One Kiwifruit a Day Keeps Scurvy Away

A new study indicates that kiwifruit is one of the best fruit sources of vitamin C.

Kiwifruit provides the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C and is being favored over oranges for this purpose, according to recent research published in the Journal of Nutritional Science.

The kiwi fruit is a small fruit with a brown skin and a golden or green inner part with small black seeds. This fruit, grown in countries like New Zealand, Italy, Chile, Greece and France, has been known for its nutritional content. It is not only fat free, but is rich in fiber and nutrients like potassium, magnesium, folate, zinc, vitamin E, lutein and antioxidants.

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Recent research suggests that kiwifruit is a very rich source of vitamin C, and may be preferred even over oranges to meet the daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for various metabolic processes of the body. Deficiency of vitamin C results in scurvy, a condition once common in sailors. Symptoms of scurvy include bleeding gums, brittle bones and growth retardation.

The recent research suggests that eating one kiwifruit a day provides the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and results in a healthy vitamin C level, while optimum levels are achieved by eating two kiwifruits a day. The kiwifruit has been found to provide more vitamin C than a daily orange.

The study would be more applicable to the Indian context if a direct comparison was made between kiwifruit and the local, richest source of vitamin C, i.e. amla or Indian gooseberry. The cost considerations would also have to be kept in mind while making this comparison.

Fruitarian Diet
Fruitarian diet is composed of more than 50 percent of fruits. A variety of fruits can be included in your diet and the type of fruitarian diet varies among fruitarians.

References:

1. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10845047