Amazing Health Benefits Of Lychee
The blazing summers bring along a variety of juicy and water-based fruits that are enough to tantalize our taste buds. I’m sure most of you await the arrival of the exotic litchis. They may be small in size, but as they say, ‘big surprises come in small packages’. Did you know that in ancient China, gifting litchi to kings and queens was considered to be a great honor?
There are numerous beauty and health benefits of litchi fruit, from aiding weight loss and digestion to treating influenza and reducing the signs of aging.
#1
Lychee is a strange and wonderful fruit with a wealth of health benefits, including its ability to boost the immune system, prevent cancer, improve digestion, build strong bones, lower blood pressure, defend the body against viruses, improve circulation, aid in weight loss, protect the skin, and optimize metabolic activities.
Lychee, which has the scientific name Litchi chinensis is in the soapberry family, but is the only member of its genus, meaning that it is quite unique in the world. It is a fruit tree that can grow in tropical and subtropical climates, and is native to China. It smells very much like a flower, and is often used to flavor cocktails and dishes because of its unique scent, which is lost if not consumed fresh. The fruit is almost primarily eaten as a dessert food in Asian nations, but it has begun to make the leap into more western markets, especially in luxury or high-end restaurants.
#2 Nutritional Value Of Lychee
Lychee is packed with health benefits, but they come from the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in the fruit, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, folate, copper, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and manganese. Furthermore, lychee is a great source of dietary fiber, protein, and a good source of proanthocyanidins and polyphenolic compounds.
#3 Preparation and serving methods
Separate each fruit from the stalk and wash them in cold water. To peel; gently pinch at the stem end and peel away outer coat slowly as in the top picture. Alternatively, using a small paring knife, make an incision in its tough outer skin lengthwise all the way to the tip. Take care not to squeeze its flesh, or else, you may squirt and lose juice! Next; carefully peel away the tough outer skin along with the thin inner membrane to expose beautiful, jelly textured translucent white flesh. Eat peeled whole berry, as you eat grapes. Do not bite. To enjoy, gently suck its divinely sweet juice by rolling between your tongue and palate and then spit out its seed.
Here are some serving tips:
1.Fresh lychee arils or flesh should be enjoyed all alone without any additions/seasonings.
2.Litchi slices can be a great addition to fruit salads and dressings.
3.Lychee juice can be a refreshing drink during the summer season.
4.Litchis can be used in jellies, jams, sorbet, sauces, and syrups.
#4 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.
#5 Treats constipation and improves digestion
Lychee is enriched with dietary fibers, which ensures healthy digestion and relieving constipation. It also helps to treat gastric problems and promotes nutrients absorption in your body.
#6 Control Blood Pressure
Lychee is great source of potassium, which help in maintain the fluid level in the body. It is low in sodium also.
The proper balance of fluid in the body assists in function of metabolism and hypertension. Potassium is considered as vasodilator that helps to decrease the constriction of blood vessels and artiries.
#7 Protection from Free Radicals
Lychee contains a good amount of antioxidant Vitamin C, Vitamin B-complex, and phytonutrient flavonoids. These antioxidants and phytonutrient flavonoids are an important nutrient that makes lychee healthy.
Antioxidants are required to protect the body from oxidative stress.
High oxidative stress is caused due to pollution and UV radiation. This process creates free radicals from oxygen molecules.
These free radicals destroy normal cell DNA and change the function of cells to form cancer cells.
But antioxidants neutralize these free radicals and acts as a shield to protect cells from damage. So lychee protects from cancer and tumors.
Lychee contains flavonoid and anti-oxidants that protect from various types of cancers, inflammation and arrests the rapid progress of degenerative diseases.
#8 Reduce Sunburns
Spending too much time in the sun can cause redness and blisters. Sunburns can cause pain and irritation, and applying litchi infused with vitamin E can help soothe your inflamed skin.
Litchi is effective for treating sunburns because of its vitamin C content. A combination of vitamins C and E has been proven to treat the effects of the sun on the skin
#9 Maintains healthy bones
Litchi is a wealthy source of phosphorus and magnesium which supports powerful bones and trace minerals like copper and manganese which strengthens brittle bones.
Along with zinc, copper it boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin D which increases the assimilation of calcium which maintains the health of the bones.
#10 Promote Hair Growth
Be it stress or pollution, a host of factors can wreak havoc on our hair. Litchis, when used topically, can help promote hair growth.
Your hair grows when the hair follicles are properly nourished. Copper peptides enlarge the hair follicles, which drastically reduces the resting phase of hair growth.
Since litchi is an excellent source of copper, it helps stimulate the hair follicles and makes your hair grow.