Kiwi fruit is a rich source of vitamin C.Apart from the common green color, kiwi also comes in gold and red shades along with different sizes. Kiwi is considered to be a nutritious and healthy snack.This fruit originated from the country of China and is also called the Chinese gooseberry. Currently, kiwifruit is grown in New Zealand and California too. It is a nutrient-rich fruit, with around 42 calories in one kiwifruit. Along with this, the kiwifruit also contains fiber, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium, beta carotene, folate, copper, phosphorous, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin E.Kiwis can be eaten in multiple ways. There is also a debate regarding the skin of the fruit as to whether you can eat it or not. Read on to discover tips as to how to eat kiwifruit.Once you finish reading this article, you might also be interested in reading our articles about how to use hair oil and how to use an abacus here at Kidadl.What does a kiwi look like?Each fruit has a different appearance that makes it unique. Bananas have long, slightly lean bodies, while watermelons are large rounded fruits. On a similar note, kiwis have a unique appearance too.The kiwifruit belongs to the berry species. Although sizes might vary by a bit, an average kiwifruit size is similar to that of a chicken egg. The body of a kiwi consists of its skin, flesh, and seeds. Kiwi skin is quite unique with its fuzzy texture. The skin is brownish in color, with soft hair-like fur covering it. Many people find the kiwi skin weird and are confused about whether it can be eaten or not.Meanwhile, the flesh of the kiwi fruit is a vibrant green color. The flesh of a ripe kiwi is extremely juicy and citrusy. Black seeds are embedded in the flesh, which surrounds a white core that is tender to the touch. Each body part of the kiwi fruit, be it the fuzzy skin or the tender core, is edible.However, you should check before you consume a kiwifruit or buy it to see if it is ripe or not. Unripe kiwis will be hard to the touch, while a ripe kiwi will give a bit under slight pressure on its skin. If the kiwi is unripe, you can store it in a ziplock bag or a brown paper bag along with an apple or a banana for a couple of days to ripen it.Health Benefits Of A KiwiA kiwi isn’t just a sweet and juicy fruit; it is also packed with vitamins and minerals. There are many health benefits of eating kiwifruits. Some of these health benefits are listed below.Eating kiwi can greatly help with digestion. The high fiber and water content of the fruit can help to regulate bowel movements and also help with constipation. Kiwis also contain an enzyme known as actinidin which aids in the breaking down and digestion of various proteins. Another health advantage of eating this fruit is that it can help in the treatment of asthma.The vitamin C and antioxidants present in a kiwi can have positive effects on the functioning of the lungs of people suffering from asthma. Moreover, along with other fresh fruits, eating kiwi can also reduce wheezing among children susceptible to this illness. The vitamins in a kiwi can also boost the immune system, while the antioxidants can improve skin health. Antioxidants are substances that hinder the process of oxidation, which creates free radicals that damage the cells of an organism.Kiwis can also help to regulate our blood pressure. The bioactive substances in a kiwi can lower blood pressure if three of them are eaten in a single day. If you consume kiwis for a long time, they cannot only help in managing the blood pressure levels but also reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.Even the skin of the kiwi fruit is quite beneficial. Kiwi skins have a high amount of fiber, folate, and vitamin E in them. The fiber intake can greatly increase the good bacteria in your gut. While folate is good for cell growth, vitamin E has antioxidant properties, which can reduce the cell damage caused by free radicals.However, there can also be dangers of eating kiwi. It can be a danger for those with a kiwifruit allergy which can cause hives, itchy throat, swollen tongue, vomiting, and trouble swallowing.Ways To Eat A KiwiThere are various ways to eat kiwi properly. Many fruits are enjoyed as they are in their true form, or they can also be blended in a blender to make juice and or added to other recipes to combine more tastes. Listed below are some of the ways to eat kiwi.A very natural way to eat a kiwi fruit is similar to eating an apple, which is to bite right into it after you wash it with water. Always remember to wash fruits and vegetables before you eat them, as dirt or germs can be sitting on their skin. And yes, you can eat kiwi skin too. This way, you can eat a kiwi without a knife.However, many people find it uncomfortable to eat the skin of this fruit due to its fuzzy brown texture. You can try to eat the skin after washing the fruit, or you can lightly scrape the skin with a spoon to remove the fuzziness and make it smooth. You can gently rub the skin with a clean towel or a vegetable brush to smooth it out.Another way to consume kiwis is to cut one end of the fruit with a knife and then scoop out the flesh with a spoon. This way, you can also eat the core of a kiwi. Furthermore, you can also consume the fruit by peeling it. You can peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler easily. The peeled kiwi can then be eaten as it is, or it can be cut into slices.Interestingly, a peeled kiwi slice can be used as a garnish for certain recipes of food. One such food recipe can be a delicious kiwi smoothie. You can slice a kiwifruit and put it in a blender to make it a juice and then also add milk or cream to it. Another process is to add other fruits to kiwi juice to make it more delicious and flavorful. Kiwi can also be eaten with yogurt. Add a scoop of sliced kiwi to a cup of yogurt, and you have got yourself a healthy snack.What does a kiwi taste like?Kiwifruit can be sweet, or it can be tart. The fruit can also taste half sweet and half tart.The taste of this fruit depends on whether it is ripened or not. A ripe kiwifruit will mostly taste sweet when you take a bite of it. And if it is unripe, it can feel sour on your tongue. Therefore, an important tip while buying kiwifruit or even other fruits is to always check for the ripened ones. If, by chance, you get an unripe kiwifruit, then ripen it by placing it in a paper bag with a banana or an apple for a few days.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our facts about how to eat a kiwi, then why not take a look at how to make a waterfall, or how to tell if silver is real?
Kiwi fruit is a rich source of vitamin C.
