Can You Eat the Skin of a Kiwi Fruit?
The taste of kiwi fruits is similar to a mixture of bananas, pineapples and strawberries, and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Not only is its flavor rich and tasty, the kiwi fruit also contains Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acid, Alfa-Linoleic acids and more. Can you eat kiwi fruit skin? The brown, fuzzy peel of the kiwi fruit is as edible as the fruit’s green flesh. In addition, the black seeds inside can also be eaten, so there should be no waste in eating this incredible fruit.
Though the outside of a kiwi might appear unappealing and unappetizing, you might be surprised that it is as rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as the kiwi flesh itself. The brown, fuzzy peel is perfectly edible and does not by itself contain harmful substances. Instead, it is rich in flavonoids, insoluble fibers, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties. In addition, the skin contains thrice the number of the antioxidants in the pulps, and also combats dreaded bacteria like Staphylococcus and E-coli.
Benefits of Kiwifruit Skin
Antioxidant – Strengthens Heart
Their skin has high levels of flavanoid compounds. These are antioxidants which protect our cells and recent epidemiological studies have shown it’s intake to help with heart disease and heart attacks, according to the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Oregon State University.
Helps with Constipation
According to Dr David Williams, patients have shown that eating 2-3 kiwi’s a day decreased constipation by improving bowel transit time.
May Help Prevent Colon Cancer
High levels of insoluble fiber, more commonly known as “roughage”. This type of fiber stimulates our intestines making food pass through more quickly which is key in not only helping to keep us regular and preventing constipation, but this fiber from the kiwifruit skin also picks up toxic waste from our digestive tract which some exports believe is helpful in the prevention of colon cancer.
Vital Enzymes
Enzymes play a huge role in digestion health, low levels of it can wreak havoc on the entire digestive system. In fact, we couldn’t stay alive without them. They are killed when the foods that cotton them are cooked with high heat therefore more raw food is required or alternatively a supplement.
Just a few of the many benefits of enzymes are – getting rid of toxic wastes, digesting food, purifying blood, and help keep low blood cholesterol levels.
Prebiotics - the Ultimate Probiotic Booster
Many people are aware of the importance of probiotics in our digestive system but what many aren’t aware of yet is they need to be feed with prebiotic foods to make them grow. The fiber in the kiwi skin is one of the best prebiotic foods that are able to feed these probiotics (good bacteria) and keep levels balanced in favor of the good bacteria over bad bacteria which must happen to maintain good health.
Precautions
Wash Properly before Eating
However, you should always remember to wash your kiwi fruit thoroughly before eating it. While raw kiwi fruit peel is edible and contains all these beneficial substances, it may also contain almost, if not all, pesticides used by the farmers in producing your fruit. And even if your kiwi fruit is grown organically, inedible debris like dust particles may have accumulated on the skin and thus necessitates washing.
Some people also get tickled down their throats by the hairy part of the peel. If you think you will as well, then you should remove the hairy layer first before eating the skin. This is also a helpful tip as most inedible debris, such as dust particles, accumulates on the skin during the course of your kiwi fruit’s voyage from the farm to your dining table.
Allergic Reactions
Some people are allergic to kiwi fruit and experience an itching in their mouths, lips and palate shortly after eating one. This is a mild reaction common among adults. However, young children can have a very severe reaction that may include heartburn, rashes, difficulty in breathing or more. The acnitidane in the kiwi fruit, which is also found in bananas, papayas, pineapples and latex, cause this allergic reaction.
Sources:
med-health.net
natural-digestion.com
Other links:
What are the Health Benefits of Watermelon Rind?
Great Health Benefits of Banana Peels
What are health benefits of persimmons?
