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Kiwi, banana and 10 more fruits to eat with the peel
It turns out that most of the vitamins and minerals are found not in the pulp, but in the skin.
We figure out what vegetables and fruits can and should be eaten with the peel in order to get the maximum benefit. Of course, we are talking about products grown without the use of harmful chemicals and not covered with a thick layer of wax.
Kiwi
Admit it: you did that too – you chose the bright green pulp with a spoon, and threw away the shaggy brown skin. After all, she is so rough and looks inedible. But it is in the peel of kiwi that there are more trace elements than in the pulp. Thanks to its antioxidants, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and anti-carcinogenic properties. It also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B9, C, PP and E, which is useful for immunity. If you are afraid of damaging the oral mucosa, you can make a kiwi smoothie. Or choose a special variety – smooth-skinned kivinho.
Apples
Apples have a smooth skin, but most varieties are quite tough. Chewing this is a dubious pleasure. But if there are no problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and all the teeth are in place, it is better not to cut off the skin from the fruit. It contains a lot of fiber that is good for digestion. The peel of only one large red apple contains 45 mg of potassium, 2 mg of calcium and 4 mg of vitamin C. Quercetin is also a powerful antioxidant that slows down cell aging, triterpenoids inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the colon, liver and mammary gland, and ursolic acid is useful with great physical exertion.
Peach
Not everyone likes the velvety peels, which is why they often go to the trash can. And with it, trace elements that are useful for the heart, blood vessels, as well as eyes, skin and immunity in general. Apple and tartaric acid, zinc, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, K, PP, carotene – all this is in the peach peel.
Citrus
At the age of six, I ate a lemon with a peel on a bet. Sugarless! Nobody dared to repeat this. Meanwhile, lemon peel (like the peel of oranges, tangerines and grapefruits) is a source of citrus pectin useful for the body. The essential oils contained in it relieve stress and improve sleep. And a substance such as polymethoxylated flavonoids helps in the prevention of atherosclerosis. If you don’t want to eat the lemon zest “live”, you can grate it finely and then add it to baked goods or brew it with tea.
Potatoes
Potatoes are often called the second bread for their huge amount of useful and nutritious substances. And 20% of them are contained directly in the peel. And this is iron, potassium, B vitamins and fiber. Directly under the peel, the tuber protein is concentrated – tuberin, consisting of albumin, globulins and proteins. In its composition, it is quite close to human protein, and therefore it is almost completely absorbed. And it is this layer that goes under the knife when peeling potatoes.
To preserve all the useful properties, it is better to bake the tubers in the oven in their uniforms. Well, if you still need peeled potatoes, the peeled peels can be used. For example, in neighboring Estonia, fried or oven-baked potato peels are very popular as a snack.
Carrots
It’s time to get rid of your prejudices and stop scratching your carrots with a peeler. To use this root crop, it is enough to thoroughly rinse it under running water and rub it with a brush. But you will receive a powerful portion of vitamin A, as well as potassium salts, which are necessary for diseases of the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. All antioxidants are concentrated in and under the peel.
Parsnip
Its roots resemble carrots in shape, only white. That is why, like its orange counterpart, in parsnips, a significant part of the nutrients is in the peel or just below it. Sulfur and silicon will save nails from brittleness, the respiratory tract will thank you for chlorine and phosphorus, and potassium will help increase brain activity – the percentage of its content in the peel is quite high.
Tomatoes
Nutritionists are generally of the opinion that there is no need to peel off the peel of fruits growing above the ground. After all, it contains a lot of insoluble fiber – this is necessary for the intestines to function. Potassium, magnesium, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C are also sufficient. And in the peel of tomatoes there are also flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Eggplant
If the fruit is young and fresh, it is best consumed with the skin. Peeling a vegetable will not relieve bitterness, but yes, from nutrients. It is in the fleshy skin of eggplants that the valuable phytonutrient nasunin is contained. A powerful antioxidant that slows down the aging process. And dietary fiber helps with the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
cucumbers
Cut off the “tails”, remove the peel and put all this wealth on the forehead, cheeks and chin. In the meantime, under this homemade mask, wrinkles are smoothed out and the complexion is evened out, you can also crumble a vegetable salad. But cucumber peel is useful not only for external use. Antioxidants stimulate the immune system, fiber is good for the digestive tract, and alkaline salts and an iodine compound help to remove toxins from the body. In addition, cucumber peel is rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, biotin, carotene, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
bananas
The yellow color of the banana peel is due to lutein. This substance, very useful for the eyes, cannot be synthesized by the human body. So all the hope for coming from outside is with food. Then there is tryptophan, useful for the work of the remedy, as well as for frequent mood swings. But you should not use banana peel “alive”. Better to grind it and add it to smoothies.
Pomegranates
Pomegranate peel is a treasure trove of tannins that help with indigestion. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. But it is not recommended to eat pomegranate peel raw. Even on a dare. Pomegranate peels should be cleaned of white pulp, dried and ground in a coffee grinder or mortar before preparing a decoction or tincture.