Probably, many have heard from their grandparents that eating apples together with the peel is very useful. It is believed that it contains the highest concentration of vitamins and nutrients. However, in a harsh climate, Russians practically do not have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits grown on their own land all year round. Because of this, the consumer has to be content with imported fruits, around which many myths and doubts have formed.
An imported product, even such as an apple, can cause a lot of doubts among the consumer. It would seem that something bad can happen if you eat an apple along with the peel? If we talk about the gifts of your own garden, then, of course, there is no point in worrying about this, because you know exactly how you process your fruit trees, how you fertilize and water. Perhaps everyone is used to eating apples along with the skin. However, is it as safe as it seems at first glance?
How imported apples are processed during transportation
If you have ever held an imported apple in your hands, or, for example, washed it, you might have noticed a kind of oily film covering the surface of the fruit. What is this? Is it some kind of harmful substance? Most likely, your fears are in vain, because the apples are simply covered with a thin layer of ordinary wax or paraffin before transportation. And it's not even about the attractiveness of the product, although, of course, shiny, glossy apples look very beautiful. It's all about the safety of fruits, extending their shelf life, because apples have to travel great distances before getting to your table.
For young children, it is always better to peel apples, and the point here is not at all that the peel is harmful. It's just that the baby is not always able to chew and digest the peel. He can damage her delicate mucous membrane or even choke.
When apples in large quantities lie tightly together, they can start to spoil very quickly. It turns out that ripe fruits are able to secrete special substances - plant hormones, which can affect the state of neighboring fruits. If one apple was spoiled during transportation, then there is a high probability that the rest of the fruit will also suffer. It is for this reason that apples are treated with paraffin. The resulting film prevents the spread of plant hormones, which means it helps to preserve these fruits for much longer.
Do not worry too much about paraffin, because it is not harmful to the body, especially in such small quantities. Of course, you shouldn't deliberately eat it. That is why apples brought from the store should be thoroughly washed under running, preferably warm water, using a small amount of soap and a special soft brush. This way you can be sure to completely get rid of the wax film. After the apples are washed, they should be wiped off with a soft towel and then eaten. You see, peeling imported apples is not at all necessary. Remember that after removing the film, apples can start to deteriorate quickly, therefore it is recommended to wash imported fruits only immediately before use.
What does the peel of imported apples conceal?
On the Internet, you can find information that gardens in Poland are treated against pests more than 40 times per season. Of course, these are unconfirmed rumors. In fact, Polish apples are no more harmful than any others.
Some believe that the peel of imported apples is a concentration of harmful pesticides and nitrates. Is it so? Of course, on the one hand, there is nothing to worry about, because usually all products, especially those that are transported across the border, undergo mandatory quality control. However, on the other hand, isn't it easier to protect yourself and peel the apple? After all, every gardener knows how much work needs to be invested in order to get a decent harvest of fruits.
First of all, trees need to be treated against pests and, of course, fertilized. If you do this excessively, then you can really get a crop that is not very healthy for your health. Too many nitrates and other chemicals will accumulate in the fruit. If this happens, then peeling the apples is useless, because chemicals accumulate not only in the peel, but also in the pulp. This applies not only to imported fruits. Domestic apples grown in violation of agronomic standards can be just as harmful as imported ones. The way out is simple - buy apples in trusted stores of the variety and supplier you know.
