Do you know these fruits and vegetable peels are safe to eat

Ever tasted vegetables or fruit peel? Well, this might sound weird to most of us but around the world delicacies made with fruits and vegetable peels are a fad, and not just that, even a few age-old culinary cultures boast of the use of fruits peel and vegetables peel delicacies! But are fruit and vegetable peels worth relishing?

But in the age of growing commercialisation, fruits and vegetables are grown and processed by adding several additives to meet the supply demands. From the use of pesticides during the growing period to adding carbides for quick ripening, fruit and vegetable peels may carry residues of these harmful chemicals. So are they safe to eat? Well, here are a few fruits and vegetables peel that you can actually eat and you would be surprised to know that peels too have a great amount of nutritional value. But before you plan to eat them, soak them in one litre water to which 2 tbsp baking soda, 2 tbsp vinegar and 1 tsp each-salt and turmeric has been added. Soak for 15 minutes and then wash with running water thoroughly rubbing the fruits and veggies. Air dry and store in a hygienic place. Here are some benefits associated with peels that makes them a powerhouse of nutrition.

Next time when you eat your favourite sweet potato delicacy make sure you keep the peels intact, this is because sweet potato peels are packed with antioxidants, minerals that not only amp up the nutritional value of your meals, but can also give your body the much needed dose of immunity.

Being a root veggie, sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, folate, potassium, and iron, and cooking or baking potatoes retains these nutrients and makes your meals nutritious.

You would be amazed to know that cucumber peels are rich in minerals and vitamins like Potassium and Vitamin K. Apart from that, the fiber content in cucumber peel is something that would stop you from throwing it away! Yes, the presence of insoluble fibers in cucumber peels makes it a low-calorie indulgence and further helps in improving metabolism and digestion.

You may have come across the use of Vitamin C as an active component in medicines, beauty products and food products. But what if we told you that your orange peel has the maximum concentration of vitamin C. Yes, the presence of powerful antioxidants, natural histamine suppressing compounds and flavons makes these peels a great source of nutrition. However, the consumption of this may be done by making orange rinds, extracting the dried orange powder. So amp up the nutritional value of drinks, desserts, soups and stews by adding extracts of orange peel.

Peeling mango and eating is like an unspoken norm, but did you know that the mango peel has ample nutrients that can simply amp up the heath quotient of your meals. Packed with the goodness of vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber and phytonutrients, mango peels are rich in Vitamins and minerals that help in boosting immunity and the presence of Phytonutrients reduces the risk of cancers. So, before throwing them away, think twice! But we would suggest, eat only those mangoes that have very thick peels and in fact not as they are-but by making them into a fibre rich chutney with ginger and blacksalt.

Lemon peels are packed with the goodness of calcium, potassium and Vitamin C, which helps in keeping several ailments at bay. The bitter peel may taste bad but adding rinds to meals or drinks can also add to the nutritional value of your delights. You would be amazed to know that by consuming lemon peel extracts by boiling or sun drying, you can naturally reduce your cholesterol levels, improve bone health and oral health.