A kiwifruit is extraordinary rich in vitamin C, almost as much as 2 oranges and 3 lemons.
	In addition, it is filled to the brim with antioxidants and is rich in fibres. Did you know one ZESPRI® GREEN kiwifruit contains more fibres than 4 stacks of celery?
	This very healthy fruit in addition contains considerable amounts of potassium, almost as much as a banana.
	There is more vitamin E in a kiwifruit than in 2 apples.

KIWIFRUIT NUMBER ONE IN NUTRITIONAL DENSITY

Doctor Paul LaChance and his team analysed the seven most important nutrients in fruit, i.e. vitamin A, C and E, folic acid, potassium, magnesium and fibre - and discovered that kiwifruit is always in the top five.

The initial objective of the Rutgers Study was to prove that fruit constitutes an important component for a healthy diet and lifestyle. The study also revealed, however, that the modest kiwifruit is a nutritional power station.

Kiwifruit has the highest nutritional density level of all commonly eaten fruits. Nutritional density is one of the criteria that enables us to compare the nutritional value with the calorific value. It is calculated by converting the amount of food a person needs in a day in percentages and comparing this with the calories in this food. Nutritional food must have a density of 3 or more.

ANTIOXIDANTS AND OTHER HEALTHY BENEFITS

The study did not solely consider the traditional nutrients of fruit such as vitamins, minerals and fibres.

Other components such as phyto-chemical substances were also investigated. These chemical substances found in plants are interesting topics for scientific study because they work as antioxidants and can thus prevent cancer and other diseases or slow them down at an early stage.

Antioxidants slow down the effects of free radicals, i.e. virulent substances that effect vital membranes and upset the balance of enzymes, proteins and DNA. ZESPRI™ New Zealand Kiwifruit is very rich in vitamin E and vitamin C, two powerful antioxidant vitamins.

(1)Lachance P.A., Sloan A.E. “Fruits in Preventive Health and Disease Treatment. Nutritional Randking and Patient Recommendations” 38th annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition, New York. 27-09-1997.

EFFECT OF KIWIFRUIT ON SPORTING PERFORMANCE

A test was conducted recently with Chinese football players, long-distance runners and amateur sportsmen. These sportsmen drank a kiwi-based sports drink regularly while training in hot weather. A combination of kiwi juice and 5% carbohydrates ensured that their glucose levels were maintained during hard training sessions and they were able to sustain their efforts for longer.

Also, the normal blood-sugar level during a training of two and a half hours and the insulin levels of the sportsmen were not affected.

After a mineral supplement was added to the drink, no increased mineral levels were recorded in their perspiration. It can be deduced from this that the kiwi juice stimulates the absorption of minerals. The vitamin C levels in the sportsmen's blood even increased.

KIWIFRUIT PROMOTES LAXATION IN THE ELDERLY

Numerous anecdotal reports have suggested that kiwifruit has laxative effects. This could be an acceptable dietary supplement, especially for the elderly who often experience constipation.

The authors wished to obtain objective evidence as to whether or not regularly eaten kiwifruit could promote laxation in elderly people.Thirty-eight healthy adults over 60 years consumed their normal diet with or without one kiwifruit per 30 kg bodyweight for three weeks, followed by a crossover period. Daily records were taken on frequency of defecation, and characteristics of the stools.

Kiwifruit appeared to lead to bulkier and softer stool, as well as more frequent stool production. It is likely that a number of factors in the whole fruit are involved, but the nature of the stools suggests fibre is important.

(2)E.C. Rush, M. Patel, L.D. Plank, L.R. Ferguson. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2002; 11: 164-168