Why Eating Pears With Their Skin Can Benefit the Gut and Heart

Peeling a pear before eating it means discarding some of the fibre that makes the fruit a useful addition to a balanced diet. Keeping the skin on is a simple way to get more of that benefit.

Fibre supports digestive health by helping stools move through the bowel and promoting regularity. Some types of fibre also provide nourishment for beneficial gut bacteria.

Pears can contribute to a heart-healthy eating pattern, too. Their soluble fibre can help reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract, supporting healthy cholesterol levels as part of an overall balanced diet.

The skin is not the fruit’s only source of fibre, so a peeled pear still has nutritional value. But eating both the flesh and skin preserves more of the fibre in each serving.

Wash pears thoroughly under running water before eating them unpeeled. For people who are not used to eating much fibre, increasing intake gradually can help limit digestive discomfort.