If you see white stuff on your oranges, it is the

What exactly is the white stuff on oranges?

If you eat oranges, you know exactly what we’re talking about here. When you peel an orange, it’s covered in this white sponge-like substance. You can try to peel it off before you eat the orange, but let’s face it: you won’t get it all off. As it turns out, this stuff has a name: orange peel.

Like the white stuff on baby carrots, the white stuff on salmon, and the fibrous stuff in eggs, this substance is on an orange for a reason. Read on to learn what exactly it is and whether you should be eating it.

What is cellulite?

Orange peel is the white, spongy substance you see when you peel an orange. “Think of orange peel as the connective tissue of an orange,” says Taylor Fazio, wellness consultant at The Lanby. “It’s a little more bitter and has a denser texture.”

Can you eat the peel of an orange?

While you may not necessarily want to eat the fibrous and spongy part of an orange, it’s completely safe. Livvy Ashton, a nurse practitioner and senior editor at CFAH.org, says any suggestion that it’s unhealthy is just an old wives’ tale. “Oranges are high in vitamin C (including the peel), which contains about the same amount of this vital, immune-boosting vitamin as the fruit itself,” explains Ashton. “So by eating both, you’re actually increasing your intake.” Something else that’s safe: the red stuff on salad.

Fazio also says orange peel is high in fiber, something many people need more of in their diets. “Guidelines recommend at least 25 grams of fiber daily, an amount most Americans don’t consume. Any additional fiber intake from natural, whole food sources is a great way to increase daily fiber intake.”

Next time you snack on an orange and eat a bit of the peel, don’t worry; this natural part of the fruit is edible and healthy. Next, read about these unique uses for orange peels that are much more useful than you think.

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