Kiwi As a Blood Thinner

Kiwi fruit are very nutritious, with each fruit providing 3 g of fiber, 1 g of protein, 120 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and small amounts of other vitamins and minerals, while only containing 45 calories. However, if you are taking blood thinners you should not consume large amounts of kiwi fruit.

Vitamin K and Blood Thinners

If you take blood thinners, you need to keep your vitamin K intake stable around the recommended daily intake of 90 mcg per day for women and 120 mcg per day for men. This is because vitamin K interacts with blood thinners. Consuming too much vitamin K can cause the blood thinners to be ineffective, and consuming much lower amounts of vitamin K could cause blood thinners to be too effective.

Kiwi and Vitamin K

Kiwi is one of the fruits that is highest in vitamin K content. Kiwi fruit contain between 33.9 mcg and 50.3 mcg of vitamin K for each 100 g of fruit, according to a study published in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association" in 2003. Consuming kiwi fruit can quickly bring you up to your recommended vitamin K intake for the day, as 100 g is only slightly more than one average-sized kiwi fruit.

Kiwi as a Blood Thinner

Eating just two or three kiwis per day for 28 days can decrease the blood clotting response of healthy individuals, according to a study published in 2004 in "Platelets." Compared to controls, study participants also lowered their triglyceride levels. The combination of these two responses may lower your risk for heart disease.

Considerations

The evidence for the blood-thinning effect of kiwi fruit is still preliminary, so don't rely on kiwi fruit instead of blood thinners prescribed by your doctor. Speak with your doctor about the amount of kiwi fruit it is safe for you to consume if you are taking blood thinners to insure you don't consume too much vitamin K.