Background

• The kiwi fruit initially comes from China, but is now produced in New Zealand, the United States, Italy, South Africa and Chile.
• Kiwi is rich in vitamins C and E, serotonin and potassium and is purported to have antioxidant activity. Kiwi fruit is also known to have the highest density of vitamin C for any fruit, and is low in fat with no cholesterol. Claimed benefits of kiwi fruit, however, may be overshadowed by the growing number of reports of allergy.
• Kiwi has been used preventatively to protect against respiratory illness, increase lung function and increase cardiovascular (heart) health.
• Currently, there are no well-designed clinical trials regarding the efficacy of kiwi fruit; however, additional research may be warranted to investigate its use in prevention of respiratory conditions and in energy enhancement.

References

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