Organic kiwi fruit healthier...

Organic kiwi fruit is much healthier than its conventionally grown counterpart, a US study has concluded.

Researchers from University of California, Davis found that organic kiwi fruit had much higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidant activity.

Polyphenols help to reduce cholesterol and improve blood circulation, while antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals that can damage cells.

The study, which is published in the journal Chemistry and Industry, also revealed that organic kiwi fruit had higher levels of vitamin C.

Lead researcher Maria Amodio said: "It is possible that conventional growing practices utilize levels of pesticides that can result in a disruption of phenolic metabolites in the plant that have a protective role in plant defense mechanisms.

"All the main mineral constituents were more concentrated in the organic kiwi fruits, which also had higher ascorbic acid and total phenolic contents, resulting in a higher antioxidant activity.”