Kiwifruit

This traditional summer fruit favourite may have more health benefits than you first thought.

Kiwifruits are rich in folate and vitamin E. Plus, it has excellent vitamin C and fibre, and is currently a cheap snack for school or work lunches. (Eat this furry fruit if you can't afford strawberries, lemons, rockmelons or grapefruit.

In addition, it’s packed full of vitamins. In fact, one kiwifruit has four times the vitamin C of a cup of blueberries.

A powerful antioxidant

When it comes to antioxidants, kiwifruit come out top, even beating nutrient-rich citrus fruit, according to a recent study.

Kiwis contain more polyphenols than oranges and grapefruit, and the golden variety contain the most antioxidants, say scientists from Japan's Teikyo University. Participants ate three kiwifruit a day, then had their urine tested for antioxidant levels. Researchers say kiwifruit may help prevent the development of diseases caused by oxidative stress, such as heart failure, cancer and Parkinson's.

How kiwifruit fights hayfever

Kiwifruit contain more vitamin C, gram for gram, than oranges (especially the yellow
kiwifruit variety). Vitamin C is an effective natural anti-histamine and anti-
inflammatory, and it also supports healthy immune function and protects from
secondary respiratory conditions.

Nutritionist Lisa Guy says:

“Kiwifruit is a fantastic source of vitamin C, especially the yellow ones. They contain more vitamin C than oranges.”

Kiwi fruit also contain bioflavanoids, antioxidants that complement vitamin C’s effect
in the body and are potent anti-histamines and anti-inflammatories.

Try taking a vitamin C supplement with bioflavanoids, at a dosage of around 2g of
vitamin C and 1000mg of bioflavanoids a day.