Kiwis: Nature's Adrenal Ally

One of the things I enjoy most about learning about fruit is discovering how each variety supports the body in its own way.

Some fruits are especially hydrating. Others provide healthy fats, digestive enzymes, or unique antioxidants. Kiwi stands out because it’s one of the richest whole-food sources of vitamin C, a nutrient the adrenal glands use every day.

Dr. Robert Morse often reminds us that fruit gives the body what it recognizes. Anthony William also speaks highly of kiwi, particularly for people experiencing ongoing stress. While their teachings aren’t identical, they both encourage returning to fresh, whole fruit as a foundation for health.

Where Kiwis Grow

Although kiwi is closely associated with New Zealand, it actually originated in China, where it grew wild for centuries.

In the early 1900s, kiwi vines were introduced to New Zealand, where growers began cultivating the fruit commercially. The fruit was eventually renamed after the kiwi bird, and the name has remained ever since.

Today, kiwis are grown throughout New Zealand, Italy, Greece, Chile, France, Japan, California, and several other regions with mild climates. They grow on climbing vines and are harvested while still firm, allowing them to ripen naturally after picking.

Why Kiwis Support the Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys, but they have an important job. They produce hormones that help regulate energy, metabolism, blood pressure, inflammation, and our response to stress. Every busy day, every late night, every illness, and every emotionally challenging season asks something of these glands.

Vitamin C plays an important role in that process.

Researchers have found that the adrenal glands contain some of the highest concentrations of vitamin C anywhere in the body. They rely on it to produce hormones and to help protect the glands from oxidative stress.

One medium kiwi provides more vitamin C than an orange, along with potassium, folate, vitamin K, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. Eating kiwi regularly gives the body access to nutrients it already uses as part of its normal daily functions.

Dr. Morse, Medical Medium, and Kiwi

If you’ve spent time learning from Dr. Robert Morse, you’ve probably noticed that fruit is at the center of many of his teachings. He describes fresh fruit as one of the best foods for supporting the lymphatic system because of its water content, natural fruit acids, minerals, and astringent qualities. His work encourages creating an internal environment where the body can cleanse and repair itself naturally.

Anthony William also recommends kiwi as a supportive food for the adrenal glands. In Life-Changing Foods, he explains that kiwi’s high vitamin C content makes it an excellent fruit for people dealing with ongoing stress, and he often includes kiwi in his adrenal-supportive snack combinations.

Kiwi and Digestion

Kiwi also supports healthy digestion.

It contains a naturally occurring enzyme called actinidin, which helps break down proteins during digestion. Combined with its fiber and water content, kiwi contributes to comfortable digestion and healthy elimination.

Digestive health influences so many other systems in the body. Supporting digestion with whole foods is one of the simplest habits we can build over time.

Kiwi and Detoxification

Our bodies are constantly processing and eliminating waste through the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system.

Kiwi contributes to these natural detoxification pathways by providing vitamin C, antioxidants, water, and fiber. Vitamin C also plays a role in Phase II liver detoxification, where compounds are prepared for elimination from the body. One of the reasons I appreciate fruit so much is that it works in harmony with the body. Every fruit offers its own combination of nutrients, and kiwi contributes in a way that’s both simple and practical.

A Wonderful Fruit for Children

Kiwi is also a fruit I enjoy offering to my kids. Atlas in particular is just obsessed with kiwi.

Its sweet-tart flavor, soft texture, and bright green color make it fun to eat. Cutting a kiwi in half and handing a child a spoon is really all the preparation it needs. Atlas likes banana-strawberry-kiwi smoothies.

Children benefit from eating a wide variety of fruit because every fruit provides something different. Kiwi offers vitamin C, fiber, water, and antioxidants in a form that’s easy to enjoy, whether it’s added to a fruit salad, blended into a smoothie, or eaten on its own.

The Heart Chakra

In energy healing traditions, kiwi is associated with the Heart Chakra because of its beautiful green color.

The Heart Chakra is connected with compassion, forgiveness, love, connection, and emotional balance. Green foods are often associated with this energy center, making kiwi a lovely fruit to include if you enjoy bringing both nutrition and energetic practices into your daily life.

Interesting Facts About Kiwi

Although we simply call them “kiwis,” their original name was the Chinese gooseberry.
Despite its fuzzy skin, kiwi is classified as a berry.
The tiny black seeds are completely edible.
Italy is one of the world’s largest producers of kiwi fruit.
A single kiwi provides more than 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.

Final Thoughts

The more I study fruit, the more respect I have for how thoughtfully each variety has been designed by nature and humans together.

Kiwi offers an impressive combination of vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, and digestive enzymes. It’s easy to add to breakfast, smoothies, fruit bowls, or enjoy on its own.

References

Aune, D., Giovannucci, E., Boffetta, P., Fadnes, L. T., Keum, N., Norat, T., Greenwood, D. C., Riboli, E., Vatten, L. J., & Tonstad, S. (2017). Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. International Journal of Epidemiology, 46(3), 1029-1056.

Morse, R. (2017). The Detox Miracle Sourcebook (4th ed.). New Life Publishing.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2024). Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/

Stonehouse, W., Gammon, C. S., Beck, K. L., Conlon, C. A., von Hurst, P. R., Kruger, R., & Coad, J. (2013). Kiwifruit: Our Daily Prescription for Health. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 91(6), 442-447.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2025). FoodData Central: Kiwifruit, Green, Raw.

William, A. (2018). Medical Medium: Life-Changing Foods. Hay House.