While the external appearance of Kiwi may not win every one, its delightful taste will captivate your senses. Beyond being a tasty addition to salads and snacks, kiwifruits have yet another reason to become a beloved part of your routine—they can be a valuable asset to your skincare. This unassuming fruit harbors immense benefits for your skin, potentially holding the secret to achieving a flawless complexion. If you’ve ever believed that revitalizing and beautifying your skin requires a significant financial investment, think again. Take a look into your fruit basket, and with some homemade kiwifruit face masks, you can discover an affordable and natural way to enhance the radiance of your skin. Dive into the following insights to unlock the potential of kiwifruits for your skincare regimen.
What is Kiwifruit?
Kiwi, known as kiwifruit or Chinese gooseberry, is a small egg-shaped fruit with fuzzy greenish-brown skin. Native to South China, the Kiwi was brought to New Zealand in 1904 by a schoolteacher (1), and since then, it has grown there wildly from June to October. It is also found in California, but the season is from November to May. Hence, the fruit can be available all year round. Kiwi has soft and watery flesh, which is bright green. Its peel and tiny black seeds are edible, but many prefer to discard the peel before consuming. The fruit’s sweet taste and tangy flavor make it a great addition to salads, smoothies, cocktails, salsas, etc. Being full of powerful nutrients, Kiwi packs plenty of health benefits while the same nutrients also help improve the health of our skin. (2)
Fresh kiwifruits are added to the daily diet either raw or as juice. Cooking kiwi is not recommended as it destroys its vitamin C content. Kiwi is also available in forms of powder, tablet, or capsule supplements.
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Nutritional Profile of Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit is a nutrient-dense powerhouse with a mere 42.1 calories per serving. A 69-gram kiwi is rich in dietary fibers (2.1 gm.) and brims with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Notably, it serves as an excellent source of vitamin C, providing a substantial 64 mg. Other vitamins present include folate (17.2 mcg.), vitamin E (1 mg.), vitamin K (27.8 mcg.), and more. In the mineral department, Kiwi boasts significant levels of calcium (23.5 mg.), magnesium (11.7 mg.), potassium (215 mg.), phosphorus (23.5 mg.), and copper (90 mcg.).
Beyond the well-known vitamins C and E, Kiwi offers a spectrum of antioxidants such as choline, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene. Additionally, the fruit contains trace amounts of vitamin A and iron. The impressive nutritional profile of kiwifruit makes it a delectable snack and a valuable addition to your diet for promoting overall health and well-being. (3)
Kiwi is one of the richest sources of vitamin C. It contains almost 3 times more vitamin C than oranges.
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Health Benefits of Kiwifruit
With so many nutrients in Kiwi, it is considered a magical fruit offering numerous health benefits. Following are the ways Kiwi supports our health:
1. Aids Asthma Treatment
Being loaded with antioxidants, Kiwi helps treat patients with respiratory ailments like asthma. Regular consumption of Kiwi may improve the functionality of the lungs and reduce wheezing in susceptible children (4). In addition, it has been found that vitamins C and E have strong protective effects on the lungs (5). Kiwi may also lower the extent of upper respiratory tract infections by enhancing innate and adaptive immune functions (6).
2. Improves Digestion
Kiwifruits have many dietary fibers that promote Digestion by addressing the two most common gastrointestinal issues, constipation and loose stools (7). They also come with a proteolytic enzyme called actinidin, which helps digest foods significantly by breaking down proteins (8).
3. Strengthens Immunity
Kiwi works wonderfully when it comes to boosting our immune system. It delivers almost 273% of our daily recommended vitamin C (9) value, essential for strengthening our Immunity and keeping diseases at bay. Antioxidants in Kiwi are also effective in triggering immune responses of the body in children and adults over 65 years, thereby protecting them from illnesses like colds, flu, etc. (10)
4. Prevents Chronic Diseases
Kiwi fights against oxidative stress by eliminating free radicals from our body with their high antioxidant content (11). This prevents the damage of cell DNA and reduces the risk of developing several chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.
5. Regulates Blood Pressure
A study conducted in 2014 revealed that the intake of 3 kiwifruits a day might keep hypertension away (12). The bioactive substances present in the fruit help lower blood pressure and manage their levels successfully. In the long run, this may also reduce platelet hyperactivity and levels of plasma lipids, which help keep the heart healthy (13). Potassium in Kiwi also plays a crucial role in protecting the heart from strokes or heart attacks.
6. Averts Blood Clotting
The extract of Kiwi comprises antiplatelet components. Hence, consuming 2-3 fruits a day may reduce the risk of blood clotting and other associated conditions to a large extent. (14)
7. Supports Vision Health
When consumed regularly, kiwifruits may help keep your eyes healthy by decreasing macular degeneration by up to 36% (15). They contain high levels of zeaxanthin and lutein, which are known to protect us from vision loss.
Skin Benefits of Kiwifruit
The nutrients in Kiwi are highly beneficial for our skin, too. Here is how the fruit makes the skin beautiful by contributing to its cells:
1. Smoothes Signs of Aging
Kiwi contains vitamin C, E, and several other antioxidants, along with several phytochemicals, which shield the skin cells from oxidative damage and delay aging (16). As a result, it wards off signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, etc., and rejuvenates the skin to give it a fresher look.
2. Boosts Elasticity of the Skin
The antioxidant vitamin C in Kiwi helps stimulate collagen production in our body (17). This increases the skin’s elasticity, making it soft, smooth, and supple.
3. Heals Acne and Breakouts
Kiwi can be a natural solution if your skin is prone to acne and breakouts. The fruit has strong anti-inflammatory properties that speed up the recovery of existing acne and prevent the formation of new ones (18).
10 Easy Kiwifruit Face Masks for Beautiful Skin
Now, here are the recipes for some easy homemade kiwifruit face masks that you should include in your skincare routine for incredible results:
1. Kiwi Fruit Pulp Mask
The pulp of kiwi fruit serves as an outstanding mask on its own. Peel the fruit and mash its pulp into a smooth paste. Apply the paste directly to the skin, leaving it on for 15 minutes before rinsing off. While you may experience a slight tingling sensation, the result is excellent, contributing to refreshed and revitalized skin.
2. Kiwi and Curd Mask
Peel the fruit and cut it into small pieces. Place those pieces in a jar with a small bowl of curd and blend to make a fine paste. Apply it to your face and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. Then, wash it off with lukewarm water. You’ll be amazed to see the glow of your skin.
3 . Lemon and Kiwi Mask
Transform one peeled Kiwi into a smooth pulp using a grinder. Incorporate a tablespoon of lemon juice and thoroughly mix to create your mask. Apply the mixture to your face, allowing it to dry before rinsing it with regular water. This mask is an excellent remedy for hyperpigmentation and blemishes, promoting a more even and radiant complexion.
4. Banana, Curd, and Kiwi Mask
Take a ripe banana, peel it, and mash it into a fine pulp. Add the pulp of one kiwifruit and a small bowl of curd. Blend all of them to make a thick paste. Apply it uniformly to your face and wait at least half an hour before washing it off with plain water. This is a fantastic mask for dry skin.
5. Almond, Gram Flour (Besan), and Kiwi Mask
Start with mashing a peeled kiwifruit into a smooth pulp. Add a tablespoon of gram flour (besan) and finely ground almond. Mix well to form a lump-free paste and apply it all over your face. This mask gives the best result when left on the skin for at least 30 minutes. Besan is a wonder skin cleanser as well as an exfoliant. When mixed with Kiwi and almonds, it beautifies the skin significantly.
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6. Kiwi and Avocado Mask
Mix kiwi fruit and avocado pulp one tablespoon each and prepare a creamy and smooth paste. Apply it thoroughly to your facial skin and wait 10 minutes before rinsing. This will give you soft, radiant, and rejuvenated skin in minutes.
7. Olive Oil, Kiwi, and Egg Yolk Mask
Take a kiwifruit, peel it, and mash it into a fine pulp. Add one egg yolk and ten drops of organic olive oil to blend nicely. It should form a sticky paste of medium consistency. Apply it to your face and rinse with tepid water after half an hour. This will leave your skin glowing beautifully.
8. Sandalwood and Kiwi Mask
Mix a tablespoon of sandalwood powder with a tablespoon of kiwi fruit pulp to form a smooth paste. Apply it evenly all over your face and wait until it dries. Then, wash off with lukewarm water. This sweet-smelling face mask will keep your skin cool, acne-free, and lighter.
9. Kiwi Juice and Olive Oil Mask
Extract the kiwifruit juice and add a tablespoon of organic olive oil. Blend to make a liquid face mask. Rub it gently on your skin using your fingertips and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, wash it off and apply your toner. Your skin will start looking healthy and invigorated instantly.
10. Kiwi and Strawberry Mask
Place one peeled kiwifruit, five strawberries, and half of a cucumber in a grinding jar and grind them to make a smooth paste of medium consistency. Apply it uniformly over your face and wait 20-30 minutes. Then, rinse with plain water. This skin revitalizing mask also works as a skin exfoliator.
Potential Risks of Kiwifruit
Consumption of Kiwi is considered safe unless you are allergic to it. It is also advised that you perform a patch test before the topical application of the fruit. Some common allergic reactions to kiwifruit include a swollen tongue, itchy throat, hives, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, etc.
Summary:
Kiwi or kiwifruit is a small egg-shaped fruit with fuzzy greenish-brown skin. It has a soft and watery flesh, which is bright green in color. Both its peel and small black seeds are edible, but many prefer to discard the peel before consuming. The sweet taste and tangy flavor of the fruit make it a great addition to salads, smoothies, fruit cocktails, salsas, etc. Kiwi comes loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which help in treating asthma, improving digestion, strengthening immunity, regulating blood pressure, averting blood clotting, preventing chronic diseases, supporting vision health, etc. The fruit also enhances the appearance of the skin by smoothing signs of aging, boosting elasticity of the skin, and healing acne and breakouts. When combined with a number of other skin-friendly natural ingredients, some amazing kiwifruit face masks are prepared that can give a bright and flawless skin easily. However, people with allergy to kiwi should stay away from it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can We Use Kiwi on Face Daily?
Kiwi is a natural ingredient that can be applied to the skin daily.
Is Kiwi Bad for Acne?
No. Instead, a kiwi in skincare helps combat acne, pimples, and breakouts, as the fruit has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Why Do Kiwis Burn My Mouth?
If a kiwi burns your mouth, it indicates that you are allergic to the fruit and should stop eating it immediately.
Is Kiwi Skin Edible?
Kiwi skin is edible and contains tons of dietary fibers, which are also suitable for our health.
Can a kiwifruit face mask be used to target specific skin concerns?
Yes, kiwifruit face masks can be tailored to address various skin concerns. For example, mixing with ingredients like yogurt or honey can cater to hydration, while combining with lemon juice can target brightening and hyperpigmentation.
Can I apply the kiwifruit face mask around the eye area?
Avoiding the delicate eye area when applying the kiwifruit face mask is recommended, as the skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive.
Are there any precautions to consider when using a kiwifruit face mask?
If you have known allergies to Kiwi or any additional ingredients, perform a patch test before completing the application. Also, avoid applying the mask to open wounds or irritated skin.
References:
- “The Nutritional and Health Attributes of Kiwifruit: A Review,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “7 Health Benefits of Kiwi“, Healthline.com
- “Kiwifruit, Green, Raw,” FDC.nal.usda.gov
- “Consumption of Fresh Fruit Rich in Vitamin C and Wheezing Symptoms in Children,” Thorax.BMJ.com
- “Children’s Lung Function and Antioxidant Vitamin, Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Intake,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Effects of Kiwifruit on Innate and Adaptive Immunity and Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Kiwifruit improves bowel function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation,” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Actinidin Enhances Gastric Protein Digestion As Assessed Using an in Vitro Gastric Digestion Model,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “An Investigation of Antioxidant Capacity of Fruits in Singapore Markets,” ScienceDirect.com
- “Kiwifruit: Our Daily Prescription for Health,” NRCResearchPress.com
- “Kiwifruit Protects Against Oxidative DNA Damage in Human Cells and In Vitro,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “The Effect of Kiwifruit Consumption on Blood Pressure in Subjects with Moderately Elevated Blood Pressure: A Randomized, Controlled Study,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Cardioprotective Properties of Kiwifruit“, NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Inhibitory Effects of Kiwifruit Extract on Human Platelet Aggregation and Plasma Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Activity,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Prospective Study of Intake of Fruits, Vegetables, Vitamins, and Carotenoids and Risk of Age-Related Maculopathy,” JAMANetwork.com
- “Antioxidant and ‘Natural Protective’ Properties of Kiwifruit,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “Effect of Vitamin C and Its Derivatives on Collagen Synthesis and Cross-Linking by Normal Human Fibroblasts,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
- “The Kiwifruit Peptide Kissper Displays Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects in In-Vitro and Ex-Vivo Human Intestinal Models,” NCBI.nlm.nih.gov
