The benefits and harms of kiwi
A delicious exotic fruit that came to us from China is called kiwi. Its unusual tropical taste and beneficial properties have brought this fruit enormous popularity. Both adults and children love it, but few people know that not all people can eat kiwi.
Contents
Benefits of kiwi
Containing a unique complex of vitamins, kiwi is a healthy and valuable fruit.
It contains a large amount of vitamin C, which is necessary to strengthen human immunity. By eating 1 kiwi a day, you can protect your body from various infections. 
This fruit also contains potassium, which helps strengthen the heart muscles and improves its activity. Therefore, when consuming kiwi, the possibility of a heart attack is reduced.
Kiwi benefits not only the internal organs. It also nourishes the skin, hair and nails with vitamin E. In this regard, it is actively used for cosmetic purposes.
The pulp of the fruit moisturizes and rejuvenates the skin, smoothing it. By making masks from the fruit, you can get rid of acne and age spots.
Using kiwi to normalize the condition of your hair will result in improved hair growth due to the production of natural collagen. The pulp also slows down the appearance of gray strands.
Regular consumption of green fruit will help in stressful situations, as it affects the nervous system and improves sleep.
Kiwi contains folic acid, which promotes the production of serotonin, the so-called joy hormone, in the human body. By consuming this sweet fruit, you can improve your mood and get out of depression. 
Kiwi has a positive effect on health:
- normalizes blood pressure;
- reduces cholesterol levels;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels and makes them elastic;
- improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
- is able to normalize blood clotting.
This fruit is also a dietary product that contains a minimum amount of calories. Therefore, it is successfully used for losing weight. Eating an exotic fruit helps burn fat due to the enzymes it contains. Kiwi also contains a lot of plant fiber. It can be safely used during snacks. Due to its low sugar content, it can be consumed by people with diabetes.
The fruit contains the enzymes lutein and zeaxanthin, which makes it beneficial for eye health. These enzymes improve vision and are used as a preventive measure against the development of cataracts.
Regular consumption of kiwi is also an effective prevention against anemia.
Harm of kiwi
The benefits of kiwi for the body are enormous, but it can also cause harm. Therefore, it is recommended not to abuse this fruit and limit yourself to a couple of pieces per day. Moreover, the optimal time for eating kiwi is half an hour before or after the main meal.
Allergy sufferers should avoid eating kiwi because it can provoke a reaction in the form of suffocation, swelling of the tongue and dermatoses of the larynx.
Kiwi contraindications
Kiwi consumption is contraindicated for people with high stomach acidity. It is also not recommended for diseases such as gastritis and ulcers.
The content of a large amount of water in kiwi leads to a load on the body's excretory system. Therefore, it should not be eaten by people with kidney disease. 
Kiwi has a laxative effect, which makes its use undesirable during food poisoning.
At what age can children eat kiwi?
Until the baby reaches 6 months of age, kiwi should not be introduced as complementary food in any form. This can cause digestive upset or an allergic reaction, which can lead to swelling of the larynx.
It is not recommended to give this fruit to children under 1 year of age. If parents still decide to give kiwi a try, then it is better to introduce it after the baby tries banana. At this age, kiwi can be a salvation if your baby has problems with constipation.
From 1 year to 3 years, kiwi is also not recommended for consumption. If you give it, then no more than 2 slices of pulp or 2 teaspoons of puree per day, no more than once a week. You need to carefully monitor your child’s reaction after eating kiwi. If the first signs of an allergic reaction or digestive upset appear, you should immediately stop giving him this fruit.
In the period from 3 to 5 years, the baby can be given half of the peeled fruit no more than once a week. But some pediatricians still do not recommend giving kiwi to children even at this age. 
After a child turns 5 years old, he can eat this exotic fruit once a week, no more than 1 piece.
Each parent decides when exactly to start introducing their child to this fruit. You need to look at the individual characteristics of the baby.
When starting to give kiwi to your child, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- When introducing fruit, you need to let the child lick it, then monitor the reaction of the skin near the lips. If there is no swelling or redness, you can continue feeding.
- To exclude an allergic reaction, a month before introducing kiwi, you should introduce a banana.
- For children under 1 year of age, it is preferable to give this fruit in the form of puree. Then you can switch to slices, halves, and then you can give the whole fruit.
- When giving kiwi juice, it should be diluted with water.
- To prevent oversaturation of the child’s body with vitamin C, you need to limit foods containing large amounts of ascorbic acid on this day.
Kiwi during pregnancy
Sweet fruits can be consumed during pregnancy without fear, as they will not harm either the expectant mother or the child. But you should observe moderation and limit yourself to 2-3 fruits per day. It should also be excluded from the diet if there are contraindications. 
Moderate consumption of kiwi will saturate the pregnant woman’s body with useful substances that will have a beneficial effect on the baby’s health.
By content folic acid, necessary for a pregnant woman to successfully carry a baby in the early stages, kiwi is in 2nd place, losing the first position to broccoli.
Eating several juicy fruits a day will significantly reduce the likelihood of anemia in the expectant mother.
Kiwi will also help cope with toxicosis. To get rid of nausea in the morning, you need to eat half a fruit on an empty stomach.
If a pregnant woman tries this fruit for the first time, she should do so carefully. Since kiwi can cause allergies. Therefore, it is recommended that after eating a small piece, wait and see how the body reacts.
