Do you ‘Kiwi?’

Boost your Immunity

With the change of season, it is always prudent to increase your immunity levels with a Vitamin C boost. But before you reach for the vitamin bottle, there ARE ways to increase your Vitamin C intake naturally, and one way is to eat plenty of Kiwi fruit.

And why not? Not only are they considered to be the most nutrient dense of over 20 commonly enjoyed fruits, but they are so delicious, it is almost as if you are eating a sweet dessert, without the fat, and for only 100 Calories per serve. The perfect snack.

Once known as the Chinese gooseberry, its name was changed during the 1950’s presumably because it grew prolifically in the “shaky isles” and resembled the Kiwi, is prolific a small flightless bird that inhabits New Zealand’s shores. ( both are small brown and furry!)

 Nutritional Benefits

Two kiwi fruits have TWICE the Vitamin C content of an orange, as much POTASSIUM as a banana, (30 % of the recommended daily intake of potassium  which is essential for lower blood pressure and if you are taking prescribed diuretic medication) and, the FIBRE of a bowl of wholegrain breakfast cereal!

Availability

Harvesting kiwifruit in Australia begins in April and continues to the end of May. And that is the best time for eating, which generally coincides with a lot of coughs and colds doing the rounds of the community.

Shelf life will increase if Kiwi fruit are kept refrigerated.

Recipe – Kiwi Salsa

If you don’t have a sweet tooth: Kiwis can be used in savoury dishes like this one from Allrecipes.com

Something to munch on today!