TO CLEAN OR NOT: WHAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CAN BE EATEN WITH THE PEEL?

There is a widespread opinion that the peel of vegetables and fruits contains the greatest amount of useful substances. And this position is often really fair: so there is a lot of potassium in the peel of potatoes, the skin of apples is full of pectin, and the top layer of carrots accumulates a maximum of useful carotenoids. But is it always healthier to eat with the peel than without it? Let's figure it out. 

The first thing to remember is that even if the peel is really rich in vitamins and trace elements, its use may not be safe for humans. For example, mango peel contains antioxidants, flavonoids and phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antibacterial effects. But at the same time, it also contains the toxic allergenic substance urushiol and a large amount of tannins, which reduce the absorption of iron and other minerals from food.

Often nature itself tells us whether to peel the fruits or not. The thicker the peel, the more likely it is to protect the flesh of the fruit from adverse environmental conditions, and these may include accumulated toxic substances and infected insects.

That is why the same bananas, despite the high nutritional value of the peel, should be cleaned. Moreover, there are also plenty of benefits in the pulp: vitamins A, B6, C, E, K, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Sounds like a great wellness plan for the winter season. By the way, now Royal Fresh is in the midst of the season for the supply of selected bananas from Ecuador. Don't miss it!

Citrus fruits should also be cleaned before eating: tangerines, grapefruits, pomelo, oranges.

Although the last of this list, some nutritionists still advise eating whole with the peel and all the veins. However, with caution. We talked about this in details here. So, the final choice is yours, but, in any case, buy high-quality fruits from reliable suppliers. The Royal Fresh assortment in January includes many types of citrus fruits from trusted producers from Egypt and Turkey. 

As for the thin skin, it tells us that the fruit does not need to be cleaned – moreover, the thinner it is, the more useful substances are concentrated in it and near it. That is, eating, say, only the pulp in berries, we deprive ourselves of most of the vitamins and trace elements. Thin-skinned fruits should be thoroughly rinsed with water and you can eat them safely.

According to the same logic, tomatoes do not require peeling, cherry tomatoes and pepper. You can enjoy the bright flavors of fresh vegetables in the middle of winter thanks to the supplies of Royal Fresh from Egypt and Israel. 

What about potatoes? The rule also works here: if the tubers are young and thin-skinned, it is not necessary to clean them. But the old, thick peel is no longer so useful and safe. 

However, there is at least one important exception from this rule. Kiwi is the owner of a contented thin and healthy skin, saturated with vitamins C and E, potassium and folic acid. However, it has a hard and rough texture that can irritate the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat, as well as cause allergic reactions, so it's better to avoid experiments.

To submit a request for the supply of fresh vegetables, fruits and berries from the Royal Fresh assortment, follow the link.