Golden kiwifruit for colds

Posted on Sat, 10 Nov 12

A study in elderly people has found that regularly eating Golden kiwifruit may be an effective way to boost nutritional status and reduce the severity of respiratory infections.

To see if Golden kiwi fruit could reduce upper respiratory tract infections a group of older age adults (>65 years) ate either four kiwifruit, or two bananas for 4 weeks. Sure enough the kiwi fruit, a rich source of vitamin C and other phytonutrients, significantly reduced the severity and duration of head congestion, and the duration of sore throat.

Gold kiwifruit also significantly increased plasma vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations, folate concentrations, and significantly reduced oxidative stress.

Eating gold kiwifruit appears to be a novel way to reduce the burden of upper respiratory tract infections in older individuals commented the study investigators.

It is also worth noting kiwifruit may help keep you regular too.

Reference:

Hunter DC, Skinner MA, Wolber FM, Booth CL, Loh JM, Wohlers M, Stevenson LM, Kruger MC. Consumption of gold kiwifruit reduces severity and duration of selected upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and increases plasma vitamin  C concentration in healthy older adults. Br J Nutr. 2012 Oct;108(7):1235-45.