Kiwi fruit thins blood
Thousands of people in the UK take aspirin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to thin the blood and reduce the risk of blood clots. New research suggests there may be drug-free way of reducing this risk. Researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway tested whether consuming kiwi fruit could alter the level of blood clotting in human volunteers. They found that consuming two or three kiwi fruit per day for 28 days significantly reduced blood clotting. While the precise mechanism for this action remains unclear these results indicate that consuming kiwi fruit may protect against cardiovascular disease.
Duttaroy AK, Jorgensen A. 2004. Effects of kiwi fruit consumption on platelet aggregation and plasma lipids in healthy human volunteers. Platelets. 15 (5) 287-292.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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