Eating 2 familiar fruits a day can reduce the risk of cancer

There is a fruit that doctors highly appreciate for its ability to improve intestinal health and reduce the risk of cancer.

A fruit that can help prevent constipation and promote regular bowel movements, reducing the risk of cancer - Illustration photo

According to Fox News , Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston (USA), suggests "prescribing" two kiwis a day to patients to aid digestion, provide a large amount of vitamins and antioxidants, and reduce the risk of cancer.

Kiwi helps reduce the risk of cancer

“I’m usually hesitant to say there’s a miracle fruit that can cure all gut problems, but in some ways kiwi seems to outperform other familiar remedies like prunes or psyllium husks,” Pasricha shares.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one kiwi can contain up to 8 grams of fiber, which helps prevent constipation and promote regular bowel movements.

This "superfood" also contains actinidin, an enzyme that aids digestion by breaking down proteins. This enzyme is not found in many other foods.

Actinidin is so powerful that it is used industrially as a meat tenderizer, Pasricha wrote in The Washington Post recently, saying she favors kiwi over other high-fiber foods like prunes, which can cause bloating.

In a 2022 study, scientists from New Zealand, Italy, and Japan found that eating two kiwis a day helped participants have more frequent and complete bowel movements, while reducing abdominal pain, indigestion, and straining during bowel movements.

"Fiber helps improve digestive issues and constipation, adding bulk to stool to make it easier to move through the colon, while also softening stool to make it easier to eliminate," says nutritionist Robin DeCicco.

The study found that kiwi was more effective than psyllium husk — a supplement that Pasricha says has “long been king in the digestive world.”

Meanwhile, researchers in Norway found in 2011 that consuming kiwi helps prevent DNA breaks - which can lead to cancer development - and reduces triglycerides, which are linked to heart attack risk.

A 2023 study conducted in China also found that people who ate a lot of kiwi had a 13% lower risk of colorectal cancer.

These little kiwis are also packed with vitamins C, E and K and antioxidants – which are known to protect against cancer, heart disease and diabetes, according to Pasricha.

Build a balanced diet

Pasricha prefers to eat kiwis with the skin on, which contains more fiber, but she says this is not mandatory and encourages eating kiwis at any time of the day.

She recommends adding kiwis to a balanced diet that includes colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans, and consulting a doctor if you have bowel problems.

DeCicco suggests increasing the amount of kiwi in your diet by adding them to Greek yogurt with cinnamon, nuts, and berries; adding sweetness to a salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado; serving them with eggs; or blending them into a protein smoothie.

Nha Linh

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/loai-trai-cay-quen-thuoc-an-2-qua-moi-ngay-co-the-giam-nguy-co-ung-thu-20250714164404054.htm