Dr María Muñoz, a specialist in the digestive system, has issued advice to fruit eaters
A doctor and expert in digestive health is warning people to stop doing one thing when eating fruit. Before you even consume it, you’re probably doing it wrong, she says – and if that’s the case, it’s time to change your habits.
According to @dramariamunoz, you should stop peeling the white parts from your fruit because you’re actually removing the most beneficial parts. Whilst they’re not the best in texture or taste, they can in fact provide many health benefits.
Doctor María Muñoz posed the question: “Are you one of those who remove the white part of tangerines and bananas? That little thread you pull is called albedo, and it is more important than you think.”
She explained: “Albedo is not there by chance. It’s a natural defence of the fruit.
“It protects the pulp from insects and microorganisms, reduces oxidation, serves as a nutritional reserve for fruit development, and defends it from solar radiation. But the best thing is that it is also very good for you.
“It is rich in pectin, a fibre that slows down sugar absorption. It also contains vitamin C and flavonoids that strengthen your immune system, your skin and blood vessels. It provides essential minerals such as potassium and magnesium.”
The doctor concluded by saying: “In short, eating the fruit with albedo is a small gesture, but with great benefits for your health.” The health benefits of vitamin C are widely praised.
One study, published on PMC, said: “Vitamin C appears to exert a multitude of beneficial effects on cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Although vitamin C is a potent antioxidant protecting the body against endogenous and exogenous oxidative challenges, it is likely that its action as a cofactor for numerous biosynthetic and gene regulatory enzymes plays a key role in its immune-modulating effects.
“Vitamin C stimulates neutrophil migration to the site of infection, enhances phagocytosis and oxidant generation, and microbial killing. At the same time, it protects host tissue from excessive damage by enhancing neutrophil apoptosis and clearance by macrophages, and decreasing neutrophil necrosis and NETosis. Thus, it is apparent that vitamin C is necessary for the immune system to mount and sustain an adequate response against pathogens, whilst avoiding excessive damage to the host.”
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