It's an age-old question: to peel or not to peel. While the skins of fruits and veg don't look all that appetising, a registered nutritionist says we ideally should be leaving the skins on to get the most health benefits out of our produce.
"I don't peel some of my fruit and vegetables. I eat my potatoes, carrots, and kiwifruit with the skin on," nutritionist Gabi Zaromskyte said.
"The skin not only feeds different gut microbe species compared to the flesh, but it also contains fibre. Fibre is essential for a healthy gut microbiome. Washing your produce with apple cider vinegar or salt water wash can help remove excess pesticides."
And while it may be divisive, it's also very possible to eat the cores of apples and pears. To make them more edible, Zaromskyte cuts them across the core and removes the seeds.
"That way, I have a bit of the core in every slice of my apple or pear. I do this because the skin of the fruit, the outer flesh and the core all feed different gut microbes. This is important because a diverse gut microbiome is linked to a wide range of physical and mental health benefits," the expert explained.
In addition, Zaromskyte noted that fermented foods can be incorporated into a range of dishes to maximise gut health.
"Yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, other pickled vegetables, as well as good quality sourdough bread or kombucha are all fermented foods. They contain live bacteria, known as probiotics, which play a crucial role in gut health and hence, overall health," she added.
"Some ways in which you can include more fermented foods in your diet include adding kefir to your morning muesli bowl or porridge, and adding a variety of pickled vegetables to pop the flavours of your meals."
Cover Media / Newshub.
