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Are there antinutrients in all tubers? I am assuming that parsnips and carrots are tubers. Is there a compelling reason to peel them?

All the cooking videos on Youtube show parnips being peeled. I'm just not so sure why that's necessary when I don't peel carrots either. I only peel potatoes because of the claim of antinutrients in the skin. What is the Robb Wolf/Loren Cordain/Mark Sisson position on peeling?

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I don't peel carrots. I don't eat parsnips too often but I do usually peel them. Ugly bastards. White potatoes I peel after listening to Wolf and crew. Sweet potatoes I eat whole though – ben61820 May 30 2011 at 2:48

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The reason to peel potatoes is not phytic acid (the anti-nutrient you are talking about) in the skin, but rather the solanine (potato toxin) in the skin (and who knows what types of fungi and molds make up the random array of surface defects on a potato). Phytic acid is not so great if you are mineral deficient and eating phytic-acid rich foods as staples but, otherwise, there's nothing wrong with it (in fact, it might be quite heathy).

I don't know what lurks in the skins of carrots and parsnips but I do peel them anyway simply because they are usually covered in dirt (and maybe chemicals).

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agreed. if it's not certified organic, i peel it. If it doesn't have a peel, then I buy it organic or not at all. – Leanne May 30 2011 at 3:31
i should mention that i still peel my roots and tubers, even if i buy them organic (which isn't very often anymore). – Leanne May 30 2011 at 3:32
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Wash them with a veggie brush under flowing water and you are good. That is what I do with carrots too.

Potatoes get peeled because of the risk of green nightshade compound pockets. I have been told everything else has lots of nutrition in the skin.

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well, let me ask you then, if you peel the potatoes, then it's no longer considered nightshade? Someone with autoimmunity can eat potatoes if they peel? – Namby Pamby May 30 2011 at 3:51
@namby, good question. i'm curious too. – Danielle May 30 2011 at 8:47
I would think they would be safer, but not as safe as avoiding them. The green spots can make people without aautoimmune sick. – Vrimj May 30 2011 at 14:07
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Here the winter parsnips are so woody that i always peel them.

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