Enjoy The Nutritional Benefits Of Lychee

Lychee also known as leechi, litchi, laichi and lichu is a seasonal fruit. Though it is an evergreen fruit, the tropical climate of India just enjoys this seasonal fruit in the monsoon season. The red juicy oval shaped jelly fruit is small in size but lychee has nutritional benefits of lychee.

It is used as a topping for desserts as lychee tea and is also consumed raw but did you know the nutritional benefits of Lychee? Following are the nutritional benefits of lychee:

1. It has high content of minerals such as potassium and copper. Potassium helps control heart rate and levels blood pressure. A good medicine for heart patients as it prevents from suffering heart diseases like attacks and blockages. Copper increases the production of red blood cells (RBC).

2. Leechi like other citrus fruits is an excellent source of vitamin C. a bowl of 100 g lychee provides 71.5 mg of nutritional value to the body. This Vitamin C fruit also develops body's resistance against infectious agents removes pro inflammatory free radicals. It is commonly known as a vitamin C fruit due to its health benefits.

3. This fruit is a good source of B-complex vitamins like thiamine, folates and niacin which helps the body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fat.

4. According to researchers, other nutritional benefits of lychee is the oligonol (a low polyphenol) in it which is considered to have anti-oxidant anti-influenza virus properties which improves blood flow in the body organs. Oligonol also reduces weight and protects the skin from harmful UV rays. It also acts as an anti-cancer agent. It reduces the chances of breast cancer among women.

5. Lychee helps in digestion and provides energy.

6. Chinese believe that lychee provides relief from body pain and swollen glands.

7. Lychees are low in saturated fat and sodium so are cholesterol free.

So, enjoy the nutritional benefits of lychee and the white sweet pulp of the fruit can be consumed raw, tanned or as an addition to ice cream or dessert.