Kiwifruit contains a number of phytochemicals with protein digesting capacity. These proteases include actinidin, a cysteine protease which is found in high concentrations in Hayward green kiwifruit. Other kiwifruit such as Hort gold kiwifruit are devoid of actinidin. Researchers have assessed the ability of actinidin to digest the protein within a meal in healthy human subjects. In one study researchers administered a beef meal to volunteers along with either Hayward green kiwifruit or Hort gold kiwifruit. Subjects consumed 2 grams of kiwifruit daily for 14 days and then again after 100 grams of ground beef. The results of the study showed that the Hayward green kiwifruit had a significant protein digesting effect on the subjects that consumed them. This was represented by a significantly more rapid rise in the presence of amino acids in the blood. However, the total amount of amino acids absorbed remained the same between the two groups suggesting that other parameters of protein digestion had not been altered.
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