruits, not the people) are available from June through October. Though this fruit isn't attractive at first glance, having fuzzy skin and sometimes even prickles and nubs, it's easy to peel, very sweet and tasty, and offers many health benefits. Below is more information on how and why you should eat kiwifruit.

How to Choose a Kiwi

1. Squeeze the kiwifruit between your thumb and index finger.
2. The ripe kiwi will yield to gentle pressure.
3. If the fruit doesn't yield, you can wait anywhere from a few days to a week for it to ripen. Just store it at room temperature, away from light and heat. You can also put the kiwifruit in a bag with an apple or banana to ripen it faster.

How to Peel a Kiwi

1. Cut 1/4 inch off each end of the fruit.
2. Gently slide a knife between the skin and the flesh.
3. The kiwifruit will pop right out of the skin.
4. Alternatively, since the skin is high in nutrients, you can wash off the fuzz and outer covering and eat the skin, too.

Health Benefits of Eating Kiwi

1. Kiwifruit reduces asthma and respiratory symptoms. This is because kiwi is high in Vitamin C. In fact, it contains more Vitamin C than the same amount of orange.
2. Eating kiwi increases healing and skin health. Kiwifruit is rich in Vitamin E. Vitamin E promotes healthy skin and speeds healing times for injuries, diseases, and overall immune system functions.
3. Kiwi is high in fiber. As a result, kiwifruit helps control blood sugar, lower cholesterol levels, reduce risks of heart disease and heart attack, and also removes toxins from the colon. This, in turn, reduces risks of colon cancer and also helps the body remove harmful substances more quickly.
4. Finally, kiwifruit is a good source of potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, and copper.

How to Serve Kiwi

1. Eat it plain, with or without the skin.
2. Add it to fruit salad, but add it last because it can make the other fruits soggy.
3. Put it in a food processor with cantaloupe to make a cold soup. To make a creamy soup, add yogurt as well.
4. Slice it and mix with oranges and pineapple for a tasty chutney to accompany fish or chicken.
5. Slice and serve kiwifruit with strawberries and top with yogurt. Kiwifruit and strawberries have flavors that are naturally complimentary.

Kiwifruit is healthy, tasty, exotic, and available all year. Once you get past its strange appearance, you can enjoy the kiwi and take advantage of the many health benefits and uses it has to offer.