Also Known As The Chinese Gooseberry

Also known as the Chinese gooseberry, Kiwifruits owe their name to the Kiwi bird, native of New Zealand. In many regions of Europe, North America and South America, kiwifruits are generally referred to as "kiwi"

New research presented at the scientific meeting of the American Heart Association shows that eating three kiwis a day is linked with decreased blood pressure.

In the study, 118 men and women (over age 55) who all had slightly high blood pressure to either eat three kiwis a day for eight weeks, or to eat one apple a day for eight weeks.

After the study period, researchers found that the people who ate the kiwis had lower systolic blood pressure (by an average of 3.6 millimeters of mercury) than people who ate the apples.

Researchers said kiwis are lutein-rich, which means they have antioxidant properties. In past research, harmful free radicals (which antioxidants help to beat) have been linked with high blood pressure.

This fruit consists of a hairy, brown peel containing green flesh, with white pulp in the center, surrounded by black, edible seeds. The fruit has a sweet taste, similar to a mixture of banana, pineapple and strawberry. Kiwi fruits are native to China.

Nutrition-wise, kiwi fruits contain about as much potassium as bananas, and also contain 1.5 times the DRI for Vitamin C. It is also rich in Vitamins A and E, and its black seeds can be crushed to produce kiwi fruit oil, which is very rich in Alfa-Linoleic Acid, an important Omega-3 essential fatty acid. Usually a medium size kiwifruit contains about 46 calories.

A 2007 study by the United States Department of Agriculture also showed that kiwi fruits are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits, along with grapes and wild blueberries.

Studies have proven that kiwifruits are useful in improving conditions of asthmatic children, and in decreasing the probability of colon cancer by providing a good amount of dietary fiber

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Cardiologists were quick to caution that there is no single magic food or ingredient that is the key to heart health, but they all agreed that kiwi may have a place in the five daily servings of fruit and vegetables that are currently recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet.