Did you know you could be throwing away many health benefits by peeling your fruit and vegetables?
Maybe it’s time to become a scrubber and leave the skin on, just as nature packaged them.
So what’s in the skins we throw away? And what are the health benefits we are missing out on?
1. The pigments in produce are where all the healthy stuff is.
Because the skins of fruit and vegetables are so colourful, they are a concentrated source of phytochemicals. These natural compounds found in plant-based foods are essentially the plant’s immune system and research is finding that they also offer protection to humans as well.
2. Vegetable peels and skins are a great source of insoluble fibre.
While all vegetables contain both soluble and insoluble fibre and both fibres are important elements of a healthy diet, it is the insoluble fibre which helps to keep you regular and prevent constipation. Which is very important for bowel and gut health.
3. Throw the skin away and you toss away the nutrients.
Did you know that peeling your fruit and vegetables often removes a large concentration of the nutrients and vitamins? Some vegetables and fruit skins are particularly beneficial…
Potato skins are extremely rich in antioxidants and have far more potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C than the flesh.
Apple peel is also high in antioxidants and the pectin in apple skin can help lower blood cholesterol and control blood sugars.
Sweet potato skin is loaded with beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A during digestion. Vitamin A is essential for cell health and immune system regulation.
Cucumber with its dark green skin contains the majority of the insoluble fibre and potassium and most of its vitamin K.
Kiwi Fruit skin contains more flavonoids, antioxidants and vitamin C than the insides and double the fibre.
And the list goes on….so why waste all that goodness by peeling it and throwing it away. Go on, become a scrubber!
Avoid plastics and choose a natural fibre brush. We recommend the Tiger Vegie Brush from our Eco Max Kitchen Brush range. Ethically handmade from naturally anti-bacterial coconut fibre, no nasty chemicals, just good honest vegetable fibres.
Oh and you can compost it at the end of its life.
Happy Scrubbing!!!
