TikTok has become a playground for doctors and health enthusiasts making bold health claims. A viral video claiming that kiwifruit contains more melatonin than supplements recently caught the attention of a gastrointestinal specialist.
Doctor Joseph Salhab took to TikTok to respond to a viral video from content creator @glowwithalexis, who discovered that kiwis contain more melatonin than the sleep supplements her boyfriend had been taking.
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The post's caption read: "Kiwi fruit. Helps you sleep, helps you poop and may lower your risk of colon cancer," with Dr Salhab noting that the humble fruit can offer more benefits than many realise.
He explained that people who eat kiwi roughly two hours before bedtime tend to get better rest because the fruit helps their bodies produce more melatonin.
Eating kiwi roughly two hours before bedtime tends to promote better
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Research from Massey University and New Zealand scientists backs this, with their 2023 study showing that two fresh green kiwifruits or freeze-dried kiwifruit powder eaten with an evening meal can boost both sleep quality and mood.
The effects are down to increased serotonin metabolism, which plays a key role in regulating our sleep-wake cycles.
Beyond sleep, Doctor Salhab revealed that kiwi is one of his go-to recommendations for patients struggling with constipation.
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"As a Gastrointestinal doctor, kiwi is one of my first-line treatments for my patients who suffer from constipation," he said.
But the benefits don't stop there; the fruit may also offer some protection against bowel cancer.
According to Doctor Salhab, kiwi helps shield the colon from DNA damage, which could potentially lower the risk of developing colon cancer over time.
The findings align with recent research published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, which suggested that getting melatonin through food rather than supplements provides doses that work more naturally with our body's own rhythms.
Experts recommend getting melatoning through food
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Elite athletes have also seen noteworthy results, with a study published in Nutrition showing that sportspeople who ate two green kiwifruits an hour before bed for four weeks experienced notable improvements in their total sleep time and efficiency, while also suffering fewer sleep disturbances.
But while the research is promising, scientists have noted that we can't yet draw firm conclusions about cause and effect.
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