Should You Eat Fruit Peel Or Not?

Fruit peel is a very interesting element from a nutritional point of view. Some authors recommend that we should not eat fruit with peel due to the possible presence of heavy metals or possibly harmful chemicals on them.

But the peel is rich in nutrients and elements that you need to stay in good health. Below we show you what these nutrients are and what precautions you need to take to eat fruit with peel on without exposing yourself to danger.

Fruit peel provides a lot of fiber

Although not all fruit peels are edible, they all contain a significant amount of fiber. Fiber is positive for the prevention of colon cancer, for improving the transit time in the intestines and for reducing the incidence of other complex diseases.

In addition, the regular intake of fiber improves the quality and biodiversity of the microbiota. This can positively affect many other bodily functions.

Also read: Microbiota-Available Carbohydrates

You must remember that an adequate intake of fiber slows down digestion and thus the absorption of sugar. Therefore, it produces a lower insulin increase and causes less stress on the pancreas. In a world where diabetes has become an endemic disease, any strategy to prevent this disease is welcome.

Fruit peels also contain nutrients

Fruit peels usually contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, and consuming them improves your intake of micronutrients.

In some cultures and countries, the peels are baked to make them suitable for eating or even used to make tea, whereby the vitamins they contain can penetrate into the water. This is because most of the vitamins in fruits are water soluble. Therefore, they have the ability to move from the peel to the hot water. Likewise, it is quite common to use citrus peel as a dressing for salads.

On the other hand, the peel on some fruits is rich in antioxidants. These substances are important to prevent oxidation and aging and to combat the formation of free radicals.

Regular intake of antioxidants is also important to ensure good health. Therefore, do not throw away fruit peels as they are good sources of these substances.

Also read: 5 ways you can use banana peel as an herbal remedy

The risk of pesticides

The authors who advocate the consumption of peeled fruits justify this in the possible presence of chemicals on the peel. To prevent the ingestion of these substances, it is necessary to wash the fruit thoroughly before it is suitable for eating.

It is therefore a good idea to put the fruit under running water and rub it a little to ensure proper hygiene. Even wiping it with a damp cloth may be enough.

Experts advise pregnant women to avoid consuming fruit peels to prevent possible poisoning due to toxoplasmosis. If they want to ingest them, they must first disinfect the fruit with a product that kills the bacteria that may be.

Another reason why you should wash fruit thoroughly before eating it is to remove wax. Usually these substances are used to improve the visual quality of the product when they are on the market. Wax is usually applied with aerosols on inedible fruit peels. However, it is best to wash them all to prevent ingestion of unwanted chemicals.

Nevertheless, it is always preferable to choose organic or reliable varieties instead of those sold in supermarkets or large chains. This way you get access to noticeably cleaner and healthier products that contain fewer chemicals and have better sensory quality.

Eat fruit with or without the peel: conclusion

You should always eat fruit with the peel. Fruit peels provide fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, which are necessary for proper body function.

However, you must clean the fruits before eating them to prevent unwanted intake of chemicals. Buy fruits from trusted places that guarantee their quality and wash them with water before eating them to reduce the presence of pesticides on the peel.