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Tim Spector Urges People to Stop Peeling Fruit and Veg on Channel 4 Show

He says skins contain concentrated polyphenols plus fibre that feed gut microbes, boosting immunity.

Overview

  • Speaking on Channel 4’s What Not to Eat, Spector said the outer layers of produce carry many of the plants’ defence compounds that benefit human health.
  • He said apple skin can contain up to 30 times more polyphenols than the flesh.
  • He added that eating kiwi with the skin gives around 50% extra fibre, while unpeeled potatoes provide about five times more fibre.
  • If potatoes are peeled, he suggested roasting the skins with olive oil and salt to make homemade crisps instead of discarding them.
  • Coverage also cites NHS guidance that fibre in potato skins helps lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer, and Spector further recommends swapping white rice for grains or pulses.