These fuzzy fruits are powerhouses of antioxidants and fiber with the nutrients essential for recovery and making the most of the time you spend training.

 

Pick the right one

When a kiwifruit is ripe, it will give slightly to pressure when it’s squeezed between your thumb and forefinger. Store ripe kiwis in the refrigerator.

 

Heart health

A strong heart and cardiovascular system is vital to great workouts. Keeping your ticker healthy requires proper nutrition. Kiwifruit is a good source of potassium, which has heart-healthy benefits and helps control your blood pressure.

Plus, research in Platelets showed people who eat this fruit have decreased blood triglycerides (fats) and a decreased risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

 

Eyes on the prize

Hand-eye coordination is vital for sports. Keeping your eyes healthy can be as easy as having kiwi as one of your daily fruit servings. A study in Archives of Ophthalmology showed that eating three servings of fruits per day can decrease the risk of macular degeneration (loss of vision because of damage to the retina) by 36%.

 

Cell protection

Intense training causes cell damage, recovery from which is indispensable to making the most of future workouts. Kiwifruit has compounds that protect the DNA in your cells, which could aid faster recovery.

 

Serving suggestion:

Kiwifruit salsa is an easy way to get the nutrients you need. Mix the following ingredients together and serve with a chicken or fish taco or quesadilla:

3-4 kiwis, peeled and diced
1 tomato, diced
1 tsp green chilli
2 tbsp green onions, sliced
1 tbsp cilantro
1 garlic clove