Antioxidant power of kiwi fruit; study

Not all fruits are created equal when it comes to their antioxidant powers in the body: kiwifruit is among the highest in bioavailability compared to other antioxidant-rich fruits and berries, acccording to a recent small-scale study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Antioxidants include vitamins and phytochemicals called flavonoids that may have the power to neutralize unstable molecules, free radicals, which may be linked to chronic disease and aging. Consumption and increased absorption of antioxidants may help prevent certain types of cancer, heart disease and signs of aging. Antioxidant-dense foods, like kiwifruit, are increasingly gaining popularity with consumers who look for health via natural and functional foods in addition to medicine.

Researchers at the US Department of Agriculture's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock performed a comparison study between kiwifruit, red grapes and strawberries which showed the antioxidants in kiwifruit to be the most easily metabolized and absorbed into the bloodstream. Ronald Prior and his team measured the antioxidants in the body by noting increases in blood antioxidant capacity and cells' increased resistance to oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide.