Classic dishes like beef stew with potatoes and Di San Xian are common on the dining tables of many households. Many people boil potatoes with their skins on, thinking that high temperatures solve all problems. This is not the case. Potatoes contain a substance called "solanine" to resist pests and diseases. The skin of the potato has a higher solanine content, and when it accumulates in the body to a certain level, it can cause poisoning. Potatoes with green skin or sprouts contain even more solanine, and excessive consumption can cause a series of gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, potatoes must be peeled before cooking.
Sweet potatoes are nutritious but are alkaline foods, and eating too many can cause heartburn. The skin of sweet potatoes contains more alkali, and if eaten frequently with the skin on, it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Furthermore, sweet potato skins with brown and black-brown spots may be infected by "black spot disease," and eating them can cause poisoning.
Water chestnuts are sweet, crispy, and refreshing, and are a favorite for many people. However, the skin of water chestnuts may contain parasites such as fasciolopsiasis. If you eat the skin of inadequately washed water chestnuts, it can also lead to illness.
Although ginkgo nuts have many benefits, they are slightly toxic and should not be eaten in excess. The skin of the fruit contains toxic substances such as "ginkgolic acid," and excessive consumption can damage the central nervous system and cause poisoning. When eating them, you must not only remove the inner skin, but also avoid eating too much of the cooked ginkgo nut itself.
In addition, due to the large use of chemical fertilizers nowadays, there is serious nitrate pollution of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is recommended that you peel fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Especially for fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, and grapes that are cultivated for longer periods and have better taste, their skins often have many residues of microorganisms, pesticides, and more. Therefore, it is not worth risking your health for a little bit of nutrition.