Lychee tree is a tropical tree native to South China. The tree has been introduced throughout Southeast Asia and South Asia. Cultivation in China is documented from the 11th century. China is the main producer of Lychees, followed by Vietnam, India, other countries in the Indian subcontinent, Madagascar and South Africa. A tall evergreen tree, it bears small fleshy sweet fruits. The outside of the fruit is a pink- red, rough textured soft shell. The inside is white with a seed.
Cultivation of lychee began in the region of Southern China, going back to 1059 A.D, Malaysia and Northern Vietnam. Unofficial records in China refer to lychee as far back as 2000 BC. Fresh Lychees were the object of such desire that in the Tang Dynasty, one emperor set up a dedicated horse relay to deliver the fruits to the imperial Court from harvests made far to the South.
India is second largest producer of lychee which accounts for about one fifth of the global production and has a good export potential. Bihar is the largest state in lychee production in the country, whereas Assam, Orissa, Jharkhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal are the other Lychee main growing states.
Nutritional Content of Lychee:
100 grams of lychee contains 66 calories, 0.8 grams protein, 16.5 grams carbs, 15.2 grams sugar, 1.3 grams fiber, O.4 grams fat.
Lychees are high in Vitamin C, iron, copper, potassium, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus.
Lychees contain various anti-oxidant plant compounds., Polyphenols, Epicatechin and Rutin.
Immunity builder: Lychee is a good source of Vitamin C which builds collagen. It’s recommended that adults get about 75 to 90 milligrams of Vitamin C everyday. A 100 gram serving of lychee gives you 71.5 milligrams of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful anti – oxidant that prevents many chronic diseases and boosts our immunity.
Liver health : The liver converts nutrients into substances your body can use and remove toxins. Lychee fruit can protect the body against liver disease.
Anti – cancer: Lychee has possible anti cancer benefits due to Lychees high anti – oxidant content.
Weight loss: Being rich in fibre and low in calories, lychee is a perfect inclusion is a weight loss diet.
Gut health: Lychees are rich in fibres, which help maintain a smooth bowel movement and relieve constipation.
Blood pressure: Lychees are rich in potassium so is an ideal fruit for blood pressure. Being rich in copper, manganese, phosphorus and magnesium , Lychees help improve bone and heart health.
Hair and Skin: Copper present in Lychees promote hair growth. The anti-oxidants and Vitamin C are beneficial for the skin.
Anti – oxidants: Anti – oxidant plant compounds such as Epicatechin and Rutin, help protect against oxidative stress, chronic diseases, cataract, diabetes, heart diseases and cancers.
Blood sugar: Lychees are low on the glycemic index so it is safe for diabetic patients when consumed in moderate amounts. They also prevent the sudden spike in the blood glucose level. Lychee can also help in relieving sump of diabetes such as frequent urination, extreme thirst and hunger.
Side effects of Lychees:
Lychee can cause allergic reactions in some people. These allergic reactions include itching and rash on the skin, swelling of the lips and the throat and diarrhoea.
Lychees should not be consumed by expectant mothers as they can harm the unborn child by causing infections and bleeding.
All the best and Happy Healing from Naturally Dimpi!