Lychee: useful properties and contraindications of the fruit

The beneficial properties of lychee fruit are an interesting topic for lovers of exotic fruits. If you wish, you can buy them even in winter in specialized stores and use them with maximum health benefits.

Lychee - berry or fruit

Some call tropical lychee fruits fruits, others call them berries. If we consider the issue from a scientific point of view, then they are single-seeded berries, such information is contained in botanical reference books. However, in everyday life, it is quite permissible to call a lychee a fruit, since fruits grow on trees, and not on shrubs.

What is "lychee"

Litchi berry, or Chinese plum, is a large fruit up to 4 cm in diameter. The fruit grows on tall evergreen trees up to 30 m tall, the natural region of fruit growth is China.

Lychee is a fruit with a recognizable appearance

The fruits are covered with a dense red skin with numerous pointed tubercles. Inside there is a jelly-like whitish pulp, and in the middle of the berry there is a large brown oval bone. Lychee has a sweet-sour taste and a bit like white grapes.

The value and composition of lychee

The exotic fruit is highly valued not only for its pleasant taste, but also for its rich chemical composition. Lychee pulp contains the following substances:

• vitamin C;
• vitamins B1, B2, B9 and B6;
• choline;
• vitamins E and PP;
• potassium and phosphorus;
• stearic, myristic and palmitic acids;
• copper and manganese;
• linoleic and linolenic acids;
• magnesium and calcium;
• cellulose;
• iron, selenium and zinc;
• sugars and essential amino acids.

Most of all in the fruit there are carbohydrates, about 15 g. Another 0.8 g is the share of proteins, and 0.4 g of the product is taken by fats.

Calorie content

The nutritional value of the tropical fruit is low. 100 g of pulp contains 66 kcal, if you do not abuse the fruit, then it will be impossible to get better on it. In dietetics, fruits are highly valued due to their low nutritional value and metabolism-stimulating properties.

Tropical berries contain many vitamins, but their calorie content is low.

Useful properties of lychee berries

The lychee fruit has many beneficial properties. For food use, tropical berries:

• reduce cholesterol levels and protect the heart system and blood vessels from ailments;
• tone up and increase energy reserves;
• improve the intestinal microflora and help to establish peristalsis;
• remove toxins and toxins from tissues;
• suppress appetite and quench thirst, therefore they are especially useful on a diet;
• help support healthy pancreas, kidney and liver function;
• prevent the development of anemia and vitamin deficiency;
• increase immune resistance and help to cope with colds faster;
• have a beneficial effect on the body during inflammatory processes and help fight infections.

It is also necessary to note the strong antioxidant properties of the fruit; it is useful to use it for the prevention of oncology.

Useful properties of lychee peel

Dry, dense peel of the fruit is not eaten, but this does not mean that it should be thrown away. The peel of the fruit also contains a lot of useful substances, mainly fiber, organic acids and mineral components with diuretic properties. Decoctions and infusions are prepared from the peel in folk medicine, they help well with edema and kidney diseases.

Dry fruit skin is a valuable medicinal component

The benefits and harms of lychee seeds

The oblong brown bones of lychee have useful properties, they contain vitamins, tannins, minerals and organic acids. The crushed bones can be fried and used to treat nervous diseases, metabolic disorders and intestinal disruptions.

But at the same time, the dosages when using seed powder must be kept to the minimum. Poisonous components are also present in the seeds, if the permitted norms are exceeded, then the fruit seeds can lead to serious poisoning.

Lychee essential oil properties

From the pulp of the fruit, essential oil is made, a valuable cosmetic product. The oil is used to care for hair and skin of the whole body, it has softening, nourishing and regenerating properties. The hair becomes stronger and shine after the application of the oil, and the epidermis returns smoothness and softness.

Tropical fruit essential oil has a very delicate scent

Lychee tea properties

On the basis of the dried peel of the fruit, a fragrant healthy tea is brewed; it is especially popular in Chinese traditional medicine. Drinking tea is recommended for depression, chronic fatigue, increased anxiety and a tendency to neurosis.

Healthy lychee tea also helps with sore throat, helps to eliminate edema and eliminate toxins from the body. The drink restores tone and vigor, improves immune resistance and promotes cell renewal.

Is it possible to eat the seeds of lychee berries

Despite the fact that the pits of the fruit have useful properties, they cannot be consumed whole in raw or fried form, this can lead to poisoning. The seeds are only suitable for heat treatment in a crushed form and for preparing a powder. In minimal quantities, it can be used for treatment and as a seasoning.

Fresh fruit pits are poisonous, but the powder can be beneficial

Why is lychee berry useful?

The beneficial properties of the exotic fruit have a pronounced beneficial effect on the body. Lychee when consumed in moderation:

• helps relieve constipation and regulates bowel function;
• restores the balance of vitamins and minerals in the body;
• has a pronounced beneficial effect on the skin and creates a rejuvenating effect;
• helps protect against viruses and colds;
• reduces unpleasant symptoms in inflammatory processes;
• improves blood composition and strengthens blood vessels.

You can use lychee as an aphrodisiac - eating the fruit has a positive effect on the reproductive system of women and men.

Why are lychee berries useful for the female body

Eating an unusual fruit is especially beneficial for the fair sex. First of all, lychee promotes weight loss in women.Low-calorie fruit on a diet helps to remove accumulated toxins from the body, eliminates excess fluid and at the same time maintains the balance of vitamins.

With regular use, lychee has an extremely positive effect on the skin. The epidermis becomes taut and smooth, the first wrinkles and skin irritations disappear, cellulite decreases. This effect can be achieved even if you just eat the fruit, and when applied externally, lychee will bring results even faster.

The beneficial properties of the fruit are indispensable for diseases of the genitourinary system. With the help of lychee, you can fight the symptoms of cystitis and urethritis, the fruit helps with thrush and inflammatory diseases of the endometrium.

Fruit helps fight inflammation well

Lychee has a beneficial effect on the nervous system of women. Eating the fruit reduces stress, relieves anxiety and improves sleep quality.

Is it possible to lychee during pregnancy and HB

It is not prohibited to eat lychee during the period of gestation, provided that there is no allergy to the product. The beneficial properties of the fruit can be very valuable for a woman, the fruits will help to cope with toxicosis and edema that occur during pregnancy. Since berries contain a large amount of vitamins, lychee can prevent the onset of vitamin deficiency.

Also, eating the fruit is useful for the prevention of colds, the product strengthens the immune system. This is especially important for pregnant women, since even a common cold turns into a test; strong medications cannot be used during pregnancy.

Lychee fruit contains a lot of folic acid. Thus, the fruits become useful not only for the expectant mother, but also for the fetus. They contribute to the normal formation of organs and tissues in the baby.

But during lactation, it is better to remove tropical fruits from the diet until the baby is 3 months old. Although lychee enhances milk production and is therefore beneficial for a nursing mother, it can cause allergies in a baby, like any exotic fruit.

Is it possible to give lychee to children

Young children often suffer from allergies to tropical fruits, and lychees can also cause intolerance. Therefore, it is recommended to offer a fruit to a child only after reaching 3 years of age.

Exotic fruits should not be given to babies - this can lead to allergies

For the first time, a baby should be given a taste of only 1 small peeled berry. If after a few hours negative symptoms do not appear, the fruit can be left in the diet and spoil the child with it from time to time.

Application of lychee berries

The beneficial properties of fruits are used for several purposes: to lose excess weight, for treatment and for making desserts. In order for the fruit to reveal its valuable properties and taste as much as possible, you should study the ways of its use in more detail.

For medicinal purposes

The lychee pulp has a medicinal effect with normal food consumption. But more often in folk medicine, the properties of the peel and seeds are used to treat ailments, and infusions and decoctions are prepared on their basis.

Infusion of lychee peel to tone up

To strengthen the immune system and tone the body, you can prepare the following infusion:

• dried skins of several lychee berries are ground in a coffee grinder to a powder;
• 1 large spoonful of raw materials is poured with a glass of boiling water;
• the product is insisted for 15 minutes and passed through cheesecloth.

You need to take the infusion twice a day on an empty stomach - in the morning before breakfast and in the evening shortly before dinner. You can use the tool not only to increase the general tone, but also to treat colds and sore throat.

Peel decoction

A medicinal decoction can be prepared from the fresh peel of the fruit, which will benefit from cardiovascular ailments. The recipe looks like this:

• peel off several berries, rinse it thoroughly and put it in an enamel pan;
• the peel is poured with water so that it completely covers the raw material, and put on low heat;
• after boiling, cover the pan with a lid and boil the peel for another 20 minutes.

After cooking, the broth is kept under the lid for 15 minutes, and then filtered. You need to take the remedy 1 large spoonful before breakfast and in the evening before dinner, the broth will bring a good effect with high cholesterol, a tendency to atherosclerosis and heart ailments.

Decoction of lychee peel with lemongrass

For the prevention of oncological ailments, the following remedy is recommended:

• dry lychee peel and dried leaves of lemongrass are crushed to a powder state;
• raw materials are mixed in equal amounts, 1 large spoon;
• pour the mixture with a liter of boiling water and put in a water bath;
• heat the broth for 10 minutes.

After the product has cooled down, it is passed through cheesecloth, and then 200 ml is consumed three times a day on an empty stomach.

Seed powder infusion

With neuralgia, an infusion on a dry powder made from fruit seeds has a good effect. To receive funds, you must:

• rinse lychee seeds, dry them in the air, and then grind them in a coffee grinder;
• pour 1 large spoonful of powder with hot water and leave for 1-2 hours;
• strain the sediment.

The infusion must be taken 1 large spoon three times a day. The remedy will help relieve neuralgic pain and, in general, will allow you to quickly cope with the disease.

Fruit peels and seeds after processing help fight inflammation

In cooking

Most often, lychee fruits are consumed fresh as a fruit dessert. But they are also used to prepare juices, homemade wines and liqueurs, compotes. The pulp of the fruit is added to pancakes and pies as an unusual filling, used in pastries and cakes.

Lychee improves the palatability of fruit salads. The fruit gives an unusual taste to meat and fish dishes, and is also included in refreshing sweet and sour fruit sauces.

The benefits of lychee for weight loss

The exotic fruit contains a lot of fiber and diuretic components. Berries have a low calorie content, but at the same time they are well saturated. Thanks to these properties, lychee is beneficial when consumed during a diet, the fruit muffles appetite, removes excess fluid from the body, and helps to get rid of toxins.

Limitations and contraindications

For some diseases, it is not recommended to use lychee. The list of contraindications includes:

• individual allergy to fruits;
• pancreatitis and stomach ulcer in the acute stage;
• gastritis with a high level of acidity;
• gout.

It is necessary to use the fruits with caution in case of diabetes mellitus, the pulp contains a lot of natural sugars. The daily dosage of lychee for a healthy person should not exceed 200-300 g, otherwise the abuse of the fruit can lead to the development of diarrhea and allergic reactions.

Fresh fruit should be evenly red, but not too dark

Selection and storage rules

Choosing a fresh and tasty fruit in the store is quite simple, even if you have no experience of eating lychee:

1. You need to buy solid to the touch, weighty fruits, covered with a relief shell.
2. The peel should be free of dents, cracks or other damage.
3. Ripe fruit should be dark pink or red in color. If the skin of the berries is crimson or with a brown tint, this means that the fruits are overripe and will no longer be able to please with a pleasant taste.

As for the storage of fruits, they need to be kept in plastic bags in the refrigerator, they retain their freshness and useful properties for 1-2 weeks.If you provide for the lychee humidity at 85% and the temperature not higher than 2 ° C, then the fruits can be stored for up to 10 weeks.

For long-term storage, lychee berries can be frozen, in which case they can retain useful properties for up to 2 years. Dried fruits at room temperature can be stored for up to a year in dry glass jars.

You can keep the fruit in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties of lychee fruit are very diverse; you can use berries not only for pleasure, but also for medicinal purposes. Medicinal infusions are made from the pulp, peel and seeds of the fruit, which help with many ailments. The main thing is to follow proven recipes and small dosages.