Lychee Nutrition: 6 Health Benefits of Eating Litchis This Season

The produce sections at markets are chock-a-bloc with lychee fruits this season. The small fruit with a leathery pink skin is known for its juicy flesh and flowery flavour. It’s also a treasure trove of micronutrients and antioxidants. The small fruit finds its origins in China where it’s also used for therapeutic purposes. The skin of litchis can be easily removed to reveal white flesh underneath. Belonging to the soapberry family, litchi is a seasonal fruit available mostly in the summer months. If you are wondering whether the juicy fruit has any health benefits, here are 6 reasons why you should eat litchis.

Litchi Nutrition

A 100gms of litchi or lychee contains 80 calories, 0.44g fat, 16.5g carbohydrates, 1mg sodium, 1.3g dietary fibres, 15.2g sugar, 0.8g protein, 17.5 mg vitamin C, 5mg calcium, 171g of potassium, and 0.31mg iron. Lychees or litchis are also known to have good amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols.

1. Good For Heart Health

Litchis contain micronutrients in the form of potassium and copper. Potassium is needed for helping your heart muscles contract and “beat.” This function helps pump blood to every part of your body. Dietary copper is also helpful in preventing hypertrophy (enlargement) of the heart. Eating litchis may, therefore, promote heart health. Pumpkin Health Benefits: 7 Reasons Why the Fruit Is More Than Just a Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween.

2. Fights Cancer

Lychees are full of antioxidants epicatechin and rutin that can help fight oxidative damage in the body and improves immune functions. The vitamin C content also powers up the body’s natural defences, helping it fight off cancerous cells. A 2006 study also showed how lychee extracts can prevent the spread of breast cancer cells. The extract of litchi seeds can also be used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

3. Fights Inflammation

Thanks to its antioxidant content, the flavanol-enriched litchi can help fight any kind of inflammation in the body. It reduces the intensity of inflammatory diseases by preventing the build-up of free radicals in the body.

4. Reduces Blood Sugar

The fibre content in lychees can help slow down the absorption of blood sugar, regulating the glucose levels. The fruit can also help maintain normal sugar levels, making it a good addition to the diabetic diet. A study by the National Cheng Kung University also proved that lychee extracts could decrease insulin resistance in mice.

5. Helps Brain Functions

A study published in the journal Nutrients shows the effects of lychee seeds on the brain. It shows that the extracts in litchi can help prevent cognitive impairment and protect the neurons, staving off diseases like Alzheimer’s.

6. Improves Blood Circulation

Copper and potassium in the fruit help in cardiovascular health, aiding in better blood circulation. This boosts the supply of oxygen to every cell in the body and improving its functions.

Dangers of Eating Lychee or Litchi

Are Litchees Poisonous? Watch Video:

Although lychees are nutritious, reports of children from Muzaffarpur, Bihar in India suffering from encephalitis are common during the litchi season. Two studies done on the topic offer contrasting results. One says that eating unripe litchis on an empty stomach reduces blood sugar levels, causing brain inflammation. Another Lancet study says that the pesticides used on the litchis cause the fatal health condition.

To prevent any untoward reaction, do not eat unripe litchis, especially on an empty stomach. Make sure you soak the lychees in water overnight and remove the peels with hands before consuming them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2019 01:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).