Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, kiwi fruit is known for its benefits to the whole body. A recent study has shown that eating two kiwis a day also reduces gum inflammation.
The kiwi is a fruit with soft, juicy flesh, bright green or golden yellow in colour, with a sweet and slightly tart flavour. It is extremely rich in vitamin C and many other nutrients that are important for our health.
Because it is rich in soluble fibre, kiwi is often recommended to aid digestion, improve intestinal transit and prevent constipation.
The vitamin C it contains is also a powerful antioxidant whose ability to neutralise free radicals makes kiwi a secret weapon against ageing. In fact, kiwi contains almost twice as much vitamin C as oranges and lemons, and is second only to currants!
Eating kiwi regularly therefore helps keep cells younger and strengthens the immune system.
Kiwi also contains vitamin E and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which thin the blood and improve the general condition of the arteries.
An Italian clinical study, recently published in the Journal of Periodontology, the journal of the American Academy of Periodontology, showed that eating two kiwis a day also significantly reduces gum inflammation in people with gum and periodontal disease, even without periodontal treatment or any change in the patient's behaviour.
The study looked at two groups of patients, before and after treatment for periodontitis. The first group was asked to eat two kiwis a day for 5 months, while the second group, the control group, ate no kiwis.
For the first two months the patients received no treatment. At the end of the 2nd month they underwent periodontal treatment, with cleaning below and above the gumline. Blood tests to assess systemic biomarkers and vital signs were carried out both at the end of the 2nd month and at the end of the 5th month.
Comparing the test and control groups showed that 2 months of eating kiwi, without any therapy, produced significantly lower values for bleeding (down by 6.67% ± 11.90%), plaque and attachment loss.
After treatment both groups showed significant clinical benefits; however, the control group showed a marked reduction in bleeding, plaque and attachment loss compared with the test group. Systemic biomarkers and vital signs showed no clinically relevant differences between the test and control groups.
Further proof of how much diet affects the wellbeing of our body as a whole, and of how you can keep your smile healthy for longer through what you eat!
Source: Graziani F, Discepoli N, Gennai S, Karapetsa D, Nisi M, Bianchi L, Rosema NAM, Van der Velden U, The effect of twice daily kiwifruit consumption on periodontal and systemic conditions before and after treatment: A randomized clinical trial. J Periodontol 2018 Mar 89(3):285-293.
