What it does: The fiber and active plant compounds in fruit skins support digestive health, promote regular bowel movements, help maintain a healthy gut microbiome, and contribute antioxidant activity that helps protect body cells from everyday oxidative stress.
How it is used: Fresh fruits with skin are commonly processed into powders or concentrates for use in supplements designed for digestion, antioxidant support, and general wellness, often to mimic the benefits of consuming whole fruits.
Natural sources and supplement forms: Common sources include apples, grapes, plums, and berries. In supplements, these ingredients appear as whole-fruit powders, extracts, or concentrates derived from fruits with their skin left intact.
Why it appears in supplement formulas: Brands use fresh fruits with skin to enhance fiber content and provide a wider profile of phytonutrients and antioxidants than fruit flesh alone, supporting both digestive and cellular health.
What to know before use: People sensitive to high fiber or those with allergies to certain fruits should introduce these ingredients slowly and choose organic sources to minimize pesticide exposure.
Interesting Fact
Fruit Skins: A Natural Source of Fiber and Plant Compounds
Eating fresh fruits with the skin provides not just vitamins and minerals, but also natural fiber and phytonutrients that are most concentrated in or near the peel. For example, apple and grape skins are rich in antioxidants like polyphenols. Including fruit skins in supplements supports a broader spectrum of nutrients than fruit flesh alone, capturing benefits found in nature’s original packaging.
