Lychee (Litchi chinensis), more commonly referred to as litchi or lichee, is a tropical fruit from the soapberry family that makes up part of its name.
Other well-known fruits in this family are rambutan and longan.
Lychees can be found worldwide in subtropical areas, making them particularly well-known in China and Southeast Asia.
With their sweet and delicate flavor, strawberries are frequently enjoyed fresh or processed into juice, wine, sherbert or jam products.
Berry fruits provide an abundance of essential vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants.
Lychees have an unpleasant, pink-red and weathered skin, which must be removed prior to consumption. Their tissue is white with an inedible dark seed at their core.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts Lychees are predominantly composed of water and carbs – making up 82% and 16.5% respectively of their weight.
A serving of new lychees provides many essential nutrients. Below is a breakdown of their fundamental nutrition; see table.
- Calories: 66
- Protein: 0.8 grams
- Carbs: 16.5 grams
- Sugar: 15.2 grams
- Fiber: 1.3 grams
- Fat: 0.4 grams
- Carbs and Fibers
- Other than water, lychees are predominantly made out of carbs.
One lychee (both new and dried) provides 1.5-1.7 grams of carbohydrates.
Lychees contain most of their carbohydrates from sugars, responsible for their sweet flavor. Unfortunately, they tend to be low in fiber content.
Vitamins And Minerals
Vitamins and Minerals Lychees provide an abundance of essential vitamins and minerals, such as:
Vitamin C: Lychees contain abundant quantities of this important nutrient; one lychee provides approximately 9 percent of your Recommended Daily Intake for vitamin C.
Copper: Lychees are an excellent source of copper, and inadequate intake may compromise heart health.
Potassium: Potassium is an essential dietary supplement which may contribute to overall heart health when consumed in sufficient amounts.
Conceivable Health Benefits
Health implications of lychees have yet to be thoroughly researched at this point.
Consciously incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet could improve health outcomes and lessen the chance of chronic illnesses.
Lychees contain several healthful minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants such as potassium, copper, vitamin C, epicatechin and rutin which may help protect against coronary illness, cancerous growth and diabetes.
Studies on animals suggest that lychee concentrate may aid in fighting liver disease.
Further studies are expected to prove the health advantages of lychees to people.
Unfavorable Effects And Individual Concerns
Consumed moderately as part of a healthy diet, lychees have no known detrimental health impacts.
Lychees have long been associated with brain inflammation in South and Southeast Asia.
As to whether lychees can be considered conscious is not entirely clear; however, researchers believe hypoglycin A may be to blame. Further investigations are required.
Lychees may cause hypersensitive reactions in rare instances.
