Kiwano is fro
m South Africa and is known in several other countries such as New Zealand and Australia. This fruit has another name that is horned melon. However, the name ‘kiwano’ itself is because this fruit has a shape and taste similar to kiwi fruit.
Other names of this fruit are African Horned Cucumber, Jelly Melon, Blowfish Fruit and several other names. The taste of kiwano fruit is a blend of banana, cucumber, zucchini and kiwi flavors. Skin of kiwano fruit is yellow. Kiwano can grow naturally in fields and shrubs. Kiwano can thrive in soil that has a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius. Some countries have cultivated this fruit, including Indonesia.
What are the nutritional contents of kiwano?
- Protein
- Energy
- Water
- Lipid
- Carbohydrates
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Zinc
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Thiamin
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Folate
100 g kiwano fruit flesh also contains 1.13 mg of iron and 88 micrograms of beta-carotene. Kiwano fruit also has a high fiber content. Therefore, what are the health benefits of kiwano fruit? Look at the list below.
- Strengthen bone
The content of calcium, zinc, and some of the minerals in kiwano fruit are the much-needed contents to support bone health. In addition, because kiwano has this content, kiwano becomes one of the fruits that have benefits to overcome osteoporosis. Kiwano is also a fruit that supports the development and improvement of bone. Another way to strengthen bone is Benefits Of Exercise For Bone Health
- Smooth the digestive system
The high fiber content in kiwano fruit is beneficial for the digestive system. Some of the functions of fiber are to help peristaltic movement, protect bowel performance, cleanse digestion as well as avoid some digestive problems such as inflammation, constipation, cramps and also bloating.Â
- Maintaining eye health
One of the benefits of vitamin A is for eye health, isn’t it? Kiwano contains vitamin A. Vitamin A with this type of carotenoids acts as an antioxidant that will inhibit macular degeneration, cataracts, and various other eye problems. So, if you consume kiwano fruit, the health of your vision organs will be maintained.
- Increase body metabolism
Zinc content in this fruit has an important role that is to increase the body’s metabolism and produce proteins that are needed to heal wounds and improve cells, organs, muscle tissue and blood vessels.
- Help the diet program
When you run a diet program, your body needs a lot of mineral water. Kiwano fruit provides mineral water as much as 80% that support your diet program. If you eat kiwano fruit regularly every day, the benefits you can get are weight loss and feel full longer.
- As source of antioxidants
Kiwano fruit also contains alpha-tocopherol which is very beneficial for the health of the body. Antioxidants obtained from vitamin E in this fruit has an important role to maintain the health of nerves and blood vessels in our body. Kiwano fruit is also one of the fruits that can prevent cancer and heart disease because it has antioxidant content.Â
- Anti-aging and removing scars.
One of the benefits of kiwano fruit that you can get is to prevent premature aging so that your face looks youthful from the outside and inside. This is due to vitamin C, vitamin A and high antioxidants possessed by this fruit.
In addition, problems such as black spots and wrinkles on the face can also be overcome by this fruit. Consuming kiwano fruit on a regular basis can help remove your scars.
- Overcoming stress
How to relieve stress naturally is what people want to get now to avoid the Health Risks of Stress. A research that has been done about this kiwano fruit shows that kiwano contains hormone regulation system that can cope such as stress hormones and also adrenaline so that the burden in the mind can be reduced.
- Protects the performance of the brain
One of the health benefits of kiwano fruit is to nourish the brain. Because kiwano fruit contains vitamin E in high amounts and also has a high enough tocopherol content. So, eating these fruits regularly can help you to prevent some nerve-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Overcoming diabetes
Kiwano fruit is one of the fruits that can overcome diabetes. The content of kiwano fruit serves to lower cholesterol levels in the body so that diabetes problems can be overcome quite well. Chekc here to look the list of Medicinal Plants for Diabetes Treatment
- Healthful Heart
Seeds of kiwano fruit are rich in linoleic acid and unsaturated omega 6 fatty acids. The kiwano fruit also contains oleic acid. All of these contents are the ingredients that greatly support heart health and strengthen the heart muscle.
- Maintain muscle strength
To get strong muscles, one way you can do is to consume kiwano fruit. Why? Because kiwano fruit contains high enough potassium which works to increase muscle strength. You should know more about Benefits of Potassium For Health
- Fight free radicals
Kiwano fruit is very rich in antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin E also has high beta-carotene, which works to fight the bad effects of free radicals, such as prevent cancer. In addition, kiwano fruit can also prevent the occurrence of cell damage in the body.
- Overcoming the effects of sunburn
The sting from the sun is very dangerous for the body because it can cause the body to experience dryness and excessively removing the salt. The kiwano fruit contains high enough sodium and water that works to keep the salt balance in the body.
- Benefit for your hair
Consuming kiwano fruit on a regular basis can help keep your hair strong, fertile and not easily fall off. Kiwano fruit contains nutrients that support the health of your hair.
- Keep your skin healthy
Vitamin A, vitamin C and natural antioxidants and abundant organic compounds are provided by kiwano fruit to keep your body healthy. Kiwano is known to have the ability to protect the skin and reduce the spots due to aging and wrinkles. You must know the Vitamin A Benefits Apart For Eyes Vision
How to consume kiwano fruit?
Because there are many health benefits of kiwano fruit that we can get, certainly will make us impatient to consume them. The ripe kiwano fruit is orange. You can just eat directly kiwano fruit.
Another option using kiwano fruit is to add it to a fruit salad. You can also sprinkle this fruit seed on the meat you roast to replace cheese or mushrooms to create an exotic and striking look.
Kiwano fruit seeds can also be used to decorate a cocktail. You can replace the lime slices with this fruit seed before mixing it with another drink.
Things you need to consider when going to eat kiwano fruit :
Kiwano fruit that is not too ripe will have a bitter taste and has a chemical content that is quite harmful to our bodies. So, make sure you consume ripe kiwano fruit. Because when the fruit is ripe, the harmful substance will disappear by itself.