Lychee or litchi is something that’s really so delicious and watery, It’s taste is absolutely amazing! This sweet and watery fruit is cherished by almost all age group, to be Specific during the summer season. Lychee the juicy summer fruit contains rich quantity of nutrients and additionally offers several health advantages.
When Emperor Wu Ti of the Han Dynasty conquered the Southern capital of Canton (Guangdong), he was introduced to the juicy, flavorful “laichi” fruit. He loved it so much that he ordered 500 trees to be planted, but they all died in the frigid northern temperatures. He tried it again with similar results. He then remedied his taste for the fruits by demanding them to be paid as tribute. Later, mature trees were transported and carefully tended for a successful crop.
On one hand, we have the scorching heat draining out all our energy and on the other, we have vibrant fruits of the season that give us a good reason to love summers. Mangoes, melons and watermelons have already found their way into our fruit baskets, it is now time for lychees to make their way. Lychee or litchi is a soft, whitish-pink coloured pulpy fruit, that is cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions and is available for a very short period of time during the summer season.
Let’s see Lychee’s Nutritional Value and Lychee Health Benefits.
Nutrition Value
| 100 grams | |
| Calories | 66 |
| Total Fat | 0.4 g (0%) |
| Saturated fat | 0.1 g (0%) |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.1 g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0.1 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg (0%) |
| Sodium | 1 mg (0%) |
| Magnesium | 10 mg (2%) |
| Potassium | 171 mg (4%) |
| Calcium | 5 mg (0%) |
| Iron | 0.3 mg (1%) |
| Total Carbohydrate | 17 g (5%) |
| Dietary fiber | 1.3 g (5%) |
| Sugar | 15 g |
| Protein | 0.8 g (1%) |
| Vitamin A | 0 IU (0%) |
| Vitamin B | 60.1 mg (5%) |
| Vitamin C | 71.5 mg (119%) |
| Vitamin D | 0 IU (0%) |
Lychee Health Benefits
Here are some health benefits of this juicy fruit:
Boosts Your Immunity:
Rich in vitamin C, lychee also has more than 100% of the daily requirement of ascorbic acid (ABA) in a single serving which works exceptionally well for boosting your immunity. Vitamin C stimulates the activity of white blood cells that defend the body against foreign materials.
Good for digestion
Lychee is loaded with dietary fibres. These fibres regulate the bowel movement by ensuring its smooth passage through the digestive tract. It also adds bulk to the stool and can work wonders for constipation and other tummy problems. It also stimulates gastric and digestive juices promoting efficient nutrient absorption. Lychee is good for digestion as it contains considerable amount of fiber and lot of water content it which has a soothing effect on the stomach.
Antiviral Tendencies
The proanthocyanidins present in lychee are known to lend strong antiviral capabilities. Lycheetannin A2, a component of lychee, may help in preventing the spread of viruses.
Helps lose weight
Regular consumption of litchi helps in losing weight as it contains lot of water, a significant amount of fiber, and have a negligible fat content but low amount of calorie in it.
Anticancer effects
This juicy fruit contains powerful antioxidants and also have anticancer effects, that ar particularly effective against breast cancer cells.
Cardiovascular health
One should eat this juicy fruit often because it helps promote cardiovascular health due to the antioxidants present in it.
Good for eyes
Lychee contains phytochemicals that exhibit antioxidant and antineoplasmic properties, that helps stop abnormal growth of cells and cataract
Good for your Skin
Lychee can help fight signs of ageing and blemishes. The primary cause of aging is the production free radicals caused due to high oxidative stress. The Vitamin C in lychees acts as an antioxidant fighting these free radicals.
Fighting Flavonoids
Flavonoids are antioxidant compounds found in certain fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices — are known for their role in serving to to stop chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer. lychee contains quercetin, a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, cancer-fighting heart-healthy kaempferol and more.
Litchi Fruit Side Effects
- Litchis have high sugar content, which is why people suffering from diabetes should have them in moderation.
- They might cause allergic reactions in some people. So, if you have had some history with it, you should totally avoid consuming litchis.
- Litchi is also known to disturb the hormonal balance in the body. So, consume it in moderation as it can cause internal bleeding, fever or many other troubles.
- Pregnant ladies should avoid having litchis until they are in the breastfeeding stage as they can cause hemorrhage and infections and harm your baby.