The white fibers found clinging to mandarin orange segments after peeling contain significantly higher concentrations of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds compared to the fruit’s flesh. Cristina Lora, a Spanish food safety expert, shared this information with the publication ABC.
According to the specialist, many individuals go to great lengths to remove these thin white threads, viewing them merely as discarded remnants of the peel. Scientifically, these fibers are known as the albedo, an inner layer that connoisseurs recognize as one of the most nutrient-dense parts of a mandarin.
This albedo boasts approximately 20 times the antioxidant content found within the mandarin segments themselves. Furthermore, it is rich in pectin, a dietary fiber that aids in reducing levels of low-density lipoproteins (“bad” cholesterol), thereby contributing to cardiovascular health.
Mandarin oranges are a good source of Vitamin C, a nutrient that the human body cannot synthesize and must therefore be obtained through diet or supplements. This vitamin is crucial for the production of collagen, a protein that forms the structural foundation for skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, muscles, nails, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also plays a vital role in neutralizing free radicals – reactive molecules that initiate oxidative processes leading to cellular damage.
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