Kiwi (fruit): benefits and harms to human he alth, properties and contraindications

Liana from the genus Actinidia, which grew wild in China, is now cultivated in Japan and Iran, Greece and Italy. Kiwi fruits look like potatoes, their surface is covered with villi, but the taste of delicate green pulp surprisingly combines shades of strawberries, gooseberries, and pineapple. Sweet and sour berry weighs about 100 grams and serves as a source of a whole complex of vitamins and minerals, which is the benefit of the kiwi fruit. The fruits can bring harm if you use them without knowing the measure.

Chemical composition and calorie content

Creeper berries are rich in ascorbic acid, which helps to strengthen the immune system, reduces the effects of microbes and viruses. Kiwi contains tocopherol and vitamin A, deficiency of which leads to broken nails and split hair. Folic acid is involved in many processes that occur in the human body. Pyridoxine calms the nerves, improves the absorption of proteins. In a small amount, the fruits contain vitamins B1, B2, B 3-5.

The juicy pulp of kiwi contains 9 types of minerals, including:

iron and zinc;
phosphorus and sodium;
potassium and chlorine.

Sulfur acts as an antioxidant, calcium eliminates inflammation, strengthens bones, magnesium has a beneficial effect on the heart.

When eating kiwi, the body is saturated with trace elements in the form of boron and copper, aluminum and fluorine.

Iodine normalizes the synthesis of hormones, with its lack, the thyroid gland suffers. Manganese is responsible for tissue repair, accelerates the healing of wounds. With a deficiency of molybdenum, and this substance is found in both the pulp and the skin of kiwi, the development of cells that make up the tissues of the respiratory organs slows down.

Exotic fruit rich:

fiber;
protein;
sugars;
flavonoids.

100 grams of berries contain just over 60 calories, but when consumed this amount, the human body receives the daily requirement for ascorbic acid and ¼ for potassium.

Features of different varieties

In Russia, an exotic berry is cultivated for industrial purposes in the Sochi region, it is found in the wild in the Far East. A tall plant of the Hayward variety is distinguished by large oval fruits, individual specimens weigh 150 grams.Juicy pulp of light green color pleases with a delicate taste and aroma.

Dessert variety Bruno is rich in organic acids, fruits are perfectly stored for 3 months. Up to 6 buckets of fruits covered with brown skin ripen on one plant. The flesh has a yellowish tinge.

Monty variety is distinguished by round leaves, blooms in early May. The surface of the berries is covered with hairs, each weighing no more than 30 grams. Fruit is poorly transported, not stored for a long time, but the bright green flesh smells like pineapple.

Abbot is valued for its high yield, the first fruits, shaped like a pear, appear already in the fourth year. One plant gives 7 buckets of sweet and sour berries, the average fruit weight is 40 grams. In the Adler region, the Tomuri variety is cultivated, which has male-type flowers and an earlier fast-growing Matua. They are often used to pollinate other kiwi species.

How to choose the right ripe and high-quality fruit

When buying exotic fruits, you need to carefully look not only at the appearance, but also take into account other signs that suggest which fruit to choose:

A ripe berry has a faint aroma, a fruit that starts to spoil has a slight smell of wine.
When overripe, the kiwi becomes soft to the touch, the green fruit feels very hard when pressed.
Fruits should be evenly colored, and the color depends on the variety.
High-quality berries wash off and clean hairs well.

Don't buy kiwis that ooze when squeezed, have blotchy skins and are likely to rot.

It is better to buy fruits by the piece, spoiled fruits are also packed in baskets, because sellers need to get rid of such goods.

In what form and when is it better to use

Fresh kiwi has a lot of useful substances that are absorbed faster when the fruits are eaten before meals. When cut into slices, the concentration of ascorbic acid decreases, it is better to simply peel the fruit and use it like an apple as a whole. Skinned kiwis are even he althier, but not everyone can eat them.

Sweet and sour berries are added to salads, used to make jams, desserts, cocktails, pastries, marinades. They go well with meat and are used in the production of wine.

Useful properties of the fruit

In terms of concentration and variety of vitamins and minerals, kiwi is superior to many fruits familiar from childhood to people living in a temperate climate. Chinese gooseberries are valued not only for their unique aroma and sweet and sour taste, but also for the fact that they have a positive effect on almost every system of the body.

Increases immunity

Eating just one kiwi a day can prevent colds, protect against viral infections, and make it easier to endure a disease caused by bacteria. Ascorbic and folic acid, vitamins of groups A, E and B, which are rich in fruits, strengthen the immune system, restore vitality.

Stimulates the cardiovascular system

Potassium present in kiwi eliminates swelling by removing excess fluid. Magnesium strengthens the walls of arteries and capillaries, helps to reduce pressure. When using fragrant fruits, the blood thins, the risk of blood clots, the development of atherosclerosis, and acute ischemia decreases. Doctors recommend including kiwi in the diet for people suffering from heart pathologies.

Hematopoietic action

Sweet and sour berry helps to cope with anemia, as it is rich in iron, which increases the amount of hemoglobin.Due to the presence of actinidin, the use of fruits promotes the breakdown of fats, prevents the formation of blood clots, which occurs when blood coagulates rapidly.

Weight normalization

To lose extra pounds, it is not necessary to torture yourself with hunger, you need to eat kiwi instead of sweets. The berry speeds up the metabolism, has a laxative effect, contains a lot of fiber, rids the body of fats and toxins. Even if a person eats not one, but several fruits, he will not gain weight, they have very few calories.

Improve the functioning of the kidneys and digestive system

Pectins present in kiwi restore intestinal microflora after taking antibiotics, cause appetite. Fiber improves peristalsis, is involved in the secretion of enzymes. With regular fruit consumption:

Proteins are easier to digest.
Metabolism speeds up.
Diseases bloating, heartburn.

Kiwi promotes the excretion of s alts and excess sodium that accumulates in the body. The fruits prevent the formation of stones, cleanse the kidneys, and they begin to work better.

Positive effect on the nervous system

Kiwi restores lost sleep, reduces stress, helps fight emotional stress, copes with bad mood, calms nerves.

How Cancer Prevention

There are many different vitamins in kiwi, and three of them act as antioxidants, inhibit the activity of free radicals involved in oxidative processes and provoking the formation of malignant tumors. Regular consumption of the fruit helps prevent cancer.

Supports blood sugar levels

In the sweet and sour fruit, according to scientists, there are so many useful components that they can fully ensure the vital activity of the human body. The amount of fiber is several times higher than sugar, which allows you to reduce its level and maintain it in the normal range.

Use in cosmetology

Kiwi fruits are used not only in culinary recipes, for the prevention and treatment of diseases, tree vine berry extracts are part of products that are produced to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.

Kiwi masks

Vitamins, which the fruit is rich in, promote the production of collagen, renew cells, cleanse pores, improve blood circulation, and eliminate inflammation. To rejuvenate aging skin, kiwi pulp is mixed with the same amount of bee honey. The mass is applied to the face, after 20 minutes, washed off with water.

Narrow pores, eliminate oily sheen helps mask, which is made from crushed half of the fruit and raw protein. To soften and moisturize dry skin, kiwi is sent to a blender, then combined with sour cream and honey, applied for 15 minutes.

Pulp peeling

To get rid of blackheads, cleanse the face, pits and core are removed from kiwi and mixed with kefir. The mass must be squeezed out, applied to the skin in a thick layer, after rinsing, wipe with milk. Such peeling evens out the shade, narrows the pores.

You can moisturize tissues, remove comedones by combining cottage cheese with kiwi juice. The mixture is applied to problem areas, gently massaging. After 15 minutes, it is removed with a swab, along with which the softened plugs depart, dirt and sebum are drawn out.

Can I use

Is it good for everyone to eat kiwi, people with he alth problems, women who are carrying a child, nursing mothers are interested.

For diabetes

Although there is sugar in the fruits of the tree vine, they also contain enzymes that help eliminate toxins, burn fat, speed up metabolism, fiber regulates the amount of glucose. Doctors believe that you can and should eat kiwi for any type of diabetes.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Folic acid reduces the risk of miscarriage, promotes the mental development of the baby, prevents the appearance of defects in the nervous system. Doctors not only allow pregnant women to eat kiwifruit, but also advise them to eat not one, but 2 or 3 fruits, as they are rich in folic acid.

Vitamin C contained in berries strengthens the walls of blood vessels, iron copes with anemia, magnesium prevents the development of oxygen starvation in the fetus. Kiwi improves appetite, relieves the symptoms of toxicosis. Tree vine berries should be introduced into the baby's diet carefully and little by little. Until the baby is 6 months old, it is better for the mother not to risk the he alth of the child by enjoying an exotic fruit.

Harm and contraindications

Kiwi should not be consumed by people who suffer from allergies or are prone to such a disease. Fruits should not be eaten with a stomach ulcer, gastritis, because they contain a lot of organic acids that can cause irritation of the mucous membrane.

With an excessive passion for exotic berries:

rash develops;
skin turns red;
tormented by vomiting and nausea;
swelling face.

With an excess of potassium and vitamins, dermatitis develops, the pancreas suffers, digestion is disturbed, but such phenomena occur extremely rarely.