Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a tropical fruit with a granular sphere with a red bumpy skin that is easily peeled away with your fingers to reveal an opaque, sweet and juicy white flesh with a black interior of seeds. It is called “alligator strawberry” in the West, but it has a history of thousands of years in China, where it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to relieve pain and gastrointestinal diseases. It can now be seen in other tropical countries, including India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico and the United States.
According to Avni Kaul, a nutritionist at the University of Delhi, lychees are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants in the body. Of all the tested fruits, lychee seeds had the highest polyphenol content, second only to strawberries. Quercetin and oligomeric alcohols are two of the powerful antioxidants it contains, which give lychee its properties to reduce inflammation, fight stress, and promote cardiovascular and diabetic health.
In addition, lychees are also rich in other nutrients, which are inseparable from its health benefits.
Lychees are rich in nutrients and vitamin C is the most significant
According to the Food Data Center (FoodData Central） According to 2020 data, the nutrients contained in every 100 grams or about 10 fresh lychees include:
· 66 calories
0.83 grams of protein
0.44 grams of fat
16.5 grams of carbohydrates
1.3 grams of fiber
15.2 grams of sugar
· 71.5 mg vitamin C
171 mg potassium
0 mg cholesterol
· Trace minerals calcium, selenium, zinc, manganese, iron, copper and magnesium
It can be seen that the vitamin C content in lychee is equivalent to 89% of the daily recommended intake, so it helps to heal, repair and maintain the health of many internal systems. Specifically, its health benefits are numerous.
Lychees have 6 major health benefits, but do not eat immature lychees
● Prevent heart disease
The high concentration of vitamin C in lychee can support heart health by preventing atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and stroke. The potassium in lychees helps with electrolyte balance and regulates blood pressure and heart rate, while the copper it contains is essential for making red blood cells. Oligomeric alcohols are one of the most important polyphenols that function in the peripheral circulation as vasodilators.
● Help glucose metabolism relieve diabetes
Although lychee contains a lot of fructose and glucose, its glycemic index is very low, only 50, so diabetics can eat it in moderation.
A 2013 article published in Complementary and Alternative Medicinereviewpointed out that lychee seed extract has antidiabetic activity and can reduce insulin resistance. They also found that polyphenol oligonols could help treat blood vessel problems associated with diabetes.
However, unripe lychees contain the compound hypoglycin A, which causes glucose levels to drop, causing hypoglycemia.A 2017 paper published in The LancetReportconfirmed the link between consumption of unripe lychees and hypoglycemia and death among malnourished children in India.
● anti-cancer
Prostate cancer in Chinaresearch showslychee oligomeric alcohol is an antioxidant that may prevent the growth of other cancer cells.
This explains why lychee is a traditional Chinese herbal ingredient used to tonify the liver and enhance the function of the pancreas. A recent study using lychee bark (pericarp) extract in cultured cells and live mice,The results showIt can prevent fatty liver at the cellular level, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. The study also showed that the extract was able to speed up the repair of damaged liver cells.
● brain protection
Preliminary studies on ratsresearch showsoligomeric alcohol extracts and green tea preparations are expected to alleviate cognitive impairment in early Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer, also known as Alzheimer’s disease).
● Aids in weight loss
The high fiber and low calorie content of lychees can help with weight loss. Its oligomeric alcohol content may help combat inflammation and oxidative stress associated with obesity.
A 12-week study of overweight and obese womenResearchIt was found that women who took lychee oligopolyol had lower triglycerides and no weight gain compared to the placebo group.
Additionally, lychee is a well-known laxative because it is rich in fiber, which helps relieve constipation.
● beauty skin
The high concentration of vitamin C in lychees is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and fight aging. It helps produce collagen, which improves the appearance of skin and reduces wrinkles and blemishes.
Eat lychees, pay attention to allergies and prevent poisoning
· Lychees contain some proteins that can cause rare allergic reactions. Some studies have reported symptoms such as hives, itching, swelling of the lips and tongue, and difficulty breathing.
· Unripe lychees contain hypoglycemia, which may be poisonous if eaten in excess.according toNutritionFacts.org datafor children, eating 30 ripe lychees at a time is too much, while adults should not eat more than 200 at a time.
· Fresh lychees can be refrigerated for 5 to 10 days, or frozen whole with skins.
For the English report, please see the English “Epoch Times”:Lychee–The 『Queen of Fruits』。
Editor in charge: Li Fan
2023-08-23 14:58:40
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