Kiwi fruit an ideal source of vitamin C

MANILA, Philippines - Nowadays, people lead busy lifestyles that consequently affect their health due to stress and improper nutrition. To help their cope with the demands of the daily grind, the obvious solution would be to exercise, get enough rest and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, particularly those which are loaded with vitamin C because of its ability to boost immunity.

One fruit that’s consistently cited by nutritionists for its superior vitamin C content is kiwi fruit, considered the most nutrient-dense among all fruits.

Kiwi fruits contain a broad range of vitamins and minerals that are equal to, or slightly higher than, many other fruits. Indeed, it is the incredibly high vitamin C content of kiwi fruits that make it an ideal source for vitamin C.

While there are a number of kiwi fruits available in the market, it’s important to pick the ones that come from New Zealand, where the best kiwi fruits come from.

In New Zealand, ZESPRI is the most popular, as it grows its kiwi fruits in fertile volcanic soil, using artesian irrigation water from the country’s mountain ranges.

Each ZESPRI green or gold kiwi fruit contains tremendous amounts of vitamin C to help one stay healthy. In fact, studies show that ZESPRI gold kiwi fruit contains 120mg/100g of vitamin C while ZESPRI green kiwifruit offers 92.7mg/100g of vitamin C.

These are significantly higher than the vitamin C levels found in papaya (61.8), orange (53.2), pineapple (47.8), mango (36.4), banana (8.7), and apple (4.6).

Treasured for its antioxidant properties, vitamin C protects a number of enzymes involved in functions ranging from cholesterol metabolism to immune function. It destroys harmful free radicals that damage cells, which can lead to cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and perhaps, even aging.