Can You Eat the Skin of a Kiwi Fruit?

While bananas and apples are common options for people looking to add more fruit to their diet, the kiwi fruit should absolutely be part of your weekly rotation. A single fruit contains a number of important vitamins and minerals, including potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K and beta carotene.

Read more: What Are the Benefits of Eating Kiwi Fruit?

Also called the Chinese gooseberry, the kiwi fruit originated in China before making its way to New Zealand. Now, however, it's grown all around the world, including South Africa and Chile. The majority of the kiwi fruit in America is grown in California.

Kiwi fruits are quite small, with black and white seeds and a soft green center. They're relatively sweet with a tangy aftertaste and are available year-round at most grocery stores. Eating the fruit fresh will help you gain all the nutritional benefits.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one whole kiwi consists of 45 calories, 1 gram of protein, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 30 milligrams of calcium and 69 milligrams of vitamin C. The recommended amount of vitamin C for a young adult is 75 milligrams per day, so one kiwi provides almost the entire daily requirement and almost twice the amount found in oranges.

A 2018 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition determined that regular consumption of the kiwi fruit aids in digestion and has positive implications on common digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome.

A 2011 study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition also stated that consuming two kiwi fruits before bed resulted in better sleep. These studies clearly show that the kiwi fruit can help in a range of different health conditions, several of which might not have been studied yet.

There is no limit to the number of kiwi fruits you can consume per day, but if you have an insulin sensitivity, it might be best to consume only one to two a day, due to their high sugar content.

Read more: Fiber in Kiwi Fruit

Kiwi fruit can be eaten raw — in smoothies, as a yogurt topping, chopped into salads or even on its own as a snack. It's best not to cook the kiwi, because that can affect the vitamin C content.

While some believe they have to remove the skin of the kiwi fruit to eat it, in reality, the skin of the fruit is entirely edible, accounting for a high concentration of nutrients such as vitamin E, folate and fiber. In fact, by eating the kiwi fruit with skin, you'll be getting 50 percent more fiber.

Read more: Kiwi & Cholesterol

While the fuzzy skin may not look enticing, it actually doesn't taste bad at all, so don't be fooled. If you're not a fan of the texture, rubbing it with a towel can help remove the fuzz, while blending the entire fruit in a smoothie can help remove the strange mouthfeel.