Are the skins of fruit and vegetables healthy?

1. Good question! In this section, Health Net will look for the answer to frequently asked questions. This time: are the skins of fruit and vegetables healthy?

1. Fruit and vegetable peels are generally full of vitamins and fiber, which are important for your health. Some skins are quite stiff or hairy, such as those of kiwis, but you can eat these. So it is mainly a matter of taste. However, it is important to wash the peels well in advance, because this way you get rid of dirt, dust and any bacteria. Wash your hands too.

Fruit

1. Many people are used to eating the skin of apples, pears and grapes. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, the skin and just below it contain most of the nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium and antioxidants. If you remove the peel, all of these important substances will be lost. Some people also eat the peel of bananas or citrus fruits. These may be less easy to get rid of, but not necessarily bad for you. It may be that it contains toxic pesticides. Pesticides cannot be completely removed by washing the vegetable or piece of fruit. In addition, they sometimes penetrate through the skin, into the pulp. If you want to eat the skin of vegetables or fruit, choose organic foods. No pesticides are used in their production.

Vegetables

1. Vegetables, such as beets, carrots, cucumbers and aubergines, are also often eaten without the skin. This is also not necessary for those foods, provided the vegetables are well washed and do not contain pesticides. Vegetable peels are full of fiber, antioxidants and vitamins. For example, the sweet potato contains vitamin C, potassium, vitamin A and beta-carotene (a substance that is necessary to make vitamin A). This vegetable is best eaten raw, because then all nutrients are retained, but that is of course not really tasty. And in parsnips, the white carrot, there is vitamin C and potassium directly in and under the skin.

Potatoes

1. But what about regular potatoes? There is quite a bit of discussion about this. For example, the amount of fiber in the peel of potatoes is relatively large. But because a potato consists of only a small part of the skin, the amount of fiber adds little to the overall nutritional value. Nevertheless, it is still better to leave the skin on during preparation. In addition to fiber, it also contains vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and potassium. Check the potato for green, brown and bruised spots and cut it off.

Recipes

1. In many dishes, the vegetables do not actually need to be peeled. Give it a try with these recipes: Parsnip with cumin Cucumber in green with tartare Stuffed aubergine with tofu Do you also have a good question? Send us an email.

2. In many dishes the vegetables do not actually need to be peeled. Give it a try with these recipes: Parsnip with cumin Cucumber in green with tartare Stuffed aubergine with tofu Do you also have a good question? Send us an email.