Benefits of Lychee – The lychee fruit has been a popular fruit for centuries. This exotic fruit is known for its unique sweet taste and sourness. It has a dark red skin which surrounds a bright yellow interior. Most people who have not eaten this delicious fruit are unaware of its health benefits.
Lychee is native to China and Southeast Asia. It is grown all over the world. It has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. Lychees can be processed to obtain essential oils, honey, and extracts. Some studies suggest that lychees contain high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids. These health benefits are attributed to its high nutritional value and its ability to fight cancer and heart diseases.
What is Lychee
Lychees (Litchi chinensis) are small spherical fruits produced on trees. The Chinese and the Malays have cultivated them for thousands of years and they can be found in markets all over Asia. They are very similar to grapes in appearance and are usually roundish, although the shape may vary from slightly flattened to more or less globular. The size varies greatly from species to species and some are much larger than others.
The fruit is the edible fleshy part of the immature green drupe, which grows off a large, woody, single-trunked tree. The drupe is encased in a thin skin and contains a stone surrounded by a thick, edible pulp that contains the seeds, the seed oil, and the juice.
The fruit is eaten fresh, canned, dried, or fermented. The Chinese drink a wine made from the fruit’s juice, while the Malays also drink the juice. The fruit is eaten fresh when it is ripe. When it is unripe, it is not usually eaten, although there are some fruits that do not have an adequate flavor until they reach maturity.
Some fruits are harvested when the outer layer of skin is still soft enough to be removed from the inside.
It is best to eat this edible fruit when it’s at its ripest stage, before the seeds have been harvested. However, the oil from these seeds is often used for medicinal purposes.
There are over 200 different species of lychee and they are found throughout Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa.
Read: How to Grow Blueberry in Container
Nutrition Facts for Lychees
- This sweet little berry is filled with more sugar than any other food, with about 8 teaspoons per cup. These are usually eaten dried, but they can also be used to make ice cream or candy.
- Lychee is also high in potassium and copper. It can be a very good source of vitamin B6 and manganese, which helps boost energy production. It contains a lot of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.
- These little fruits have almost no calories at all and are a great source of potassium and vitamin C. Lychees are also a good source of fiber and calcium, more so than most other fruits. Cardiovascular diseases have been linked to high cholesterol and hypertension.
- Lychees may also be beneficial to pregnant women and people who suffer from diabetes, gout, or kidney disease.
Health Benefits of Lychee
Lychee is a popular fruit and a common sight in Asian supermarkets. It grows in tropical climates around the world, such as the Indian subcontinent, the Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia. Lychee fruit has an acidic taste and smells like a mix of honey, apricots, and almonds.
1. Promotes Bone Health
Lychees have vitamin K, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. They also contain a variety of antioxidants. These help your body to stay healthy. In addition, they protect bone health. Lychees can reduce osteoporosis. It works by neutralizing the acidity level in your body. In this way, it can help in the prevention of osteoporosis.
2. Keeps Your Heart Healthy
This fruit has a unique property. It contains polyphenol which is a compound that improves heart health. Polyphenols have the ability to decrease cholesterol levels. Thus, it prevents cholesterol buildup in the arteries. It also keeps the arteries healthy by blocking the oxidation process.
3. Helps in Weight Loss
This fruit has a low calorie count. Therefore, it can be a great weight loss solution. It has a low sugar content. In addition, it contains fiber. Both of these qualities make the fruit a healthy option for weight loss.
4. Improves Digestion
Lychees are often used in the Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. The fruit works as a digestive aid. It helps in breaking down food in the stomach. In addition, it has a mild laxative effect. Therefore, it helps in the digestion process. It improves the appetite and provides instant energy.
5. Boosts Immune System
This fruit boosts your immunity. It contains several vitamins and minerals that strengthen your immune system. It is also rich in flavonoids. These are important antioxidants that can protect you against free radical damage. As a result, it promotes cellular integrity.
Side Effects of Lychees
High Protein Content, 100g of lychee contains 12.4g of protein. This is the highest among all fruits. Therefore, eating them often could boost your total protein intake. In addition, they are very rich in iron. A large amount of lychee fruit also boosts your calcium intake.
However, there is a downside to eating too many lychees. According to a study published in Journal of Nutritional Science, lychee fruit contains a high concentration of cyanide. This compound can damage your thyroid gland. It may also cause digestive problems, especially if you are pregnant.
Other Side Effects
Lychee fruit is high in fructose and glucose. In addition, they are packed with vitamins and minerals such as potassium and vitamin C. Therefore, it could be beneficial to your health. However, it should be noted that some fruits such as lychees are more acidic than others. Therefore, consuming them could upset your stomach.
Best Time To Eat
Since lychees are very high in carbs, they should be avoided on an empty stomach. Otherwise, you risk experiencing heartburn. If you have heartburn, then avoid eating other acid-y foods like oranges, lemons, tomatoes and grapefruit. They may exacerbate the problem.
Conclusion
Lychee fruit is very aromatic and delicious. However, they are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that can make your day better. Lychee fruits are also low in calories and a great way to detoxify your system. They help fight cancer and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. There are many ways to enjoy lychee fruits and one of them is to make a delicious dessert or tea.
Among the benefits of lychee are Lychees have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. This fruit has been around for a long time and is known to be beneficial in treating certain diseases. Some people use lychee fruit to relieve sore throats, dry eyes, and headaches. A common lychee fruit recipe is to make a delicious tea that tastes amazing and can be used as a substitute for coffee. This fruit is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and nutrients. It is also known to be good for your heart and body.
