Where do concentrated nutrients and phytochemicals tend to reside in many vegetables, like cucumbers?
Answer
Just beneath the skin.
A common pattern observed across various vegetables, including the garden cucumber varieties, is that certain beneficial compounds such as phytochemicals and specific concentrated nutrients are positioned immediately under the outer layer of the skin. This biological positioning means that consuming the skin, as is common with thin-skinned English cucumbers, results in maximizing the intake of these surface-level elements. However, this benefit must be weighed against the potential presence of surface treatments like wax or pesticide residues on conventionally grown produce.

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