Lychee (otherwise known as “fox”, “liji”, “Chinese plum”, “laysi”, “dragon eye”) is a tasty and healthy fruit that can be found not only in the countries of Southeast Asia, but also in domestic supermarkets. Recently, these fruits have been exported to us mainly from Vietnam and Thailand. However, many still do not know what lychee fruit tastes like and how to eat it. The benefits and harms of “Chinese plum” are of interest to many consumers. Let's try to figure this out.
What does lychee look like?
This fruit is small in size (from 2.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter) and weighs about 15, maximum 20 g. It has an oval or ovoid shape. The reddish or pinkish peel of lychee is dense, but brittle, and consists of numerous tubercles. The jelly-like juicy pulp of the fruit has a white or cream tint. It has an excellent, refreshing, sweet and sour taste and pleasant aroma. Inside the fruit there is an inedible seed, oblong in shape, dark brown in color. This is what lychee fruit looks like, the photo clearly demonstrates it. 
This interesting fruit grows in clusters on evergreen trees of the Sapindaceae family, reaching a height of 30 m. They have a dense, spreading crown. Their leaves are dense and leathery, usually a rich dark green hue. Lychee trees bloom with numerous yellowish flowers, collected in hanging inflorescences similar to “umbrellas”.
Where did this tropical fruit come from?
The birthplace of lychee is considered to be China, where this fruit has been grown for more than 1000 years. Since ancient times, the Chinese called this fruit the “eye of the dragon”, due to the bright combination of red peel, white pulp and brown seed. In Europe, they learned about this tasty fruit only in the 17th century. Where does lychee grow now? Nowadays, trees of the Sapindaceae family actively bear fruit in vast areas of Southeast Asia, Australia, the countries of South America and Africa (South Africa), as well as in the southern United States. This fruit is exported to Russia mainly from the northern regions of Vietnam and Thailand. Harvest in the subtropics in May-June, cutting off the bunches along with the stem part of the branch. Fruits collected individually spoil extremely quickly and begin to ferment. 
Lychee - a storehouse of vitamins and minerals
This tropical fruit has a variety of beneficial properties, as it contains a lot of vitamins. "Dragon's eye" is rich in valuable micro- and macroelements. Lychee contains B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. Dragon eye also contains vitamins K, E, H and folic acid. It contains especially a lot of vitamin C. In addition, lychee is rich in healthy dietary fiber and plenty of clean water. In addition, Chinese plums are rich in minerals, including copper, fluorine, zinc, manganese, and iodine. It contains phosphorus, sodium, calcium, iron, sulfur and potassium. The sugar content in lychee varies between 5-15% depending on where the fruit grows.
Lychee fruit. Benefits and harms
Such a high content of valuable vitamins, micro- and macroelements, as well as fiber and pure water makes the “Chinese plum” an extremely healthy product. It saturates a person with necessary substances, gives strength and vigor. Lychee has an excellent tonic effect on the body as a whole and mobilizes the immune system. In China, it has been known since ancient times that “dragon eye” is a powerful natural aphrodisiac. It is able to rejuvenate the body, activate desire and maintain “love” functions at the proper level. Lychee fruit has been successfully used for the prevention and treatment of many serious diseases. Its benefits and harm are, in fact, disproportionate. Counts, 
"Chinese plum" cannot cause serious harm to human health. But its benefits are enormous. However, it is advisable to exercise caution when consuming the fruit. You should not eat too much lychee at once. Otherwise, an allergic reaction may occur. It manifests itself as acne on the skin and damage to the oral mucosa. First, you should try one or two fruits and monitor the body’s reaction. If everything is in order, you can safely eat up to 250 g of “Chinese plum” per day (for adults). Children over 2 years old need to consume about 100 g of fruit. It is not advisable to include lychees in the diet of one-year-old babies. “Chinese plum” is contraindicated for those who have been found to have an individual intolerance to it.
How is lychee fruit used in folk medicine? how is it useful?
This tropical fruit is widely used in folk oriental medicine. It can and should be used to prevent vitamin deficiency and anemia. Lychee is often used to prevent cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, because it contains a significant amount of potassium. 
The fruit also contains nicotinic acid, which has a positive effect on lipid metabolism in the body. Lychee fruit helps clear cholesterol from the blood and dilates blood vessels. What else is it useful for? It is used to normalize blood sugar levels, so it is indicated for people with diabetes or hypoglycemia. In addition, useful decoctions and infusions are made from the “Chinese plum”, which normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, have a mild laxative effect, and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys. People with lung diseases, including those suffering from bronchitis, asthma or tuberculosis, are prescribed to take preparations with lychee. These drugs make breathing easier and normalize the function of the respiratory system. Regular consumption of lychee is beneficial for those who have peptic ulcers, gastritis and pancreatic diseases. In oriental medicine, “Chinese plum” in combination with lemongrass is even used to treat cancer, including breast cancer. Is lychee peel healthy? It is no less valuable than the pulp of the fruit. Lychee peel is used to prepare decoctions and infusions that have a pronounced diuretic effect. They help remove excess fluid from body tissues, and also increase overall tone and improve well-being.
"Chinese plum" in dietary nutrition
Nutritionists recommend eating lychee in order to saturate the body with water and also reduce the feeling of hunger. “Chinese plum” contains pectin. It allows you to quickly saturate the body, giving nutrition to the beneficial intestinal microflora. Therefore, it is recommended to eat several lychee fruits before each meal, which will reduce the standard portion of food and avoid overeating. The calorie content of lychee is only 76 kcal/100 g, so people who carefully monitor their weight can eat it without fear.
How to choose good, fresh fruit in the store?
If you want to purchase high-quality, tasty fruits, you must follow the following simple rules. Firstly, when choosing a lychee, you need to pay attention to the color of its peel. It should be pink or red. Brown color indicates that the fruit was picked from the tree a long time ago and has already deteriorated. The taste of dark-colored lychee will be unpleasant, and the smell will be sharper and stronger. The light yellow color of the fruit, on the contrary, indicates its immaturity. This fruit is also not worth purchasing. Secondly, when choosing a “Chinese plum” you need to pay attention to the presence of damage. A good fruit will not have any suspicious spots, dents, or cracks. Thirdly, the lychee should be elastic, as if it would soon “burst”. You should not take a fruit that is too soft or, conversely, hard. Fourthly, there should be no white spots or mold in the place where the petiole was located. And finally, the scent of lychee should be pleasant, fresh, slightly reminiscent of a rose. Too heavy and sweet indicates overripeness and staleness of the fruit.
"Dragon's Eye" in cooking
How to eat lychee? You just need to wash the fruit under running water, peel it, and then remove the inedible pit. The juicy pulp of the fruit can be eaten fresh. Reminiscent of a mixture of strawberries, white grapes, currants and dried apricots, lychee fruit. Its taste is pleasant, sweet and sour, fresh. In addition to eating fresh, lychees can be canned, dried, frozen and cooked. It is used to make drinks and desserts, including delicious ice cream, various sauces, mousses, and jellies. Lychee is used to make excellent golden wine, with a pleasant fruity aromatic and soft sweet and sour aftertaste. 
"Dragon's eye" is also used in preparing dishes from game, meat and sea fish. In Chinese restaurants, you can taste deep-fried shrimp in sweet and sour sauce with lychee (Lizhi Xia Qiu). If you manage to buy fresh "Chinese plum", be sure to try making sweet and sour chicken with almonds and lychee sauce at home. In addition, the fruit is used in the preparation of various baked goods, it is added to the filling of pies and pies, and cookies and cakes are made from it.
How to properly store lychee?
The issue of storing the “dragon eye” deserves special attention. In general, it is advisable to eat this fruit as soon as possible - on the first day after purchase. At room temperature, lychee can be safely kept for 2-3 days. In the refrigerator, at 7°C, lychee can be kept for one or two weeks, provided that the shell is intact and there is no damage. In general, this fruit spoils quite quickly, its peel darkens and the amount of vitamins in its composition decreases. If you want to preserve lychees for a long time, we advise you to peel the fruits and freeze them. You can also dry the fruit or preserve it. In China, pickled lychees are stored inside bamboo stalks. In India and Vietnam, the whole fruit is dried, after which the peel becomes hard, and such fruits are called “nuts.” In this article we looked at an interesting Chinese fruit - lychee, the benefits and harms of which concern many consumers. As you can see, the “Chinese plum” has practically no contraindications and therefore can be safely eaten. Moreover, it is rich in vitamins, minerals and has a lot of undeniable advantages! Be sure to try this delicious exotic product.
Lychee fruit (dragon eye), its benefits and harm
(or Lizhi) is an exotic fruit that grows in Central Asia, in some countries of Africa and South America, although its homeland is considered China, where the fruit is often called "Chinese plum" or "dragon eye". Fruit grows on trees of the family Sapindovs, which begin to bloom in early May, and already at the end of June bring a rich harvest. Lychee is vaguely similar to a plum, has a dense pimply peel, a brown seed inside and juicy jelly-like pulp of a milky shade. The refreshing taste of the fruit resembles pineapple-strawberry puree, and the fruits themselves are no more than 4 cm in diameter. Chemical composition and nutritional value
Behind the lumpy skin lies a delicate, creamy substance. It has a subtle sweet and sour taste and contains a whole bunch of useful substances:
- vitamins – K, E, C, group B (PP, B6, B5, B9, B1, B2);
- mineral components – selenium, manganese, iodine, copper, zinc, phosphorus, chromium, iron, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium;
- beta-carotene and carotene (zeaxanthin);
- choline;
- mono- and disaccharides;
- fatty acid;
- alimentary fiber;
- fiber;
- pectins;
- ash.
Lychee on 82% consists of water. The essential oils contained in the peel give the fruit a subtle odor that is a bit reminiscent of a tea rose.
The nutritional value fruits per 100 g is:
- proteins ~ 0.84 g;
- fats ~ 0.45 g;
- carbohydrates ~ 15.21 g;
- energy value ~ 65 kcal.
In fruits, each of which weighs about 20 grams, contains a small amount of fat, complex carbohydrates and several tens of times more than all other fruits, zeaxanthin, together with vitamin A, which is responsible for visual acuity.
Beneficial properties of lychee
In India, lychees were nicknamed "fruit of love". The fruit is considered an aphrodisiac and is used to stimulate and restore the function of the reproductive system.
Eating fruits also has the following effects impact:
- normalization of the cardiovascular system;
- reducing the risk of developing heart disease;
- reducing blood cholesterol levels;
- restoration of vascular elasticity;
- prevention of atherosclerosis;
- decreased blood sugar;
- preventing the development of diseases of the stomach, intestines and digestive organs;
- prevention of anemia;
- stabilization of liver and kidney function;
- restoration of hormonal metabolism;
- preventing the development of cancerous tumors;
- normalization of water-salt balance and reduction of tissue swelling;
- reducing the risk of developing respiratory system diseases;
- anti-tuberculosis effect.
The fruit extract is also used in cosmetology. Pulp puree has a moisturizing and softening effect, oil extracts are included in masks and creams. Eating fruits in the summer reduces the negative effects of UV rays on the skin, preventing its premature aging.
Lychee in a healthy diet
The fruits contain sufficient amounts fiber and dietary fiber, which helps eliminate gastrointestinal dysfunctions, remove waste and toxins, as well as normalize metabolism and accelerate metabolism. Regular presence of fruits in the diet eliminates constipation and improves intestinal motility. Lychee - fruit low calorie, which characterizes its dietary benefits. The balanced composition and unique properties contribute to rapid saturation and long-term satisfaction of hunger. If you eat a couple of fruits before meals, you can halve your usual serving size and reduce the risk of overeating.
Fresh lychees contain more benefits, but the fruit is actively used in cooking for preparations:
- drinks (juices, low- and alcoholic wines);
- cocktails (fruit and milk);
- fruit salads;
- sauces;
- desserts (jelly, mousses, puddings);
- marinades;
- puree;
- fillings for pies and pancakes;
- ice cream;
- baking and confectionery products.
The fruits are popular in dried and canned form; they practically do not lose their properties during heat treatment, enhancing the taste and aroma of ready-made dishes. Lychee combine with many products:
- fruits;
- vegetables (fresh and canned);
- greens;
- berries;
- milk;
- fermented milk products;
- cereals;
- cereals and bran;
- fish;
- bird;
- seafood;
- lean and lean meat;
- dried fruits;
- nuts;
- cheeses;
- cream;
- any juices.
It's better to eat fruit in purified form Be sure to remove the bone. The fruit is included in the menu of fruit diets and fasting days. It is great for breakfasts, lunches and afternoon snacks, perfectly highlighting the taste of cereals, yoghurts, muesli and cottage cheese dishes. Lychee should not be eaten with fatty, spicy or smoked foods, mayonnaise, ketchup, as well as legumes and coffee.
How to eat lychees correctly
The presence of lychee is unacceptable in the diet children under 5 years old, older children are allowed to give 2-3 fruits per week. Fruits are allowed during pregnancy.
For adults, the daily norm during the diet, when the amount of fatty and high-calorie foods is maximally reduced, is no more than 100 g. With a normal diet, the lychee norm is characterized by 3-4 fruits 2-3 times a week.
Harm and contraindications
The red color of the peel determines the allergic properties of the fruit, so excessive consumption can lead to individual intolerance. Lychees should not be eaten with starchy foods to avoid the risk of digestive upset, heartburn and increased gas formation. It is not recommended to add fruits in large quantities to meat dishes, as this can cause severity and aggravation of gastric diseases. In addition, there are exotic fruits on an empty stomach It's also not worth it.
How to choose lychee fruits
When choosing quality fruits, special attention should be paid to peel, it should be of uniform thickness, without signs of damage, cracks or stains, and of a uniform red-pink color. You should not take brown fruit - it is probably stale and has already begun to deteriorate. Unedible fruits have a stronger odor and unpleasant taste. This usually means that they were picked green and the ripening process did not occur correctly. When shaken lightly, a good fruit should tap a little, and be soft to the touch, but elastic. The aroma of fresh ripe lychee gives off a floral trail. It is better to choose fruits on a branch - they have more benefits and useful elements.
How best to store the product
Lychee can be stored in a cool place or refrigerator without losing its properties and changing its composition at t from -1 to +6 °С within 10-14 weeks. They will lie in a warm room 5-6 days.
Individual fruits are dried in their peels, withered, and peeled ones are frozen and canned. Well-dried lychees are used as nuts, while under-dried ones are used as dried fruits.
The exotic fruit with a red lumpy skin and pearly softness has a rich nutritional composition, helps strengthen vision, heart, normalize digestion and defeat the hated extra pounds. In reasonable quantities, it will be an excellent addition to the daily diet, and thanks to the folic acid contained in the fruit, it will provide a boost of energy and good mood.
Beneficial properties of lychee - an exotic fruit from the tropics
Most people, when they hear the word “lychee,” will not think that it means a tasty fruit, although this fruit has been known in Europe since the 18th century. It is imported from tropical countries. Lychee originally grew in China, from where it spread to other countries in Southeast Asia. This fruit is also called Chinese plum or Chinese grape. The beneficial properties of lychee have helped this fruit become very popular. This amazingly beautiful fruit can be purchased at markets from July to October, and in winter only in canned form.
Description of lychee
These small fruits are oval or round in shape, no more than 4 cm in size. The fruit has a rather dense red skin with many pimples, so it looks a bit like a children's rubber ball. The peel is easily separated from the pulp, which is very tasty and aromatic. The inside of the fruit resembles a grape and has the same jelly-like consistency.
The color of the flesh is white or creamy. Inside it is a dark large bone. In China, the fruit is called "dragon's eye" - this is what the cut fruit looks like. Lychee is valued for its refreshing sweet and sour taste and delicate tart aroma, reminiscent of the scent of a tea rose. But besides its unusual taste, it has many beneficial properties. Therefore, lychee is consumed not only as a delicacy, but also as a dietary food.
Properties of fruits
The pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals. The fruits are especially rich in vitamin C, nicotinic acid and magnesium and potassium salts. They also contain proteins, complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Lychee pulp contains a lot of structured water, calcium, sulfur, iron, iodine and zinc. This fruit is low in calories, so it is useful for obesity. It has a low glycemic index and low sugar content.
Benefits of lychee
- The fruit is a strong aphrodisiac, which is why in the East it is also called the fruit of love.
- Its consumption reduces cholesterol levels and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The beneficial properties of lychee are also manifested in the fact that it has a vasodilating effect and maintains the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, so it is good to use as a preventive measure for atherosclerosis and stroke.
- The tender pulp of the fruit is very refreshing, quenches thirst, and has a tonic effect.
- Eating fruits improves metabolism and normalizes digestion. They are low in calories, so they promote weight loss.
- The beneficial properties of lychee make it indispensable for diabetics, lowering blood sugar levels.
- The fruits are useful for gastritis and ulcers, diseases of the liver and pancreas, and constipation.
- The presence of protein and minerals makes it an excellent remedy for anemia and exhaustion. It easily satisfies hunger and saturates the body with energy.
- In oriental medicine, the beneficial properties of lychee are used in the treatment of kidney diseases. A decoction of the peel removes excess water from tissues well.
- The fruit is useful for bronchitis, tuberculosis and other lung diseases.
- In China, they even treat cancer by eating lychee along with lemongrass.
Lychee: benefits and harm
Despite such many beneficial properties, lychee can harm the body, especially children. This fruit causes severe allergic reactions in some people. When consumed in large quantities, flatulence begins. In addition, lychee is incompatible with protein foods and starches, as it can cause intestinal upset and diarrhea.
How to choose lychee fruits
The best way to experience the taste and aroma of the fruit is when fresh. But they retain their properties when dried, frozen or canned. Refreshing drinks made from lychee are popular in the East. In our markets, these fruits are usually sold from July to October. They are stored for a long time and are easy to transport, but you need to be able to choose them correctly so as not to acquire overripe or rotten fruits.
- Be sure to shake each fruit. You should hear a slight tapping sound - this is evidence of the ripeness and freshness of the lychee.
- Fresh fruit emits a light, delicate aroma of tea rose. It should be pleasant and not strong.
- Fresh fruits should have a red, not too dark and not too soft skin, which should not have any damage or white spots of mold.
How to use this fruit
Lychee is tastier and healthier when eaten fresh. It is peeled and placed on a plate. These delicious fruits can be consumed in canned or processed form. They make delicious ice cream, soft jam, marmalade and jam. The pulp is also used to make filling for sweet pies, drinks or syrup. And in China they make aromatic wine from lychee. The pulp can be added to tea, sauces and alcoholic cocktails. It goes well with meat and fish dishes, it is added to light salads and roasts. This fruit can be dried and frozen.
- Although these fruits are very common in Asia, only a small part of the huge number ripens.
- In ancient times, only the rich could eat this fruit; peasants were prohibited from doing so.
- Every year in Thailand a traditional holiday is held - the Lychee Festival.
- This fruit has one drawback: it is advisable to consume it immediately after harvesting. Fruits picked from a tree quickly lose their taste.
In oriental medicine, the lychee fruit is very actively used, the beneficial properties of which have been well known since ancient times.
Beneficial properties of lychee
Lychee is one of the most valuable products in the east, and recently it can be found on the shelves of supermarkets in our country. The fruits of this plant are not only incredibly tasty, but also healthy. Lychee is a tree that belongs to the Sapindaceae family. There are about two thousand species and one hundred and fifty genera in the world. Lychee grows mainly in Africa, America and Asia. Not such a large number can be found in Australia. In each of the above countries, the beneficial properties of lychee have long been known.
The fruit first became known in China, where it is also called “lisi” or “liji”. Many documents that date back to the second century BC indicate that the fruits of the plant in question were eaten in ancient China. Over time, the fame of the miraculous fruit began to spread to neighboring countries, and very soon lychee became popular in Southeast Asia and other continents. For the first time, the beneficial properties of lychee were described in detail in the book of Gonzalez de Mendoza, a writer from Spain who promoted Chinese culture.
The average size of the fruits of the plant in question is three and a half centimeters; as for the shape, it can be ovoid or oval. The weight of the fetus can reach a maximum of twenty grams. The fruit is covered with a dense peel, intensely colored red and covered with small tubercles with pimples. Inside the fruit there is white pulp, which resembles jelly in its consistency. Inside the pulp you can find a large, dense, brown seed. The taste of the fruit pulp is surprisingly pleasant, refreshing, sweet and sour. The aroma is no less pleasant and unusual. The Chinese call this fruit the dragon's eye because the flesh is light and the seed inside is large and dark.
Chemical composition of lychee:
- One hundred grams of fruit contains 17 g of carbohydrates, 0.3 g of fat, 0.9 g of protein and 79.5 g of water.
- The fruit also contains vitamin K, C, B9, B6, B5, Niacin, B2 and B1, E and Biotin.
- Macroelements include Phosphorus, Chlorine, Sulfur, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium.
- Among the microelements in 100 g of pulp are 10 mcg of fluorine, 70 mcg of zinc, 140 mcg of copper, 55 mcg of manganese, 1.3 mcg of iodine and 0.35 mcg of iron.
- The calorie content of lychee is 76 kcal per 100 g.
Beneficial properties of lychee
The benefits of lychee are due to the presence of abundant minerals and vitamins in it. Lychee is often recommended to people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, since it contains a lot of calcium and vitamin C. It is heart patients in China who often include this fruit in their diet. Also, Chinese sages strongly recommended lychees to those who want to lower blood cholesterol levels or to people with atherosclerosis.
The combination of lychee and lemongrass helps treat cancer. Residents of the East consider this fruit to be the fruit of love, and also use it as a component to treat gastritis, constipation and many other diseases. The thirst-quenching properties of lychee are well known to people who are forced to stay away from water sources for a long time.
The preventive effect of the fruit on the human body is already known to many today; lychee has a beneficial effect on the liver and kidneys. If we talk about medicinal products, the fruit in question is used to treat asthma, respiratory diseases, bronchitis and tuberculosis. If you eat ten fruits of the tree a day, the blood sugar level of diabetics can be brought back to normal.
The benefits of lychee are also represented by the following properties:
- Promotes weight loss;
- Normalizes the functioning of the digestive system;
- Excellent thirst quencher;
- Has a tonic effect;
- Treats anemia;
- Reduces blood sugar levels;
- Treats constipation.
Contraindications to consuming lychee
The fruit is very tasty and healthy, but you need to know the limit in everything. Abuse of the fruits of this tree in rare cases can cause an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, pimples or irritation of the mucous membrane. Children can consume no more than 100 g of pulp per day. In rare cases, individual intolerance occurs.
Benefits of lychee (video)
Exotic fruits
An ancient tropical crop of the genus Passiflora, producing oval fruits of yellow or dark purple color (when ripe) growing on vines. Passion fruit is grown for its juice, which is often added to other fruit juices for flavor.
Passion fruit is native to Brazil but is now grown in Australia, South America and South Africa.
Passion fruit is a yellow-orange or dark purple oval-shaped fruit measuring about 6-12 cm. Fruits with smooth, shiny skin are preferred, but are sweeter with rough, cracked skin.
You can simply cut the fruit in half and eat the aromatic pulp. Passion fruit seeds are also quite edible - they are used to decorate cakes and other confectionery products.
The sweet and sour juice of passion fruit is valuable in cooking, and since it has high tonic properties, it is also used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetology.
When purchasing passion fruit, you should look for the large, wrinkled fruits with dark purple skin and sweet yellowish-green seeds. Ripe fruit can last in the refrigerator for about a week.
Beneficial properties of passion fruit:
Passion fruit helps improve intestinal function and has a mild laxative effect. In addition, these fruits stimulate the excretion of uric acid from the body and act as a natural antipyretic. Passion fruit is recommended for people suffering from diseases of the urinary tract and liver, as well as for low blood pressure. The juice of this fruit has a calming effect and helps improve sleep.
Passion fruit contains alpha hydroxy acids. Improves hydration, elasticity and skin tone. Used in cosmetics (gels) for aging skin with poor blood circulation, prone to acne and oily skin with poor self-cleaning ability.
Passion fruits contain significant amounts of vitamins and minerals, are rich in fiber and substances with antioxidant activity. Nutritionists recommend consuming passion fruit for diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver, urinary tract and for weight loss.
Passion fruit also has antimicrobial, antipyretic and laxative effects, and also reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, improves the functioning of the digestive system and promotes the removal of uric acid and other metabolic products from the body.
Passion fruit has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and urinary tract. The soluble fiber that the fruit contains reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Insoluble fiber normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and is used to prevent various diseases of the digestive system. Passion fruit also has an anti-inflammatory effect, protects the body from viral infections, and regulates the functioning of the nervous system. Passion fruit juice has a calming effect and improves sleep.
Passion fruit juice has a tonic effect, has a calming effect on the body, helps you sleep and suppresses the growth of cancer cells, and is also widely used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetology.
Passion fruit seeds are edible, but have a sleeping pill effect. The fruit contains passionflower glucoside, which provides its calming effect on the body. Passion flowers are used to produce sedative medications.
Dangerous properties of passion fruit:
Durian has such a disgusting smell that you are unlikely to be allowed into a public place with it. The smell is very persistent and even after a long time after eating it, the aroma remains and, most importantly, it does not disappear or be killed by cosmetics. This is the main reason why it cannot be stored for a long time. . However, if you overcome your disgust or simply close your nose and taste the juicy pulp, you will immediately understand where the concept came from king of fruits.
The name comes from the Malay word thorn - duri, as well as the suffix an, which means prickly fruit. Its homeland is India, Indonesia, Ceylon, Thailand, the Philippines and Indochina. There is an opinion that the best durian grows on a plantation near Bangkok.
This fruit has quite large fruits, which can reach 30 cm and weigh up to 8 kilograms. They are completely covered with a peel, which is “decorated” with spines. Inside there are several oblong chambers, and in them there are delicate yellowish-white tasty masses.
Durian is an evergreen tree - a giant that grows up to 40 meters in height. It has shiny and leathery leaves that are slightly pointed and alternately arranged. The upper part of the leaves is smooth, while the opposite part is covered with scales. This amazing fruit blooms for only a few hours: golden brown, white or golden flowers have a heavy sour smell. They open at dusk and fall by dawn. The main period of fruit ripening is the beginning of spring and ends at the end of summer.
This purchase will require special attention during the off-season, since this is when bad durians are often found on the shelves. When pressed, the fruit should be slightly soft. Overripe fruits are very soft, while unripe ones cannot be pressed at all. The maturity of this product can also be determined by the condition of the thorns. If they move, then the fruits are of high quality and ripe, but if they are motionless, then it still needs to lie down. Pay attention to the smell of durian. If it has a very strong aroma, then there is a very high probability that it will be snotty inside - overripe.
You should not draw conclusions based on the color of the fruit, because the colors of different varieties are very different.
At room temperature, this product can be stored for 5 days, but no more.
The seeds of this amazing fruit have been used in cooking for centuries. They are mainly used as a seasoning. These fruits have a strong pungent odor that resembles a mixture of cheese, rotten onions and turpentine. Despite this, the pulp has a rather pleasant taste, so it is eaten as a delicious dessert.
Most often, durian is used to make milkshakes, chips, ice cream and dried fruits. Sometimes it is fried just like potatoes. It should be noted that it goes well with coffee.
Useful properties of durian:
This fruit is very rich in proteins, fats, vitamins and carbohydrates. It is very important to know that it does not contain cholesterol. The pulp contains vitamin C, niacin, carotene, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, iron, nicotinic acid and phosphorus.
Durian is considered a unique fruit due to the organic sulfur it contains. This is what causes its characteristic and not very pleasant aroma. This is the only fruit with sulfur in the world that is suitable for human consumption. Durian has a wonderful property - it can increase potency.
The pulp of this amazing fruit is an anthelmintic. Durian roots and leaves are used to prepare a decoction, which will later be used as an antipyretic. People suffering from fever apply the juice from the leaves of this plant to their heads. To relieve skin inflammation, use a decoction of durian leaves and fruits. If you have a bile spill, you should take a medicinal bath from the leaves of this exotic fruit. The ash of this plant is used during the postpartum period.
Dangerous properties of durian:
The consumption of this exotic fruit is prohibited for people with high blood pressure. It is contraindicated for consumption during pregnancy. Nursing mothers should also avoid eating this fruit.
Under no circumstances should it be combined with alcohol, as this can cause poisoning and a number of complications.
Due to its outstanding appearance, the fruit is called “dragon fruit” or “prickly pear”. This is a bushy tree-like cactus, with juicy fruits ripening at the ends of its stems. Flowers appear on it strictly on the first and fifteenth day of the month.
Depending on the species, the size of the fruit, the color of the pulp (white, pink, purple), the color of the skin (from yellow to orange, from red to purple) and the texture of the surface of the fruit (with small outgrowths, with thin colored scales) vary. The pulp of the fruit is always filled with small black seeds, which are usually peeled out.
The taste of pitahaya is somewhat inferior to its appearance - not aromatic, unsaturated, slightly sweet.
The attractive-looking fruits of pitihaya are actively used in cooking and primarily in the production of various alcoholic beverages. The juice and pulp are added to sweets, ice cream, sherbets, yoghurts and various dairy products; jam, sauces and jellies are made from the pulp. Pitahaya juice is mixed with lemon and lime juice to make “summer drinks.”
To prepare pitaya for consumption, the fruit is usually cut vertically into two halves. After this, you can either cut these halves into slices (similar to how you cut a melon), or scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Although pitaya seeds are rich in valuable lipids, they are generally indigestible unless chewed. The peel is inedible and may contain pesticides.
Beneficial properties of pitahaya:
Pitahaya is low in calories, contains proteins, water, phosphorus, calcium, iron, vitamin C, PP, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin).
The latest results of medical research have added even greater attractiveness to the fruit. In their opinion, eating pitahaya helps relieve stomach pain. In addition, the fruit is useful for those suffering from diabetes or other endocrine diseases.
The fruit is useful for those suffering from diabetes and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and immune systems.
Dangerous properties of pitahaya:
Eating large amounts of red-skinned pitahaya (such as Costa Rican) may cause pseudohematuria, a harmless reddening of the urine and feces.
Cherimoya is a tree 5-9 m high with two-row leaves up to 7-15 cm long and 4-9 wide. The flowers are located along the branches on short stalks and consist of three fleshy outer petals and three much smaller inner ones.
Cherimoya begins to bear fruit at the age of 4-5 years. And after 6 years of age, the tree will delight you with 2 dozen or even more fragrant and tasty fruits.
The complex segmented fruit has a heart-shaped or conical shape, 10-20 cm long and up to 10 cm wide and contains inside fragrant white fibrous cream pulp and about twenty black shiny seeds. The weight of the fetus varies from 0.5 to 3 kilograms.
Cherimoya is also known by the name “ice cream tree”, which it received due to its consistency, reminiscent of the consistency of ice cream when frozen, and also for its delicate sweet taste, which serves as an additive to this type of dessert. In general, if we describe the taste of cherimoya, we can say that it resembles pineapple, strawberries, papaya, mango, banana and cream at the same time.
Cutting this large, green, heart-shaped fruit into pieces reveals white flesh with black seeds. The pulp has a soft, creamy texture. When cooled, it resembles tropical sherbet. In Chile, it is a favorite filling for waffle cups for ice cream and cakes, and it is also added to yogurt.
The cherimoya pulp is eaten with a spoon, after cutting the fruit in half lengthwise. Cherimoya is added to salads, drinks, and desserts. To prevent darkening, cherimoya pieces are sprinkled with lemon or orange juice. Be careful - cherimoya seeds are inedible and should be spat out.
Beneficial properties of cherimoya:
Cherimoya fruits contain many useful substances: proteins, carbohydrates, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, glucose, fructose, sucrose, cellulose, lignin and pepsins, as well as organic acids - citric and succinic.
Cherimoya contains vitamin C and B vitamins.
Thanks to the ideal combination of acids and sugars, cherimoya is an easily digestible, nutritious and very tasty product. Eating these fruits normalizes stomach acidity, improves liver function, and promotes weight loss.
In South America, a soothing and relaxing tea is made from the bark and leaves, which improves digestion and also has a mild laxative effect. Indians believe that cherimoya leaves prevent the development of tumors. Two tablespoons of crushed dry fruits are an excellent antidote for food poisoning.
Dangerous properties of cherimoya:
Cherry kernels are extremely toxic. And, although nature took care of our safety by creating them unusually hard, there are those who want to try this part of the exotic fruit. They should absolutely not be chewed, crushed or consumed.
Rambutan is a tropical fruit tree of the Sapindaceae family. Rambutan fruits are small, the size of a hazelnut, grow in clusters of up to 30 pieces and are rounded “balls” with an elastic peel of yellow or red color, covered with fleshy hairs 4-5 cm long. Rambutan pulp covering the seed (edible, but to taste resembling an acorn), is a transparent white gelatinous mass with a pleasant sweet taste.
Rambutan is one of the most popular trees in Southeast Asia, where it is grown commercially in small gardens. But rambutan is also widespread throughout the tropical zone: it is grown in Africa, Central America, the Caribbean islands and Australia. There are extensive rambutan plantations in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Rambutan is sometimes also called hairy fruit. When buying rambutans, pay attention that the fruits are rich red in color and the tips of the “hair” are greenish. Rambutan does not store well; it can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than a week.
Beneficial properties of rambutan:
The rambutan pulp that covers the seed (edible, but tastes like an acorn) is a white-yellow gelatinous mass with a pleasant sweet taste.
Rambutan fruits contain carbohydrates, proteins, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin and vitamins C, B1 and B2. Eating these fruits has a beneficial effect on the skin and improves digestion. It is believed that the fruit is very good for weakened and sick people, as it has cleansing properties.
Rambutans have a great taste not only raw, but also as a filling for pies and jams. It is used as an additive to sauces, ice cream and in the form of compotes.
The seed itself is also used: it contains about 40% fats and oils containing oleic and arachidic acids. When heated, the oil begins to emit a pleasant smell; it is used in the production of cosmetic soap and holiday candles.
The roots, bark and leaves of rambutan are used in folk medicine and in the production of fabric dyes. In Malaya, dried rambutan peel is sold directly in pharmacies as a medicinal product.
Lychee (lat. Litchi chinensis- Chinese plum) is a small sweet and sour berry covered with a crusty skin. The fruit grows on evergreen tropical trees, the height of which reaches 10-30 meters. The birthplace of the berry is China.
Lychee has an oval or round shape with a diameter of 2.5-4 cm. The ripe fruit has a dense red skin with a large number of sharp tubercles. Only the pulp of the fruit is used for food, which has a jelly-like structure, and in color and taste resembles peeled white grapes. Inside the pulp there is an oval brown seed. The main lychee harvest occurs in May-June.
Lychees are used mainly fresh for food. However, desserts (ice cream, jelly, marmalade), preserves, marmalade, and Chinese wine can also be made from the pulp of the berry. You can also find lychees in dried form. At the same time, the peel of the fruit becomes woody, and the dry pulp with the stone rolls freely inside. Lychees in this form are called lychee nut.
Fresh fruits are very difficult to store and transport over long distances. To keep lychees longer, they are picked in clusters together with a branch and a few leaves. At a temperature of 1-7°C, lychees can be stored for a month, and at room temperature - only 3 days. When purchasing lychees in a store, you should pay attention to the peel. It should be red, not too soft and without visible damage. The brown color indicates that the lychee is not fresh.
Beneficial properties of lychee:
Lychee fruits contain a large amount of nutrients, including vitamins (C, E, K, group B, PP, H), minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, iodine, selenium, manganese), organic acids and pectic substances.
Doctors of oriental medicine use lychee for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, normalization of sugar levels in diabetes, liver, lungs and kidneys. In combination with medicinal herbs and lemongrass, lychees are used to treat cancer and restore strength in the fight against disease. In this case, you should consume at least 10 fruits per day.
Due to the high content of potassium in the pulp of the fruit, it is recommended for use by people with cardiovascular disease, high blood cholesterol and anemia. It is also used to treat the stomach, pancreas, and intestinal dysfunction. In Hindu medicine, lychee is considered an aphrodisiac that enhances sexual desire and male power.
Dangerous properties of lychee:
Lychee has no contraindications for use. Only those people who have individual intolerance to the fetus should not eat them. When offering lychee to children, you need to ensure that they do not consume more than 100 g per day. Also, excessive consumption of the fruit can cause allergic reactions on the skin in the form of rashes and redness.
Longan (Lam Yai) is the fruit of the evergreen longan tree, common in China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The skin of longan is thin and dense, but in fact it is very easy to peel off. The color of longan varies from brown to yellowish-red, and the flesh of the fruit is translucent, white or pinkish. The juicy pulp of longan has a sweet, juicy, very aromatic taste, with a distinct musk flavor. Longan tastes like lychee and in general, these two fruits are very similar. Like the Chinese lychee, the longan fruit contains a hard, dark red or black seed. Longan grows in clusters on evergreen trees, which can reach a height of ten to twenty meters.
Harvest season: June-August. Longan grows mainly in the northern regions of Thailand, in the towns of Chiang Mai and Lamphun.
Longan is sold like grapes, in bunches. The skin of a ripe fruit should be dense; cracks in the skin are unacceptable. It is not the longan that has just been picked from the tree that is considered more ripe, but the one that has already been lying on the store counter for a while. Try longan before purchasing, as the fruits can be sweeter or, conversely, more sour. Longan can be stored for two to three days at room temperature or five to seven days in the refrigerator.
Useful properties of longan:
Longan contains many vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, as well as large amounts of vitamins A and C. Recent studies on euphoria have shown that the fruit also contains phenols such as gallic acid, ellagic and corylagic acids, indicating that the fruit may have antioxidant properties, reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy and protect the liver.
Longan contains riboflavin and is a natural source of polysaccharides, supporting health at the cellular level.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, longan is used primarily as a tonic. Toning is mainly necessary for diseases whose symptoms are fatigue, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, pallor and blurred vision. In addition, the fruit is also used to normalize sleep, reduce causeless anxiety, calm and revitalize attention.
Annona (Guanabana - Soursop)
The tree in natural conditions reaches 6m in height, in a room it is much lower. Unlike some other annonas, this is an evergreen tree. The leaves are oval or oblong, glossy, leathery, dark green, up to 15 cm long. They have a slightly spicy odor, especially noticeable when rubbed.
The flowers are fragrant, large (up to 4.5 cm in diameter), consist of three yellow-green fleshy outer petals and three pale yellow inner ones, and can appear in different places - on the trunk, branches and small twigs. Flowers never fully open. The fruits are oval or heart-shaped, often irregular in shape, up to 30 cm in length, 15 cm in diameter and weighing up to 3 kg, dark green in color, becoming yellow-green when ripe. The peel of the fruit is thin, but tough, and has a mesh pattern. The juicy light cream pulp is similar to custard, divided into segments, in some cases containing one smooth oval dark seed. The pulp is aromatic, slightly sour, and has a unique aroma, slightly reminiscent of pineapple. The fruit contains several dozen seeds.
The fruits are harvested when they are still firm, but have already changed their color from dark green to slightly yellow-green. If you allow the fruits to ripen on the tree, they may fall to the ground and be damaged when they fall. Once harvested, they can remain strong for several days at room temperature. Ripe fruits are quite soft, you can feel it when pressed with your finger. Ripe fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The peel may turn black, but the flesh remains edible.
The pulp can be eaten with a spoon directly from the fruit and can be preserved for later use. Before mechanical processing of the pulp, it is necessary to remove all seeds, as they are somewhat poisonous. The pulp is used to make juices, cocktails and other drinks, purees, and ice cream. In Indonesia, unripe fruits are used as vegetables.
Useful properties of Annona:
The pulp of the fruit is soft, used for preparing juices, extracts, and is a source of vitamins (C, B), mineral salts (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus), as well as proteins, carbohydrates, folic acid.
Due to its rich vitamin composition, it is used for diseases of the large intestine, supports intestinal flora, improves liver function, promotes weight loss, normalizes stomach acidity, promotes the removal of uric acid from the body, so it is recommended for people suffering from rheumatism, arthritis and gout.
A large set of B vitamins provides a therapeutic effect for degenerative diseases of the spine and neurological pathology.
According to research, the substances contained in this plant have anti-cancer properties. Unlike chemotherapy, which destroys all cells, these substances selectively affect only foreign cells. Acetogynin is an inhibitor of enzymatic processes in tumor tissues.
A large number of foreign articles are devoted to the action of acetogenin as an antitumor substance. The results of a study of the antitumor activity of guanaban in comparison with the chemotherapeutic drug adriamycin are presented.
The bark and leaves are used as an antispasmodic and sedative, used for coughs, flu, asthma, asthenia, and hypertension. Tea made from the leaves can be used as a sleep aid and sedative. The leaves can be placed in a pillowcase or placed next to the pillow.
Dangerous properties of annona:
In addition to a number of beneficial properties, annona also has harmful ones. Sugar apple seeds have a pungent taste. Eating them will inevitably lead to poisoning with possible serious consequences. Avoid getting the juice from annona seeds in your eyes, as this can cause blindness in some cases!
Also remember that you should not get too carried away with eating the pulp of this fruit; you should know when to stop everything in order to avoid undesirable consequences. Due to the high calcium content of annona, it should not be consumed by pregnant women.
Latin American scientists are of the opinion that guanabana abuse can cause Parkinson's disease. In addition, a certain herbal medicine called Triamazon is made from annona. This medicine is not licensed, so its effectiveness is very doubtful and has not yet been confirmed.
Lychee- the fruit of the evergreen tree Chinese lychee. The Chinese lychee has a large crown with shiny leaves; the height of this tree is 10-30 m.
Lychee is a small oval berry (the size of a cherry plum or sloe) with a dense red skin covered with pointed pimples. The pulp of the fruit is jelly-like, transparent milky or cream in color with a large black seed. 
Where does lychee grow?
Lychee appears to have originated in China, but today it is cultivated throughout Southeast Asia, as well as in India, South Africa, Latin America and the southern United States.
You will find lychees on Koh Samui, Hainan, Phu Quoc, Phuket and many other islands. Thai lychees are considered the sweetest. Fresh lychees have a short season of May-June for the northern hemisphere.
What does lychee taste like and how to eat it
Lychee has a sweet and sour taste, with an astringent and winey aftertaste. Lychee tastes like grapes. Lychees need to be peeled, which is easy to do with your hands, eat the pulp and don’t forget to spit out the seed, or take it out in advance. Lychee is added to various desserts and cocktails, jam and wine are made from it, and even dried. It is extremely popular to dip lychees into champagne - this gives the drink an unusual taste. 
How to store
Lychee fruits can be stored at room temperature for no more than 3 days; peeled fruits can be frozen for future use.
Beneficial properties of lychee
Lychee improves the functioning of the liver, kidneys and pancreas, helps with pulmonary diseases and constipation, is useful for diabetes and heart disease, and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Lychee is also a strong aphrodisiac.
Calorie content
100 g of lychee contains 66 kcal.
How can lychee be dangerous?
There are no contraindications to consuming lychee. However, excessive consumption of lychee can cause allergies or lead to irritation of the oral mucosa.
Lychee, Chinese plum, laiji, dragon's eye, fox - all this is one exotic fruit that grows on low trees with elongated leaves in countries with mild climates.
Lychee berries have a range of beneficial properties and virtually no contraindications.
Twenty years ago, such a curiosity could not be found in grocery stores, but now this fruit has become commonplace along with carambola and. Those who want to eat lychee are, of course, interested in what kind of fruit it is, what its beneficial and harmful properties are and possible contraindications.
What kind of fruit?
Exotic fruit grows in warm countriesLychee fruits grow in clusters of 15-20 berries per cluster. During ripening, they are covered with a soft skin, which can be damaged even with your fingers, and after that it hardens and becomes more like a shell. It is less durable, red in color, but with the same unique natural pattern. The peel of the fruit is removed, and behind it lies a white, jelly-like pulp with a dark elongated bone in the middle. It is juicy, aromatic, and tastes like the quintessence of currants, strawberries and raspberries.
You might be interested in learning about the benefits of raspberry leaves. Read more details
Most often, the “insides” of lychees are white, but there are fruits with yellow or pinkish flesh. The consistency is similar to grape or plum, which is why the berries are called Chinese plum. Lychee is no larger than an average strawberry. Depending on the variety (and there are more than 220 of them), the fruits are covered with smooth, spiky or terry-hairy skin. Lychee is a berry, but Europeans called it a fruit so often that it is no longer considered a mistake. Only a pedantic agronomist could be offended by such a name.
There is also a fruit similar to lychee - longan. It is also grown in China and Thailand. The berries are identical in size, peel structure, and even the color of the pulp, but they differ in taste and shade of the shell. Longan has a soft beige color with a creamy tint, and the aroma and taste contain haunting musky notes.
Let's find out whether it is possible to be poisoned by the fruit, whether they eat lychee seeds and what beneficial qualities it has.
What vitamins are contained in the fruit and how many calories?
The beneficial properties of lychee fruits are determined by their composition. Chinese plums contain vitamins B5, B9, B1, B2, B6, PP, H, E and C.
Of the minerals the highest concentration is:
- potassium;
- calcium;
- fluorine;
- Selena;
- iodine;
- zinc;
- manganese
Such a famous delicacy as halva is also rich in minerals.
Berries also contain:
- beta-carotene;
- folic acid;
- choline;
- pectin;
- essential oils;
- fiber and water.
Is this fruit an allergen or not? Cases of intolerance to it with serious consequences are extremely rare. There are no active substances in lychee that can cause an acute allergic reaction.
The fruit is classified as a carbohydrate product, since its KBJU looks like this:
- Proteins - 0.8;
- Fat - 0.3;
- Carbohydrates - 14.4.
How many kcal are contained in this aromatic fruit? Its energy value (calorie content) is only 65 kcal per 100 grams of product, and the glycemic index is at the lower limit of the average: 57. Accordingly, you can pamper yourself with berries both for diabetes and for weight loss.
How is it useful for the human body?
Lychee berry, when consumed regularly, brings invaluable benefits to the body:
- Chinese plum is a diuretic, used to relieve swelling and remove fluid from the body in diseases of the bladder and kidneys;
- With regular use, the product copes with chronic constipation and normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- The main benefit of lychee for the body is a gentle but effective cleansing of toxins and cholesterol;
- It is used as therapy and prevention of atherosclerosis: the active substances contained in the berries increase the tone of the walls of blood vessels and reduce plaques that form in advanced cases;
- The presence of potassium makes Chinese plum an excellent remedy for maintaining the health of the cardiovascular system;
- The usefulness of lychee is also evident in diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The product has an expectorant effect, so it helps with tuberculosis, colds, and bronchitis.
The product has almost no contraindications. The only contraindication to consuming the fruit can only be individual intolerance to its individual components. Overeating may cause a skin rash and irritation of the oral mucosa.
You will learn more about the benefits and harms of lychee from the video:
Beneficial properties for men
In eastern countries, berries are considered “love stimulants,” that is, a strong aphrodisiac. They normalize blood circulation, prevent blood from stagnating, and, accordingly, provide a stable erection - this is the main benefit of lychee for men. It is especially effective to regularly eat 15-20 berries for the stronger sex after 35-40 years. They will simultaneously maintain their virility and cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol, which the body accumulates with particular persistence after middle age.
To maintain men's health, it is useful to eat pomelo
Benefits for women
Lychee pulp is used in cosmetology: it is included in many hair and skin care products. You can make your own face mask from berries at home. It perfectly nourishes the skin and smoothes out wrinkles. The mask is especially effective in winter, when the face becomes chapped and the epidermis is dried out. Choline contained in berries relieves stress and irritability during PMS. During menstruation, cramps and pain also disappear under the influence of the active substances of the berries. Folic acid helps maintain the beauty of skin, nails and hair, which is especially important for the fair sex.
Can pregnant women eat fruit?
The diet of a woman expecting a child is selected carefully and with great care. Many exotic lovers wonder whether it is possible to enjoy lychee during pregnancy. The benefits and harms of berries for the health of pregnant women have long been studied. It is often not recommended to eat them. If an unexpected allergy occurs, you must stop eating the fruit and consult a doctor immediately. However, only 10-15 berries per day saturate the body with vitamins and minerals. Also, during pregnancy, the fruit relieves a woman of constipation, which often occurs due to hormonal changes. The slight sour aftertaste of lychee can stop an attack of nausea during toxicosis, but such a medicine is ambiguous: it will help some, while for others it will only worsen the situation.
You might be interested to know that eating goji berries is very beneficial during pregnancy.
You will find all the details about exotic fruits
Can I eat lychee while breastfeeding?
It is not recommended to abuse the fruit during breastfeeding. Although lychee activates the production of prolactin in a woman’s body, thereby provoking an increase in milk flow. It is not recommended to eat fruit immediately before feeding; it is better to wait at least 1 hour. If the baby is currently suffering from colic, that is, intestinal microflora is being formed, then the mother should abstain from eating lychee altogether.
Useful properties of the peel
The peel of the berries also finds its use in folk medicine. It is dried and crushed. Then, based on the resulting powdery mass, decoctions are made. They are drunk for nervous disorders, depression, increased irritability and sleep disorders, as the medicine has a calming effect. In Chinese medicine, this decoction is also popular as a weight loss drug. It does not burn fat, but it can speed up metabolism.
Fruit seeds: edible or not?
Many people ask questions: what will happen if you eat a lychee seed, and is it poisonous? Unfortunately, it contains harmful substances that can cause poisoning. In Chinese medicine, bones are used to treat, but they are first fried or dried. Eating raw is strictly prohibited. Their decoction relieves disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. The beneficial properties of the fruit seed are not limited to this. Lychee core is used as a remedy for colds. Unfortunately, Chinese medicine is full of secrets that it is in no hurry to reveal, so the exact proportions of the components for preparing decoctions and tinctures are known only to Eastern folk doctors.
How much can you eat per day?
There is no clear acceptable norm for the use of this product. Adults, of course, need to maintain certain boundaries and not eat only lychee three times a day. 150-250 g per day will be quite enough. The daily norm for children is 100 g. Berries can only be given to children over two years old. It is not recommended to eat more than 100-150 g daily for those on protein diets. In these cases, the consequence of consuming such a “killer” dose of carbohydrates, as contained in lychee, can be bloating, flatulence and diarrhea.
What cooking says about berries
Lychees are universal berries. They are used to prepare desserts and side dishes for meat, fish, vegetables and cereals. Fine alcoholic drinks (usually wine) are infused on the aromatic pulp and non-alcoholic cocktails are created. Due to their relatively low calorie content, berries become the basis of the diet when a person losing weight is already dizzy with questions about what can be eaten and what is taboo. The usual pineapples, although they give you satiety, also get boring quickly. In these cases, those losing weight resort to accessible exotics. Canned fruit is added to salads, and fresh fruit is used to make delicious ice cream. Lychee sauce is especially delicious and is found on the menus of the best restaurants. In confectionery, berries are used to make pie filling, jelly, marmalade, candies and cakes.
You will learn how to peel lychees from the video:
https://youtu.be/_JKmHO_XAKo
Afterword
Lychee berries bring invaluable benefits to the body, and only in rare cases cause harm. The medicinal properties of the product were known to oriental physicians several thousand years ago. By the way, in the east, the berries are peeled, placed in a plate and eaten with spoons, but we have developed a different practice: eating lychees, one at a time, with your hands.
In ripe fruits, the peel should be elastic, and when pressed, bend, burst, but still return to its original state.
At home, lychees must be thoroughly washed, even though the peel is not eaten. At one time in China, these berries were valued so highly that they even replaced monetary currency. The product was dubbed the Chinese plum by the European traveler Gonzalez de Mendoza, who introduced the Old World to the strange fruit.
Similar materials
An exotic fruit called lychee is unusual for our latitudes, but recently it can be increasingly found on store shelves. The birthplace of the fruit is China, and the French brought lychees to Europe. In addition to its unusual taste, the fruit has a bright appearance, red skin and white pulp, which has the consistency of jelly, and a large seed in the center. Lychees are often called the eye of the dragon. The fruit is most widespread in its homeland in China, where it is used in cooking to prepare various dishes, and even wine and carbonated drinks. The lychee tree belongs to the Sapindaceae family. There are more than a hundred varieties. The height of the tree reaches thirty meters. Lychee fruits are often compared to plums, but they have completely different taste characteristics.
Beneficial properties of lychee:
Lychee contains a large amount of water, so it has an interesting fresh taste. The fruit is also rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Vitamin C in combination with potassium will improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In China, they believe that regular consumption of the fruit will lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. Lychee has a tonic effect. In some countries it is considered a natural aphrodisiac and the fruit of love. The fruit is good for the stomach and intestines and can help cope with chronic constipation. In folk medicine, a decoction is prepared from the peel of the fruit, which removes excess fluid from the body. Oriental medicine specialists are confident that lychee effectively treats diseases of the bronchi and lungs, improving the discharge of viscous sputum. The benefits of the fruit will be obvious to people who want to lose weight, as it has low calorie content. Lychee juice has a refreshing effect and restores strength. The fruit increases the amount of gastric juice, thereby improving digestion. Lychee contains a lot of protein, so it gives you quick satiety. Its ability to positively influence male power has been known since ancient times. This is due to the fact that lychee normalizes hormonal levels. The fruit contains many minerals that participate in metabolic processes and enrich the body with vitamins. Lychee has a large amount of iron, which will help in the fight against diseases such as anemia. Doctors believe that eating about ten fruits a day can automatically lower blood sugar levels.
Contraindications for consuming lychee:
Lychee has no categorical contraindications, but it can be harmful if the fruit begins to deteriorate. To avoid this, you need to pay attention to the skin when purchasing. It should not have visible damage or a brown tint; such a fruit has been subjected to long transportation and has lost all its beneficial properties. Lychee should be consumed in moderation, as excessive consumption can lead to intestinal dysfunction and increased gas formation. People for whom protein is contraindicated should also refrain from consuming it. Children should not eat more than one hundred grams of lychee per day; they may experience irritation of the oral mucosa.
Europeans learned about lychees in the 17th century. And in Thailand, Africa, Australia, Japan and China, the evergreen lyzhi fruit tree has been grown since ancient times.
There are references to the fruits in treatises of ancient China from the 2nd century BC. For the Chinese, lychee is a plant that grows everywhere. The fruits are used as food in China and wine is made from them.
In mid-latitudes, lychees can be purchased in stores. The fruit has another name - Chinese cherry. The fruit does not look like familiar berries and fruits: it is covered with a thick “pimply” peel, inside there is white jelly-like pulp and a dark seed. Due to this appearance, the Chinese call lychees “dragon eye”. The peel and pit are inedible; the flesh tastes like white grapes or plums.
Lychees are grown in tropical and subtropical regions. They are available from May to October. This is a summer fruit, so fresh lychees can only be bought in the hot season. It is recommended to eat lychee raw or dried, but when dried, the fruit loses its aroma. At the same time, dried lychees are more concentrated in nutrients.
Composition of lychee
In addition to vitamins and minerals, lychee contains protein, fiber, proanthocyanidins and polyphenols. This fruit is one of the low-calorie foods.
Vitamins:
- C – 119%;
- B6 – 5%;
- B2 – 4%;
- B3 – 3%;
- B9 – 3%.
Minerals:
Calorie content of lychee – 66 kcal per 100 g.
Benefits of lychee
The tropical fruit helps treat digestive problems, increase blood circulation, prevent cancer and improve skin condition. Let's take a closer look at the beneficial properties of lychee.
For bones and muscles
Lychee is a source of nutrients necessary for the musculoskeletal system. Magnesium, phosphorus, iron and manganese enhance the absorption of calcium in the bones, keeping them strong and healthy. Flavonoids in the fruit eliminate inflammation and tissue damage after intense training.
For the heart and blood vessels
Lychee improves blood circulation. The flavonoids and fiber found in lychees support heart health and increase nitric oxide levels in the blood.
Lychee is rich in potassium and contains no sodium, so it maintains fluid balance in the body. Potassium is considered a vasodilator, which prevents the narrowing of blood vessels and arteries, reducing stress on the cardiovascular system. The potassium content in dried lychee is almost 3 times higher than in fresh one.
For the brain and nerves
Eating lychee improves cognitive function and prevents neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease.
For eyes
Lychee provides the body with a daily requirement of vitamin C. This vitamin has antioxidant properties and its consumption reduces the risk of developing cataracts, as well as inflammation of the middle part of the eye.
For the bronchi
Lychee is effective in combating cough and asthma. It relieves swelling, relieves pain, protects against infections and reduces symptoms of respiratory diseases.
For the gastrointestinal tract
Lychee is a source of dietary fiber, which helps in weight loss. Lychee contains a lot of water and little fat. In addition, lychee is a low-calorie fruit that provides a feeling of fullness for a long time and protects against overeating.
For the kidneys
Lychee helps improve kidney health. It contains potassium, which is useful in flushing out toxic deposits in the kidneys. The fruit reduces the concentration of uric acid in the blood and reduces the chances of kidney stones. Lychee acts as a natural diuretic that relieves pain caused by kidney stones.
For skin
Lychee contains a lot of vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. Free radicals lead to rapid aging. The vitamin C in lychee fights these free radicals. It increases collagen production and improves skin condition.
For immunity
The main benefit of lychee for the body is its abundance. It stimulates the activity of leukocytes, which protect the body's immune system.
