We return to the tropics again and talk about the beneficial properties of the lychee fruit and the harm that this exotic may cause to the body.
How lychee fruit grows - what taste, smell
Lychee(what it looks like can be seen in the photo) is a small fruit from a tropical tree with many useful properties and nutrients. It is considered an exotic fruit, resembling something outwardly, inside it is more like grapes with its jelly-like pulp. Our compatriots began to call it the "Chinese" plum, and the Chinese parents "dragon's eye".
It is a close relative that grows in clusters and has a very short shelf life. That's why it's available for a limited time even during the season.
The taste of the lychee sweet with a slight sourness (depending on the ripeness of the fruit). The smell is vaguely reminiscent of the scent of a rose.
home of the lychee tree- China, now different varieties grow in Thailand, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Australia, in the south of South America.
In ancient China, the exotic lychee fruit was a favored fruit in imperial palaces, finding its greatest admirers among emperors and empresses, who received these beautiful fruits transported to the capital at a hefty price.
Perhaps such a hype is due to the fact that lychee is a very strong natural aphrodisiac - it activates desire, rejuvenates the body, and gives a powerful burst of energy.
Lychee chemical composition and calorie content
Lychee is a highly nutritious fruit.
- It has a high water content in its composition and provides energy.
- Contains high levels of vitamin C.
- The amount of sugar in the fruit is 15.23g and has a reasonable 1.3g of dietary fiber.
- The fruit is a valuable source of polyphenols, which make it a reliable and recommended antioxidant.
- Its mineral composition makes it an excellent fuel for electrolyte balance in the body.
lychee calories-70-80 calories per 100 grams of product.
Lychee - useful properties of the fruit and use in medicine
Due to its many health benefits, the exotic fruit is used in alternative medicine recipes in China and contains a mixture of medicinal benefits that promote wellness.
- Strengthens the immune system
Vitamin C is water soluble, which means it does not store for long in the body. Bodily secretions such as sweat, stool and urine carry it out of the body every day. This is the reason why a person needs to replenish it daily.
Lychee is an excellent source of vitamin C and contains 71.5 mg per 100 g serving, it is a good antioxidant that stimulates the immune function of the body. The fruit is also used to protect against common illnesses such as the flu.
Vitamin C strengthens the immune system to protect against everyday infections. This is especially recommended for young children who are very vulnerable to sickness and cold. Vitamin C is also known to relieve scurvy, which is mainly caused by vitamin C deficiency.
- Protection against oxidative stress
Lychee contains good amounts of the antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin B complex and phytonutrients. Antioxidants and phytonutrients are an important nutrient that makes the fruit so beneficial.
Antioxidants are needed to protect the body from oxidative stress, which causes premature aging and delays cell repair. This process can disrupt the DNA of normal cells and trigger an uncontrolled mechanism for the formation of tumors. But antioxidants act as a shield to protect the body from damage, while also reducing and controlling inflammation and degenerative diseases like arthritis.
- Blood renewal
Fruit is a rich source of nutrients needed for blood production and circulation. Iron helps hemoglobin in the blood transport oxygen to all organs. Iron turns blood red, which is a clear indicator of the high content of this trace element and its importance in the blood.
The whole process is actively promoted by the lychee.
Magnesium plays an important role in the formation of blood clots in the body. Without the clotting function, a single cut can bleed non-stop to the last drop of blood from the body.
Copper is used by the body for healthy iron metabolism and the formation of red blood cells (RBCs).
Vitamin C is essential for the proper absorption of iron in the body. No matter how iron-rich a diet a person consumes, it will not be able to control healthy in the blood if there is a vitamin C deficiency.
All these minerals - manganese, magnesium, copper, iron, vitamin C and folate are present in lychee, which makes it a complete product for renewing blood, restoring its required level and overall health.
- Increase in metabolism
Lychee contains a good amount and vitamin B complex, which activates the metabolism.
People suffering from insulin resistance due to poor metabolism should consume foods such as lychee rich in antioxidants and flavonoids.
Although due to its high sugar content, the fruit is not recommended for diabetics, but those who have a poor metabolism can benefit from this quality of the fruit. It also helps in removing fat from the body. The high water content of about 80-85% also makes lychee an excellent cleanser.
- Skin's best friend
The skin bears the brunt of aging, pollution, exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays, stress and other lifestyle disorders.
Although aging is a natural phenomenon, it is accelerated by the rest of the factors mentioned earlier. The result is dull skin with fine lines that make you look much older than your age.
The main cause of aging is free radicals that are produced in the body due to high oxidative stress. But antioxidants have been proven to destroy these free radicals to slow down the aging process. The right combination of foods in the diet can significantly slow down skin aging.
The vitamin C and high water content of lychee are the perfect blend of anti-aging factors. Vitamin C cleans up impurities and water washes them away. Both of these keep the skin radiant and well hydrated while reducing wrinkles and imperfections.
- Heart disease and blood pressure
Studies have found that antioxidant-rich foods such as lychee,. The high fiber content also inhibits the formation of fat and lipid stores in the body and promotes cardiovascular health.
The potassium found in the fruit contributes to a normal heart rhythm, maintaining and regulating the muscle function of our body.
In addition, lychee lowers the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. Thus, it improves blood flow to the heart and reduces the risk of heart attack and hypertension.
Foods high in fiber have been proven to suppress appetite and increase metabolism. This reduces the total in the blood, creating obstacles to the proper blood circulation.
- Help with digestion and defecation
The process of digestion is vital in the body. Dietary fiber pectin is considered very beneficial for bowel movements and maintaining a healthy digestive system. This function is further enhanced by the high water content, as the combination of fiber and water helps prevent.
Regular and complete bowel movements not only cleanse the body, but also protect against diseases such as colon cancer.
- Weight loss and fluid balance
Ideal weight is essential for the body. But more important are the ways and means by which this can be achieved. Planning a healthy diet and exercise is a strict requirement, without which the body can suffer and be deficient in many essential nutrients. Incorrectly selected exercises can lead to significant loss of water due to constant.
If this is not supplemented with the right food, then all that can be obtained in the end is this.
Lychee also contains a good amount of potassium, which is required to maintain sodium levels. In addition, high levels of potassium are needed to maintain fluid levels, i.e. electrolyte balance. Thus, it helps maintain normal blood pressure, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.
- Rutin
The lychee fruit is the richest source of polyphenols among fruits. Rutin is known to strengthen blood vessels. It is used for and hemorrhoids, and is also used in the fight against bruising.
Deficiency in bioflavonoids can allow blood vessels to become damaged easily. But with a sufficient amount of routine in the body, nothing will happen to the vessels in case of slight damage. Rutin not only benefits blood vessels. Studies have also shown that it helps protect against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Mitochondrial Health
In animal studies, lychee phenolic compounds have been found to be protected against stress caused by liver damage by modulating mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Fruit as an antiviral agent
How to eat lychee
In principle, everything is simple - cut the washed fruit lengthwise, pull out the dark bone, eat the light pulp with either a teaspoon or pull the edge of the peel (in most specimens it is quite easily removed).
Another way is to make an incision, as if cutting off a “cap”, then the flesh itself will perfectly squeeze out into a plate with a slight pressure.
Storage
Fresh fruits are stored for a short time - three days at room temperature, in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. For longer storage, they are frozen, dried, canned. In China they are pickled.
Lychee harm or fruit side effects
- Tropical lychee is a wonderful fruit that tastes as good as it does for the body. However, if a person tends to consume more of it, then the high sugar content should be kept in mind. This is important for diabetics.
- Also, the benefits of lychee fruit for the body will no longer be, if it is eaten in huge quantities, on the contrary, an allergic reaction may occur, manifested in a rash on the skin, ulcers in the mouth.
- You should not mix this type of fruit with others in one meal - increased gas formation and abdominal discomfort are possible.
However, in moderation, lychee fruit has health benefits.
