Two Green Kiwifruits a Day May Improve Digestive Health and Relieve Constipation: Study

Could eating just two kiwifruits a day help relieve constipation and improve gut health? A new scientific review suggests that regular consumption of green kiwifruit may improve bowel movements, soften stools and reduce digestive discomfort among adults experiencing chronic constipation.

Published in the journal Food, Nutrition and Health, the narrative review conducted by researcher Yohei Okawa at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, examined the potential benefits of kiwifruit for functional constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C).

Researchers reviewed scientific literature published between January 1984 and June 2026, identifying 33 relevant publications covering clinical trials, nutritional studies and possible digestive mechanisms.

Kiwifruit contains dietary fibre, water, sorbitol, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds that may support intestinal function.

The review highlighted an international randomised crossover trial involving 184 adults, including 60 with functional constipation, 61 with IBS-C and 63 healthy participants.

Participants consumed either two green kiwifruits daily or 7.5 grams of psyllium, a commonly used fibre supplement.

The findings revealed that consuming kiwifruit increased complete spontaneous bowel movements by approximately 1.53 per week among participants with functional constipation and 1.73 per week among those with IBS-C.

Importantly, participants also reported improvements in gastrointestinal comfort.

Researchers suggested that the fruit's fibre helps increase stool bulk and retain water, while its natural sorbitol and other compounds may contribute to softer stools and easier bowel movements.

Comparative studies found that kiwifruit produced broadly similar benefits to established dietary options such as psyllium and prunes, with favourable tolerability in some trials.

However, the review noted that evidence remains strongest for fresh green kiwifruit, while the effectiveness of other varieties and supplements is less certain.

The findings suggest that consuming two green kiwifruits daily for approximately four weeks may be a useful dietary approach for managing constipation, although it should complement rather than replace appropriate medical treatment.

REFERENCE: Okawa, Y. (2026). Kiwifruit for constipation and gastrointestinal comfort: Mechanisms, clinical evidence, and remaining research gaps. Food, Nutrition and Health. 3, 42. DOI: 10.1007/s44403-026-00088-7