Kiwi: Add it to Your List of Heart Healthy Fruits

I don’t think we’ve ever written about kiwi before, but it’s summer and time for exotic, juicy fruits, so, check this out. . . .

Elevated fibrinogen is associated with platelet aggregation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol are also causally linked to cardiovascular disease. This new study offers evidence that eating kiwis can improve all of these cardiovascular risk factors as well as improving insulin resistance.

The study included 1,469 people. Some of them ate one or more kiwis a week and some ate less than one kiwi a week. The ones who ate one or more kiwis a week had significantly lower fibrinogen and triglycerides and significantly higher HDL cholesterol: all good things for the heart. The ones who ate the kiwis also had better measurements for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

The ones who ate the most kiwis had the highest levels of heart healthy HDL cholesterol and the lowest levels of triglycerides, fibrinogen and insulin resistance compared to occasional kiwi eaters and non-kiwi eaters.

This study adds kiwi to the list of healthy fruits to enjoy!

Nutr J 2015;14:97

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For more on healthy eating and heart health, see Linda’s newest book, The All-New Vegetarian Passport: a comprehensive health book and cookbook all in one.