Before you try lychee, find out about the benefits and contraindications

In recent years, hypermarkets have begun to sell lychee, a fruit with an outlandish name and exotic appearance. Its fruits look like plums with a dense red skin with pimples. What do they taste like? Does the fruit provide health benefits? How to eat it correctly? We invite you to get to know lychee better, learn about its beneficial properties, contraindications and rules of use.

What is lychee

Lychee fruits grow in clusters on a tree 10-30 meters high. The plant prefers a subtropical climate and is found in Southeast Asia, the southern states of the USA, and the African continent. The most delicious and juicy varieties are grown in China and Thailand.

Other popular names for the fruit:

• fox;
• Lacey;
• liji;
• "Chinese plum"

In China, the fruit was nicknamed “dragon eye”. Externally, the white flesh with a dark bone really resembles the eye of a strange animal. And in India, lychee was given the name “fruit of love” because it has aphrodisiac properties.

Lychee is egg-shaped and has a diameter of 2.5–4 centimeters. Typically the fruits weigh 15–20 grams.Covered with lumpy red skin, sometimes with a pink, burgundy or brown tint. The brighter the color, the sweeter the taste of the fruit. The pulp is white or creamy, with a jelly-like consistency. Inside it is a large dark brown seed that looks like a nut.

What does lychee taste like? The fruits of this fruit are sweet and sour, very juicy and aromatic. They have something of strawberries, black currants, and grapes. Unripe fruits have a tart taste.

How to properly peel and eat lychees

Before cleaning, it is recommended to wash the fruits under running water. They are brought from distant countries and treated with chemicals to extend their shelf life.

Ripe fruits are easy to peel. It is enough to lightly pick up the fruit with a fingernail or a knife in the area of ​​the stalk, and then free it from the skin, like a tangerine. To remove the seeds, cut the lychees in half or lightly press on the pulp - then the grains will pop out on their own, like corks from a bottle.

Supermarket shelves often contain unripe fruits that are difficult to peel by hand. If you come across just such fruits, cut off 0.5 centimeters of the top with a knife and divide the skin with vertical lines into equal sectors. Then the “petals” will be easily separated from the pulp by hand.

In what form are lychees eaten?

If you want to experience the real taste of lychee and give your body maximum vitamins, eat the white pulp of fresh fruits. Eat the fruit like a regular plum or with a teaspoon. Serve chilled.

Lychee also goes well with vegetable and fruit salads, poultry, fish, and is included in desserts (ice cream, jelly). In China, exquisite wine is made from the fruit. And dried fruits are a tasty and satisfying delicacy in themselves.

Frozen fruits retain most of the vitamins and microelements, but lose their pleasant sweet taste.

How much can you eat per day

Parents are primarily interested in how much lychee their children can eat. The daily norm is no more than 100 grams (5–7 pieces). Adults are allowed to eat up to 10–12 fruits per day.

The 17th century European historian Gonzalez de Mendoza wrote that lychee does not cause heaviness in the stomach, so the fruit can be eaten in unlimited quantities. However, the daily norm should not be exceeded. Why can't you eat a lot of lychee? Excessive consumption of tasty fruits will lead to diarrhea, increased urination and skin rashes.

Can you eat nuts in lychee?

It is forbidden. Raw lychee seeds contain toxins.

Accidentally swallowed a nut with pulp? There is no need to worry for two reasons.

1. Serious health consequences will only occur if you eat a mountain of seeds.
2. Due to the strong shell of the core, toxic substances are practically not absorbed by the body.

In Asian countries, lychee seeds are roasted and ground into powder. Then the toxins break down. The result is a healing drink like the famous “Chicory”. Ground seeds are used as a remedy against pain, indigestion and worms.

What not to eat lychee with

100 grams of lychee contain a lot of carbohydrates compared to other fruits - 14-15 grams. Therefore, the fruits are not recommended for use with heavy and fatty dishes, such as baked goods, fried pork, and pate.

The fruit should not be eaten during a heavy lunch or in the morning on an empty stomach. It is better to do this 1-2 hours after the main meal.

What vitamins are there in lychee?

Lychee is good for the body due to its high content of vitamins, macro- and microelements, and organic acids. Its fruits are especially rich in B vitamins and ascorbic acid.

Table 1. Vitamins, macro- and microelements in lychee

The fruit also contains vitamins PP, E, B1, B4, K, calcium, magnesium, iron and other beneficial substances:

• amino acids lysine, tryptophan and methionine slow down the aging process and prevent the occurrence of malignant tumors;
• fiber normalizes digestion, prevents constipation and bloating;
• Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids support brain health and have anti-inflammatory effects.

Beneficial properties of lychee

Chinese plums help prolong youth, preserve beauty, prevent or cure certain diseases.

For what purposes should lychees be included in the daily diet?

• Strengthening the immune system

How much fruit do you eat to strengthen your immune system and avoid getting ARVI? 6–8 pieces per day is enough. If a person is already sick, the pulp of the fruit will relieve a sore throat and help get rid of a cough.

• Prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Due to the high content of potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, lychees are used to prevent heart and vascular diseases - hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis.

The fruit removes excess fluid and “bad” cholesterol from the body, enhances blood microcirculation and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

• Normalization of digestion and weight loss

Fruits remove toxins and insoluble compounds from the body. They have a mild laxative effect, so they are eaten for chronic constipation.

Although it contains a lot of simple sugars, lychee can also be eaten by those who are on a diet. The fruit speeds up metabolism: fats and carbohydrates entering the body are converted into energy rather than sent to fat depots. B vitamins and copper prevent neuroses due to changes in diet.

• Improving the condition of skin, hair and nails

Lychee contains substances with antioxidant properties in large quantities: vitamins B, C, amino acids. They enhance collagen production. The latter makes the skin fresh, elastic, and hair shiny. Phosphorus, calcium and magnesium increase the strength of bones, teeth, and nails.

• Favorable pregnancy

Pregnant women are recommended to eat lychee fruits, as they contain folic acid, which enhances the production of red blood cells and normalizes hormonal levels. And this is the prevention of uterine bleeding, miscarriages, and premature birth. Lychee also prevents some developmental defects in the unborn baby.

In China and other Asian countries, doctors recommend eating lychees for people with liver, kidney and lung diseases.

Harm and contraindications of lychee

Lychee causes harm to health in extremely rare cases. As a rule, unpleasant symptoms are associated with an overdose of vitamin C or copper when a person eats kilograms of fruit.

Side effects that appear immediately:

• skin rashes;
• irritation of the oral mucosa;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• muscle pain, abdominal pain;
• strong thirst;
• dizziness;
• prostration.

If you constantly abuse the fruit, you may encounter problems such as urolithiasis, gastritis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and menstrual irregularities. But residents of countries with temperate climates face virtually no such danger, since they rarely eat Chinese plums.

Unripe fruits can cause harm to health. They contain hypoglycine and methylenecyclopropylglycine. When consumed on an empty stomach, these substances lead to a sharp drop in blood sugar levels and a deterioration in well-being.

List of contraindications for eating lychee:

• individual intolerance or allergy;
• increased acidity of gastric juice, ulcers, gastritis;
• gout, arthritis.

It is not recommended to eat fruit while taking birth control pills. Lychee can increase estrogen production and reduce the effectiveness of contraception.

Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women to eat lychee?

During pregnancy, lychee is not only possible, but also necessary. It’s just important not to overuse the fruit. A woman is allowed to eat up to 6–7 fruits per day.

But it is better for a nursing mother to give up exotic foods in the first 6 months after giving birth. In infants, lychee can cause skin rashes and intestinal colic. After 6 months, the fruit can be introduced into the diet of a nursing mother. The fruits are consumed 30–45 minutes before breastfeeding.

Is it possible to eat lychees if you have diabetes?

Many sources write that lychee lowers blood sugar levels, and is therefore recommended for diabetics. In fact, only unripe fruits have this property, and fresh ones contain many simple sugars that are quickly absorbed. Thus, lychees should not be eaten if you have diabetes.

In people suffering from type 1 diabetes, unripe fruits can cause a dangerous condition - hypoglycemic coma - and even lead to death.

How to choose lychee

Only ripe and fresh fruits will benefit the body. How to choose the right lychee?

• Rate the color. Fruits with bright red skin are the sweetest and juiciest. A dark burgundy or brown color indicates that the fruit was picked too late. Pale color indicates unripe fruits.
• Inspect the peel. If there are scratches, dents and stains on the surface, it means that the fruit was stored or transported incorrectly. Lychee will quickly begin to rot and lose its beneficial properties.
• Inhale the aroma. Fresh fruits have a light fruity-floral aroma. If the fruit smells acidic or moldy, it means it has already begun to deteriorate. The bitter aroma comes from the chemicals used to treat the peel to protect the fruit from parasites.

If possible, buy lychees on branches. This fruit is stored longer and retains maximum vitamins.

Growing lychee at home

Exotic fruits are not always on sale in supermarkets, and their prices are steep. But you can grow the plant yourself from the core.

What to do with the bone? Plant it to a depth of 2-3 centimeters in nutritious, moist soil. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and place it in a bright and warm place. Shoots will appear in 10-14 days. Then your task is to water the plant regularly and maintain the room temperature above 20 degrees.

Lychee definitely deserves a place on the table of a person who cares about his health. This fruit is good for the heart and blood vessels, digestion, metabolism, and appearance. The taste is reminiscent of berry jelly with a sweet and sour taste. During the cold season, it not only strengthens the immune system, but also improves mood. Don't pass by the shelves with exotic products!