Don’t Forget to Eat the Peel                                           Joanna Douglas

"The peel can contain up to three to four times higher a concentration of fiber as the fruit inside,” says Kimberly Snyder, celebrity nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox Foods. “Fiber is an important part of the body’s process when it comes to cleansing toxins from the body.

 

Peels also contain a bevy of anti-aging antioxidants and vitamins.” By the way, they’re also very low in calories, fats, and sugars. For some citrus fruits like oranges, the peel has even higher levels of vitamin C than the juice,” says Snyder. The peel of fresh orange also contains vitamin A, B vitamins, and minerals such as zinc, calcium, selenium, and manganese. But how are you supposed to eat them? Snyder suggests zesting citrus peels with a grater into your salad dressing or tossing a piece of the peel into smoothies. banana peels actually increase serotonin levels, which can boost your mood. Like the fruit, they’re a good source of potassium, but Snyder says they contain much more soluble fiber (which makes you feel full and help lower bad cholesterols) and insoluble fiber (which keeps your gastrointestinal tract moving). 

 

Watermelon rinds are another great option since they contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, and citrulline, an amino acid that helps dilate blood vessels to improve circulation. Peel off the green skin and put the white rind into your juicer along with the juicy pink parts. 

 

Snyder does offer one important piece of advice when eating peels: buy organic. “Not only are organic foods generally more nutritious since they are usually grown in better quality soil, but they also do not contain pesticides,” 

 

Don’t forget the cores and seeds! “Pineapple cores are less juicy and a bit harder, but are still very nutritious and filled with the enzyme bromelain, known to have anti-inflammatory and cleansing effects in the body,” says Snyder. She also says eating a small amount of papaya seeds can have anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial effects, and can help with liver detoxification, hangover cure.