Lychee is an unusual and even outlandish name for us, and the one who hears it for the first time will not think to immediately imagine a tropical fruit. And this fruit, like many previously unknown fruits, is not only tasty, but also healthy.

What is lychee

What is lychee? This is the name of a tree from the sapind family.: the family is very large - there are about 150 genera in it, and there are much more species - as many as 2000. The vast majority of these species grow only in the tropics: in America, Asia, Africa, but in Australia there are not so many of them.

We will tell you a little about those types of lychee that grow in Asia. This fruit has other names: "fox" and "liji", and from these names one might think that China is its homeland.

Perhaps this is so: in ancient China, lychees were really used - mentions of this are found in documents dating back to the 2nd century BC. Then the fruit got to neighboring countries, and there they also appreciated it - they began to grow all over Southeast Asia, and then on other continents.

Lychee came to Europe much later - only in the 17th century. For the first time, Europeans were able to read its detailed description in a book by Gonzalez de Mendoza, a Spanish writer interested in Chinese history. He wrote that lychees look like plums, and you can eat them as much as you like - there will be no heaviness in the stomach. Therefore, one of the names of lychee is Chinese plum, and these fruits are grown today in many countries - even in the southern states of the United States.

Lychee fruits are small, ovoid or oval, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, and weigh - at most - about 20 grams. The peel of the fruit is dense, pimpled and bumpy, of a deep red color, and it is quite easy to separate from the pulp. The pulp in lychee fruits is very interesting - jelly-like, with a white or creamy tint, and inside it there is a large brown seed. The taste of this pulp is very pleasant and refreshing - sweet and sour, and the aroma is not inferior to it - you want to inhale it again and again.

Composition and useful properties of lychee fruit

The Chinese often call lychee "dragon's eye": white flesh, dark seed. Lychee has a very rich vitamin composition and many useful properties.... It contains a lot of healthy clean water, quite a lot of complex carbohydrates, there are proteins, a little fat and dietary fiber. The amount of sugar in lychee fruits depends on the area in which the fruits grew, as well as on their variety: it can be about 6-14%.

Vitamins - C, E, H, K, group B; minerals - potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, chlorine, phosphorus, iron, iodine, manganese, copper, zinc, fluorine. There are few calories in lychee, but more than other similar fruits - about 76 kcal per 100 grams. There is much more vitamin C in lychee than other vitamins, and potassium comes first from minerals - therefore, the lychee fruit is very useful for hearts.

The Chinese have always believed that its use helps the heart, and today in China it is used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, and also to lower the level of "bad" cholesterol in the body.

Lychee has a tonic effect on the body, and in the countries of the East it is also considered a strong aphrodisiac - the Hindus even say that lychees are the fruit of love. It quenches thirst, relieves constipation, normalizes the work of the stomach and intestines, and helps to lose weight. The use of lychee is recommended for anemia, liver and pancreas diseases, gastritis, peptic ulcer and diabetes.

In combination with lemongrass and other medicinal herbs, lychee is used in China to treat cancer. Lychee peel is also used: a decoction from it helps prevent the accumulation of fluid in the tissues and increases the tone of the body.

Lychee fruit in medicine

Oriental medicine especially often uses lychee to treat diseases of the kidneys, liver and lungs.- these organs are considered the main ones by oriental specialists.

Lychee improves kidney and liver function, and has a beneficial effect on lung function: this fruit is recommended for bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis. With diabetes, it is enough to eat 10 fruits a day to normalize blood sugar levels.

Many countries in Southeast Asia make good money by growing and selling lychees. For example, in Thailand, the export share of this fruit makes up a fairly large part of all the others: the area where lychee grows is constantly increasing - it is profitable to grow lychees, because it is stored for a long time and can be freely transported to other countries.

You can feel the real taste of lychee only by tasting the fresh fruit, but even in dried, ice cream and even canned form, these fruits retain many of their beneficial properties. Frozen lychees can be stored for more than a month, and at the same time they will not lose their taste and healing qualities.

In Vietnam, lychees are also grown in the northern regions, and they are also exported to many countries of the world, including Russia.

When you buy lychee in a store, pay attention to the color of the peel of the fruit: a dark peel means that this fruit was removed from the branch a very long time ago, and it is tasteless, and there is little use in it. Fresh fruit has a red skin, soft, but not too much, and has no damage.

How to eat lychee. Lychee fruit in cooking

Eating lychee is very easy.: the fruit must be washed, peeled, and the pulp put on a plate. To us, lychee fruits can somewhat resemble cherries - the seeds are pulled out of them, like seeds. You can add peeled lychee fruits to champagne - it turns into an amazing drink.

Lychee is added to desserts and sauces, ice cream and drinks, they are used for filling pies, and enterprising Chinese have learned to make wine out of it. Lychee goes well with fish, chicken and even pork; you can serve lychee with pates and fried dishes, and it is always good in salads.

Pancakes stuffed with fruit

You can cook different dishes, but we suggest you try pancakes with fruit filling as a dessert. At first glance, the recipe seems somewhat exotic, but today it is not difficult to buy any fruit, so it is worth trying - children will especially like it.

You need to take a little flour - only 150 g, one whole egg and one yolk, 300 ml of coconut milk, banana, papaya and mango - 1 pc., Passionfruit - 2 pcs., And lychee - 4 pcs. In addition, you will need lime juice, 2 tablespoons. liquid honey, 3-4 fresh mint leaves, 1 tbsp. powdered sugar, a pinch of salt and vegetable oil for frying.

Sift the flour, add eggs, and then, gradually adding coconut milk and butter, knead the dough. Cover it and leave for half an hour. Prepare the fruit filling: in a deep bowl, mix the peeled and chopped banana and papaya, pour over the lime juice, stir, add the chopped mango and passionfruit, lychee and honey. Bake 8-10 thin pancakes from the prepared dough, put the filling in the center of each, roll the pancakes into a cone, put on a plate, sprinkle with powdered sugar and garnish with mint.

You can also make homemade ice cream with lychee: it will resemble industrially prepared, but it will be much healthier and safer. 1 kg of lychee is peeled, cut, pitted, mixed with the juice of 5 lemons and ½ liter of pineapple juice. Prepare gelatin in advance: soak the plate for 10 minutes in cold water, squeeze it, and then dissolve it together with sugar (250 g) in a part of lemon juice, and add it to lychee too. Stir everything well and put it in the freezer in a plastic container. In a few hours, the dessert is ready.

Are there any contraindications to eating lychee fruit? Surprisingly, they are practically nonexistent: lychees can be harmful only with individual intolerance, but they cannot be abused either - in this case, allergic reactions may appear. Children can eat these tasty fruits a little - no more than 100 grams per day, otherwise they may develop acne on the skin. In adults, with excessive use of lychee, the oral mucosa suffers.

Lychee is one of the symbols of the great people of China, where it has been cultivated for over a thousand years. Its red, pink or green rind hides a shiny, sweet flesh with a slight bitterness.

The fruit of the evergreen lychee tree is oval in shape, hanging in bunches and containing one brown pit.

Lychee fruits contain a lot of carbohydrates in the form of sugars, but very little protein and fat, which makes them very attractive for dietary reasons.

Exotic...

For some time now, more and more exotic fruits have begun to appear on the shelves of our supermarkets. Already you will not surprise anyone with pineapple, kiwi, banana, fig or coconut. All this has already been touched and tried more than once. But some fruits from equatorial countries still cause some concerns among Russians. Seeing something unusual red or yellow in a basket on the market, many avert their eyes and do not ask so as not to seem uninformed.

Well, those who are still few who have visited the Bahamas, the Maldives, Honduras, etc. sometimes, with the air of connoisseurs, they take these round and oblong and flat fruits, and when they come home they try to use the Internet to find out what it is and what it is eaten with.

To some extent they are right, asking our sellers is often useless, because you can hear completely different from what this fruit actually represents. For example - lychee fruit. And why not hear about these reddish fruits in the pimples, the ears fade. But in fact, lychee is a very tasty and healthy fruit. Let's try to tell everything that we could learn about this fruit.

Where and how does it grow?

Sometimes lychees are called Chinese plums, and for good reason. It really is somewhat like a plum, and besides, it is in the south of China that this plant is quite widespread and from there it began its journey to other countries. Now they are found in various countries in Asia, America and Africa. This is an evergreen rather tall plant, usually about 10 meters high, but it can be even higher. Grows in well-moist, fertile soils. It grows rather slowly, begins to bear fruit only at 8-9 years. Produces abundantly only in dry subtropics. This fruit tolerates a humid tropical climate, but does not produce fruit, and it is not possible to grow a full-fledged fruiting plant at home.

Leaves are oblong, dark green and shiny. Blooms yellowish, with stamens sticking out in all directions, whitish flowers, exuding a strong aroma. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences similar to umbrellas, sometimes up to half a meter long.

The fruits ripen in June. Despite the fact that the inflorescences are quite large, the fruits are 4-5 times less, because most of the flowers are crumbled. Still, the tree as a whole gives a fairly large harvest. When assembling, the entire crop is plucked and stored on the branches, because separately plucked fruits quickly deteriorate.

The fruits themselves are relatively small - on average, about three to four centimeters in diameter. In shape, they can be either oval or ovoid, depending on the variety. Such a fruit weighs about twenty grams. Outside, they have a rather dense red peel in small pimples. The flesh is white or creamy and looks like jelly. Inside, a large brown kernel. The ripe fruits taste sweet and sour, quite pleasant with a bright aroma. Probably because the core is clearly visible in the cut, the Chinese often call this fruit "dragon's eye".

Benefit and harm

By its composition, lychee fruits contain a large amount of trace elements: iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, manganese and fluorine. The sugar content is in the range of 6-14%, depending on the place of growth. Fats, proteins, carbohydrates and dietary fiber are also present in small amounts. They contain a sufficient amount of B vitamins, as well as vitamins C, E, H and K. The nutritional value of the product is not more than 75 kcal per 100 grams. Low calorie content, in a not entirely understandable way, is combined with high satiety. You can eat them in almost unlimited quantities, while satisfying your hunger well, but without getting a lot of calories. This property is indispensable for people who are overweight.

Given the high content of vitamin C and trace elements of potassium, lychees are acceptable in the diet of people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system. In China, it has been practiced for a long time in folk medicine in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. It effectively helps lower cholesterol levels. It is a good tonic for the whole body. Probably not in vain the inhabitants of India, Nepal, Pakistan consider lychees the fruit of love. For this purpose, use a decoction prepared from the skin of the fruit. Such a decoction is also effective in removing excess fluid from the body, it has a beneficial effect on kidney function.

This exotic fruit has many beneficial properties. It perfectly quenches thirst, especially in the heat. Regulates the work of the stomach and intestines, helping to relieve constipation. It can very well help people who want to lose weight. It is very useful to eat lychee for people with anemia, diabetes, gastritis, peptic ulcer, liver and pancreas diseases. In Tibetan medicine, lychee combined with lemongrass is practiced in the treatment of oncology. It is also effective in helping to lower blood sugar in diabetes. It is quite enough 10 fruits per day to normalize sugar levels. The drug "oligonol", obtained from fruits, appeared in pharmacies. It is a good antioxidant and is recommended for a variety of diseases. In addition, it is used to reduce weight and slow down aging.

Many Asian countries, given the increased interest in lychee fruits in Europe, began to grow entire plantations of these trees. The harvest taken with branches can be stored for a long enough time, which allows it to be transported without problems. Useful properties are preserved for a long time in dried and frozen form. Frozen fruits can be stored for more than a month, while they do not lose their taste and healing properties. But nevertheless, when buying, you need to carefully examine the appearance and condition of the fruit. Do not buy if the skin is darkened. Buy only those that have no external defects and have a deep red color.

Contraindications

Hardly ever. They can be harmful only for individual intolerance. However, you need to know that you should not eat too much of them. For adults, 200-250 grams per day is quite enough. For children, it is better to reduce this rate to 100 grams. Otherwise, in some, allergic reactions in the form of acne on the skin or on the oral mucosa are possible.

How are lychees eaten?

Usually they are consumed fresh: wash, carefully remove the peel, remove the core, the pulp is ready for use. In addition, it is very good to add the pulp to sauces and desserts. And if you add it to dry wine or champagne, you get an amazing taste of a drink. The Chinese make wine from some lychee fruits, the taste is specific. Perfect for serving fish and meat dishes instead of olives. It goes well with roast game, lamb, pork. They are very good in salads. Bon Appetit!

Video: Lychee fruit, description, ...

Lychee (otherwise "fox", "lidzhi", "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. Nevertheless, many still do not know how to taste and how to consume lychee fruit. The benefits and harms of "Chinese plum" are of interest to many consumers. Let's try to figure it 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 rind of the lychee is dense, but brittle, and consists of numerous tubercles. The jelly-like juicy pulp of the fruit is white or creamy. It has an excellent, refreshing, sweet and sour taste and pleasant aroma. Inside the fruit is an inedible seed, oblong, dark brown in color. This is what the lychee fruit looks like, the photo clearly demonstrates this. 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 of a deep 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 China, where this fruit has been grown for over 1000 years. Since ancient times, the Chinese have called this fruit "dragon's eye", because of the bright combination of red peel, white pulp and brown seed. In Europe, they learned about this tasty fruit only in the 17th century. And where does lychee grow now? Today, trees of the sapindaceae family actively bear fruit in the vast territories of Southeast Asia, Australia, in 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. Harvested in the subtropics in May-June, cutting off the bunches together with the stem part of the branch. The 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. Rich in "dragon's eye" with valuable micro- and macroelements. Lychee contains B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin. Also "dragon eye" contains vitamins K, E, H and folic acid. It is especially rich in vitamin C. In addition, lychee is rich in healthy dietary fiber and plenty of pure water. In addition, the Chinese plum is also 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. Benefit and harm

Such a high content of valuable vitamins, micro- and macroelements, as well as fiber and pure water makes the "Chinese plum" an extremely useful product. It saturates a person with the necessary substances, gives strength and vigor. Lychee has an excellent tonic effect on the body as a whole, mobilizes the immune system. It has been known in China since ancient times that the "dragon's eye" is the strongest natural aphrodisiac. He is able to rejuvenate the body, activate attraction and maintain "love" functions at the proper level. The lychee fruit has been successfully used for the prevention and treatment of many serious diseases. Its benefits and harms are, in fact, disproportionate. Counts,
"Chinese plum" can not cause serious harm to human health. But its benefits are enormous. Nevertheless, it is advisable to be careful when consuming the fruit. Don't eat too much lychee right away. Otherwise, an allergic reaction may occur. It manifests itself as acne on the skin and damage to the mucous membranes in the mouth. To begin with, you should try one or two fruits and track the body's reaction. If everything is in order, you can fearlessly 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 undesirable to include lychees in the diet of one-year-old babies. "Chinese plum" is contraindicated for those who have been diagnosed with its individual intolerance.

How is lychee fruit used in folk medicine? how is it useful?

This tropical fruit is widely used in traditional oriental medicine. It can and should be used to prevent vitamin deficiency and anemia. Lychee is often used to prevent cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, because it contains a significant amount of potassium.
The fetus also contains niacin, which has a positive effect on lipid metabolism in the body. Helps cleanse the blood from cholesterol and dilates the blood vessels of the lychee fruit. 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, on the basis of the "Chinese plum", useful decoctions and infusions are made, which normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, have a mild laxative effect, and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys. Taking drugs with lychee is prescribed for people with lung diseases, including those suffering from bronchitis, asthma or having tuberculosis. These drugs make breathing easier and normalize the function of the respiratory system. Regular consumption of lychee is useful for those who have peptic ulcers, gastritis and pancreatic diseases. In oriental medicine, "Chinese plum" in conjunction with lemongrass is even used to treat cancer, including breast cancer. Is lychee peel good for you? 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 contribute to the removal of excess fluid from body tissues, and also increase the overall tone and improve well-being.

"Chinese plum" in dietary nutrition

Nutritionists recommend eating lychee in order to saturate the body with water, as well as reduce hunger. The "Chinese plum" contains pectin. It allows you to quickly saturate the body, giving nutrition to the beneficial intestinal microflora. Therefore, it is recommended that you consume several lychee fruits before each meal, which will allow you to reduce the standard portion of food and not overeat. The calorie content of lychee is only 76 kcal / 100 g, so people who carefully monitor their weight can safely eat it.

How do I pick a good, fresh fruit in the store?

If you want to purchase high-quality, tasty fruits, you must be guided by the following simple rules. First, when choosing a lychee, you need to pay attention to the color of its rind. It should be pink or red. The brown color indicates that the fruit was plucked from the tree a long time ago and has already deteriorated. The taste of a dark lychee will be unpleasant, and the smell will be sharper and stronger. The light yellow color of the fruit, on the contrary, speaks of 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 will soon "burst". Too soft or, conversely, hard fruit should not be taken. Fourthly, in the place where the petiole was located, there should be no white spots and mold. And finally, the lychee scent should be pleasant, fresh, slightly reminiscent of the scent of a rose. Too heavy and sweet speaks of overripe and staleness of the fruit.

"Dragon's eye" in cooking

How to eat lychee? The fruit only needs to be washed under running water, peeled from it, and then the inedible bone removed. 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 fresh consumption, lychees are canned, dried, frozen and cooked. They make drinks, desserts from it, including delicious ice cream, various sauces, mousses, jellies. An excellent golden wine is also made on the basis of lychee, with a pleasant fruity aromatic and mild sweet and sour aftertaste.
"Dragon's Eye" is also used in the preparation of dishes from game, meat and sea fish. In Chinese restaurants, you can taste deep-fried shrimp with sweet and sour lychee sauce (Lichzhi Xia Qiu). If you manage to get a fresh "Chinese plum", be sure to try homemade sweet and sour chicken with almonds and lychee sauce. In addition, the fruit is used in the preparation of various baked goods, it is added to the filling of pies and pies, cookies and cakes are made from it.

How to store lychees correctly?

The issue of keeping the "dragon's 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, lychees can be safely kept for 2-3 days. In the refrigerator, at 7 ° C, lychee can be kept for one or two weeks, provided the shell is intact and not damaged. In general, this fruit deteriorates quickly enough, its skin darkens and the amount of vitamins in its composition decreases. If you want to preserve the lychee for a long time, we advise you to peel the fruit and freeze it. You can also dry the fruit or preserve it. In China, pickled lychees are kept inside bamboo stalks. In India and Vietnam, whole fruits are dried, after which the peel becomes hard, and such fruits are called "nuts". In this article, we examined an interesting Chinese fruit - lychee, the benefits and harms of which are of concern to many consumers. As you can see, "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 - benefits and harms

Most of the Chinese lychee fruit is little known to us. Either those who went on vacation to China had a chance to try this curiosity, or those who like to experiment with food and are constantly trying something new. The appearance of this fruit is so unusual that it is even difficult to immediately realize that it is edible. At first glance, it most of all resembles a pinkish or reddish bumpy rubber ball about three to four centimeters in diameter. And it is difficult to imagine that under this dense shell is hidden the most delicate creamy pulp with a rose scent and a completely unique delicate sweet and sour taste. In view of its exoticism, many people have a vague idea of ​​the benefits and dangers of the lychee fruit. Meanwhile, it makes sense to take a closer look at this fruit.

Lychee properties and composition

The properties, that is, the benefits and harms of the lychee fruit, are directly related to its composition. Most of all it contains water and dietary fiber. The fruit also contains a large amount of carbohydrate compounds. But the main thing is that there are many different active substances in the lychee pulp. For example, here you can find B vitamins, vitamins C, E, PP, rare vitamin K, choline, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, selenium, as well as the valuable substance zeaxanthin, which is responsible for visual acuity, along with vitamin A. rich in composition, lychee has a lot of useful properties. But they will fully manifest themselves only if the person ate the fruit in accordance with all the rules.

How to eat lychee?

The skin of this fruit is inedible, so it is washed and removed with a knife. After that, a bone is removed from the fruit - it is quite large and easily separates from the pulp. At the table, it is customary to eat the Chinese lychee fruit with a dessert spoon, since its most delicious part is jelly-like in consistency and it will be difficult to take it with your hands without the risk of getting dirty. The fruit can be eaten fresh, canned or dried. Very often, something like pulp puree with juice is prepared from them. And in China itself, lychees are also preferred to be dried entirely directly in the peel, and then used in the form of dried fruits. Lychee goes well with protein foods, it is used to make gravies, baking fillings, ice cream, drinks, etc.

How is lychee useful?

Due to the large amount of carbohydrates, the fruit is difficult to classify as a dietary product. But its calorie content is not so great - only 66-70 kcal per hundred grams, so it may well be included in their diet even by those who are slightly overweight, but it should be eaten in reasonable quantities.

In the East, lychee is considered a powerful aphrodisiac, so there the fruit was even given the appropriate nickname “the fruit of love”. It must be served at the wedding table so that the concluded marriage is successful. In the homeland of the fruit - in China - it is actively used in traditional medicine recipes. For example, for the treatment of heart disease, getting rid of high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, etc.

Western nutritionists also recognize the health benefits of lychee. Studies have shown that, like other plant foods, this fruit has a beneficial effect on the intestines, saturates the body well with moisture, optimizes metabolic processes, and as a result helps to reduce weight.

But in addition to the benefits, lychee also has harm. First, like any exotic, it can cause allergies. Secondly, due to the high content of carbohydrates, it can cause heaviness and pain in the intestines, increased gas production and exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers. Therefore, it should be eaten in reasonable amounts and no more than two or three times a week.

Lychee fruit - beneficial properties

The lychee fruit, despite the wide abundance of modern shops, is still considered a rather exotic guest on our counters. This tropical fruit is ubiquitous throughout Asia, in the countries of North Africa, in the last few decades it began to be cultivated in Europe, in particular in the southern regions of France. This fruit is native to China, which is why lychee is often called the Chinese plum.

Lychee is valued for its excellent taste, it is widely used in cooking for the preparation of a variety of dishes - salads, sauces, confectionery. The pulp of the fruit is used for making wine, juice, and canning.

The pulp of the fruit, hidden by the prickly skin, is a white or creamy jelly. It has a unique refreshing sweet and sour taste and great aroma. In addition to its excellent taste, lychee fruit has a number of beneficial properties that are due to its biochemical composition.

Lychee contains the purest water, which is of particular value for tropical latitudes. In addition, this fruit contains a whole storehouse of vitamins and minerals that can significantly replenish the body's balance, strengthen immunity and restore strength.

1. Vitamins in lychee are represented by a high content of ascorbic acid - more than 70 mg per 100 g of pulp, group B (B1, B2, B6, B9), niacin (PP), phylloquinone (K), choline and vitamin E.
2. The mineral composition includes a whole complex of micro- and macroelements - potassium 170 mg, phosphorus 30 mg, magnesium 10 mg, calcium 5 mg, copper 148 μg, in smaller doses it contains selenium, manganese, iron, fluorine, zinc, sodium, iodine.

Dietary fibers of lychee help cleanse the intestines and improve its peristalsis. Nutritionists recommend using this fruit for people who have digestive problems, suffer respiratory diseases, loss of strength and endocrine disorders. For everyone who wants to lose weight, this fruit is a very valuable dietary product, as it accelerates metabolism, removes toxins and regulates hormonal balance.

With a caloric content of only 66 kcal, lychee satisfies our need for many vitamins and minerals, cleanses and stimulates the digestive tract, having a complex effect on all body systems. This fruit has practically no contraindications, it should not be abused in case of a tendency to food allergies and should be tried with caution for the first time.

How lychees are eaten. Why lychees are useful: useful properties and contraindications. Lychee - what is it and how is it grown

A strange fruit called "lychee", which looks more like a toy, is little known here in Russia. Most people are completely unaware of its existence. The history of the origin of this fruit goes back to ancient times. It is known that the first mentions of the plant appeared before our era.

During its existence, as soon as it was called: "dragon eye", "paradise grapes", "fruit of love", "Chinese cherry". In Russia, the berry is not in such demand, but in vain. Lychee fruit - what is it and what is it eaten with? Today's article will be devoted to this fruitful and very useful plant.

Where do you come from?

Let's say right away that this is a very tall tropical tree, reaching 30 meters in height. Its fruits have an ovoid shape with a pimpled skin of a bright red hue with a diameter of no more than 3.5 cm. The flesh of the berry is very soft, of a jelly-like consistency of cream or white color, a large brown seed is hidden under it. The taste is pleasant, reminiscent of cherries - sweet and sour and refreshing.

The lychee berry is cultivated mainly on subtropical continents: in South America, China, Southeast Asia, Japan and Africa. Exported all over the world. The exotic fruit is sold quite profitably, since it is appreciated not only for its high taste, but also for its useful properties. Due to long-term storage, there are no problems with transportation.

How to grow?

With a strong desire, you can grow this beautiful plant at home. Just remember that the tree is very demanding on humidity, air temperature and lighting. In order for the plant to begin bearing fruit, all the rules should be strictly adhered to. For cultivation, you can use lychee seed, which should not be stored for more than two days.

At first, young seedlings grow very quickly, but after the seedlings reach 20 cm, a slowdown in growth is observed - by about several years. Water the plant as the soil dries up; it is also required to regularly carry out foliar feeding. During the period of intense flowering, it is necessary to carefully monitor the air temperature - it should not fall below + 15 ° C. It is advisable to install the pot on the west side.

What are lychees useful for: properties and calorie content

It should be noted that the berry is a dietary product - only 70 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, it can be safely consumed by anyone who adheres to the principles of proper and low-calorie nutrition. The distinctive features of the overseas fruit are its rich biochemical composition and beneficial properties that have a healing effect on the body.

The berries contain a whole complex of vitamins of group B, E, C, H, K. In particular, they contain trace elements: potassium, sodium, fluorine, iodine, chlorine, iron, manganese, selenium, sulfur and others. All these substances are necessary for the proper functioning of our body and life. Lychee fruit contains a lot of complex carbohydrates, water, dietary fiber, protein and a minimum amount of fat. It also contains sugar from 6 to 14% - it all depends on the region of growth and variety.

The main advantage of the berry is the content of nicotinic acid. Due to its healing properties, it is widely used in cooking and folk medicine. Do you know how lychees are eaten? It can be consumed both fresh and boiled. The pulp is often used as a filling for the preparation of confectionery, but more on that later.

Medicinal use

The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire treat lychees with deep respect and love. "Chinese plum", in their opinion, is able to work miracles and get rid of serious ailments - it has been tested by practice. Eating daily can help lower cholesterol levels, normalize the cardiovascular system and restore memory.

It is recommended as an aphrodisiac, as the fruit perfectly stimulates libido and increases potency. In addition, the fruits have a mild laxative effect, so they are shown to be eaten by people suffering from chronic constipation. And thanks to the water content, berries perfectly quench thirst and relieve intestinal disorders.

Nutritionists advise to consume "Chinese plum" during the diet, as it will fill the body with useful vitamins and will not add weight. Traditional healers with the help of decoctions (from the peel of the fruit) treated gastritis, anemia, diabetes, gastric ulcer, pancreas and pathological processes in the kidneys. Also, decoctions and infusions were used as a diuretic and tonic.

In China, for example, they mixed the pulp of a fruit with lemongrass, medicinal herbs and used the resulting mixture for therapeutic purposes in malignant tumors. In eastern countries, it was used for diseases of the liver, kidneys, lungs, tuberculosis, asthma and bronchitis. The healing properties are preserved even in dried and canned state. Therefore, the question of how lychees are eaten should not arise. Many doctors recommend including it in the diet of young children.

Fruit harm

Eating too much can cause allergies. The optimal daily dosage should not exceed one hundred grams. The fruits are not recommended to be eaten at the same time as other fruits, as this will provoke gas formation and bloating. According to Chinese healers, lychee intensifies the "inner fire", that is, when overeating, a person may experience nausea, discomfort in the throat, fever and migraine. To restore vital energy, it is recommended to exclude berries from the diet for a couple of days and eat meals only in a cold state. Now let's talk about how lychees are eaten.

Cooking applications

Exotic fruits are harmoniously combined with any kind of meat and fish delicacies, they are also served with fresh salads and pates. Flesh is used as a filling for pancakes, pies and pies - this is how lychees are eaten in China. In addition to this, they are added to sweet desserts, ice cream and even spirits (wine and champagne). Let's describe some delicious and healthy recipes.

Gourmet Lychee Cupcake

The dish contains three hundred grams of lychee berries. To prepare the creamy mass, you will need: butter (one hundred grams), two eggs, one lemon and sugar to taste. You will also need vanillin.

Prepare the cream: squeeze the juice out of the lemon, and grate the peel. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with granulated sugar and butter until fluffy. Mix with lemon zest and juice. Cook the mixture in a water bath, stirring continuously, until the consistency becomes thick and homogeneous. Put peeled and chopped lychees in small molds. Fill them with a creamy mass. We send it to the oven for a maximum of 15 minutes at 180 ° C.

Sherbet with lime and lychee

Ingredients: a kilogram of tropical berries, half a liter of pineapple juice, four limes, a plate of gelatin and a glass of sugar.

Soak the gelatin in cold water for about ten minutes. During this time, we peel the fruits, remove the seed from them and cut them into small cubes. Warm lime juice, add sugar with gelatin and pineapple juice there. Pour into molds and place in the freezer for an hour. A refreshing, light and delicious dessert is ready.

We told you how to eat lychee. The fruit adds a pleasant sourness and a certain piquancy to any dish.

How to choose the right fruit?

The ripening season for berries begins in July-August, at which time you can safely buy them. Although not only in the summer they are put up for sale - they are on store shelves all year round. In order not to inadvertently buy a spoiled product, you need to learn how to choose it. Look closely at the skin of the fruit, its color and texture. Fresh product must be free from defects, dents and damage, bright red.

Dark skin indicates staleness of the product. The place near the stem of a fresh berry has no white spots and mold. Shake the fruit before buying: rotten fruit does not make sounds. Pay attention to the scent: an overripe lychee has a tart, sweet scent, a fresh one has a rose scent. In the off-season, we recommend purchasing canned berries.

How to save?

It is recommended to keep the fruits in the refrigerator, so they will last for a week. And it is best to freeze them, having previously cleaned them. To increase the shelf life, you can dry the berries, and then cook compotes and add them to flour products.

Now, dear readers, you know what lychees are eaten with, what these berries are and where they grow. The usefulness of overseas fruits is a common truth and an old axiom that does not require confirmation. They are able to normalize metabolic processes, improve overall health and cope with various pathologies.

Lychee fruit (dragon's eye), its benefits and harms

Lychee(or lichi) Is an exotic fruit that grows in Central Asia, in some countries in Africa and South America, although it is considered its homeland China where the fetus is often referred to "Chinese plum" or Dragon eye... The fruit grows on the trees of the family Sapindov, 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 bone inside and a juicy jelly-like flesh of a milky hue. 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

A delicate, creamy substance is hidden behind the bumpy skin. It has a delicate 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 in the skins give the fruit a subtle scent, somewhat 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 weighing 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 responsible for visual acuity.

Useful 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 impact:

• normalization of the activity of the cardiovascular system;
• reducing the risk of developing heart disease;
• decrease in blood cholesterol levels;
• restoration of vascular elasticity;
• prevention of atherosclerosis;
• decrease in blood sugar;
• prevention of the development of diseases of the stomach, intestines and digestive organs;
• prevention of anemia;
• stabilization of the liver and kidneys;
• restoration of hormonal metabolism;
• preventing the development of cancerous tumors;
• normalization of water-salt balance and reduction of tissue edema;
• reducing the risk of developing diseases of the respiratory system;
• anti-tuberculosis action.

The fruits are excellent quench thirst and refresh, restore vigor and tone... In the practice of Eastern medicine, lychee is used as the main component in a 10-day prophylactic course to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

The fruit extract is applied and in cosmetology... The pulp puree has a moisturizing and emollient effect, oil extracts are included in masks and creams. Eating fruits in summer reduces the negative effects of UV rays on the skin, preventing premature aging.

Lychee in a healthy diet

The fruits contain a sufficient amount fiber and dietary fiber, which helps to eliminate dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, eliminate toxins and toxins, as well as normalize metabolism and accelerate metabolism.

Regular presence of fruits in the diet eliminates constipation and improves intestinal motility... Lychee is a fruit low calorie, which characterizes its dietary benefits. The balanced composition and unique properties contribute to quick satiety and long-term satisfaction of hunger. If you eat a couple of fruits before meals, you can cut your usual serving size in half and reduce the risk of overeating.

Fresh lychees contain more benefits in themselves, but the fruit is actively used in cooking for cooking:

• drinks (juices, low and alcoholic wines);
• cocktails (fruit and milk);
• fruit salads;
• sauces;
• desserts (jellies, mousses, puddings);

• marinades;
• mashed potatoes;
• fillings in pies and pancakes;
• ice cream;
• baking and confectionery.

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 are combined with many products:

• fruit;
• 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.

Eating fruit is better in a purified form be sure to take out the bone. The fruit is included in the menu of fruit diets and fasting days. It is perfect for breakfasts, lunches and afternoon snacks, perfectly setting off the taste of cereals, yoghurts, muesli and curd 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.

Fruit allowed during pregnancy.

For adults, the daily allowance during the diet period, when the number of fatty and high-calorie foods is minimized, is no more than 100 g. In 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 the occurrence of individual intolerance... Lychee should not be eaten with starchy foods, in order to avoid the risk of digestive upset, heartburn and increased gas production. Fruits in large quantities are not recommended to be added to meat dishes, as this can cause severity and exacerbation of gastric diseases. In addition, there are exotic fruits fasting also not worth it.

How to choose lychee fruits

When choosing high-quality fruits, special attention should be paid to skin, it should be of uniform thickness, without traces of deterioration, cracks and spots, of a uniform red-pink color. Brown fruit is not worth taking - it is probably stale and has already begun to deteriorate. Unsuitable fruits have a pungent odor and unpleasant taste. This usually means that they were picked green, and the ripening process did not work right.

With a light shake, a good fruit should tap a little, and to the touch to be soft, 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 the 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 a peel, wilted, and peeled fruits are frozen and preserved. Well-dried lychees are used as nuts, while under-dried lychees are used as dried fruits.

This exotic fruit with a red bumpy skin and pearl softness has a rich nutritional composition, helps to strengthen eyesight, 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 charge of vivacity and good mood.

Useful properties of lychee - an exotic fruit from the tropics

Most people, hearing the word "lychee", will not think that it means a delicious 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 in the markets from July to October, and only in canned form in winter.

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 grapes and has the same jelly-like consistency.

The flesh is white or creamy in color. Inside it is a large dark bone. In China, the fruit is called the "dragon's eye" - the cut fruit looks like it. Lychee is prized for its refreshing sweet and sour taste and delicate tart aroma, reminiscent of the scent of a tea rose. But besides the unusual taste, it has many useful properties. Therefore, not only as a delicacy, but also as a dietary food, lychee is used.

Fruit properties

The pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals. Fruits are especially rich in vitamin C, niacin and magnesium and potassium salts. They also include proteins, complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. Lychee pulp contains a lot of structured water, calcium, sulfur, iron, iodine and zinc. This fruit is low-calorie, therefore it is useful for obesity. It has a low glycemic index and low sugar content.

The benefits of lychee

1. The fruit is a strong aphrodisiac, therefore in the East it is also called the fruit of love.
2. Its use 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, therefore it is good to use it as a prevention of atherosclerosis and stroke.
3. The delicate pulp of the fruit refreshes well, quenches thirst, and has a tonic effect.
4. Eating fruits in food improves metabolism and normalizes digestion. They are low in calories and therefore contribute to weight loss.
5. The beneficial properties of lychee make it indispensable for diabetics by lowering blood sugar levels.
6. The fruits are useful for gastritis and ulcers, liver and pancreas diseases, and constipation.
7. The presence of protein and minerals makes it an excellent remedy for anemia and malnutrition. It easily satisfies hunger and saturates the body with energy.
8. In oriental medicine, the beneficial properties of lychee are used in the treatment of kidney diseases. Decoction of the peel well removes excess water from the tissues.
9. The fruit is useful for bronchitis, tuberculosis and other lung diseases.
10. In China, they even treat cancer by consuming lychee along with lemongrass.

Lychee: benefits and harms

Despite so many useful 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 fresh. But they retain their properties in dried, frozen or canned form. In the East, refreshing lychee drinks are popular. 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.

1. Be sure to shake each fruit. You should hear a light tapping - this is evidence of the ripeness and freshness of the lychee.
2. The fresh fruit emits a light, delicate tea rose aroma. It should be pleasant and gentle.
3. Fresh fruits should have a red, not too dark and not too soft peel, which should not show any damage or white mold spots.

How is this fruit used?

Lychee is tastier and healthiest when fresh. Peel it and put it on a plate. These delicious fruits can be consumed canned or processed. They make delicious ice cream, delicate preserves, marmalade and jam. The pulp is also used for 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 amount ripens.
• In ancient times, only the rich could eat this fruit; it was forbidden for the peasants.
• Every year in Thailand, a traditional holiday is held - the Lychee Festival.
• This fruit has one drawback: it is advisable to use it immediately after harvest. Fruits plucked from the tree quickly lose their taste.

In oriental medicine, the lychee fruit is very actively used, the beneficial properties of which are well known since ancient times.

Useful 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 so many can be found in Australia. In each of the above countries, the beneficial properties of lychee have long been known.

For the first time, the fruit became known in China, where it is also called "foxes" 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 on 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 the culture of China.

The size of the fruits of the plant in question is on average three and a half centimeters, as for the shape, it can be ovoid or oval. Fruit weight can reach twenty grams maximum. The fruit is covered with a dense peel, intensely colored in red and covered with small tubercles with pimples. The inside of the fruit is white flesh that 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 inside of the seed is large and dark.

Lychee chemical composition:

• One hundred grams of the 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.
• Macronutrients include Phosphorus, Chlorine, Sulfur, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium.
• Among the trace elements in 100 g of pulp are 10 μg of fluorine, 70 μg of zinc, 140 μg of copper, 55 μg of manganese, 1.3 μg of iodine and 0.35 μg of iron.
• The calorie content of lychee is 76 kcal per 100 g.

Useful properties of lychee

The benefits of lychee are due to the presence in it of an abundant amount of minerals and vitamins. Lychees are often advised for people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, since it is high in calcium and vitamin C. It is the cores in China that often include this fruit in their diet. Also, the Chinese sages strongly recommended lychees to those who wish to lower blood cholesterol levels or to people with atherosclerosis.

The combination of lychee with lemongrass promotes the treatment of cancer. Inhabitants of the East consider this fruit to be the fruit of love, and is also used as a component for the treatment of gastritis, constipation and many other diseases. The property of lychee to quench thirst is familiar to people who are forced to stay away from water sources for a long time.

The preventive effect of the fetus on the human body is already known to many today; lychee has a beneficial effect on the liver and kidneys. If we talk about medicines, then the fruit in question is used to treat asthma, respiratory diseases, bronchitis and tuberculosis. If you eat ten fruits of the tree a day, then the blood sugar level of diabetics can be brought back to normal.

Also, the benefits of lychee are 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 the use of lychee

The fruit is very tasty and healthy, but you need to know when to stop. Abuse of the fruits of this tree in rare cases can cause an allergic reaction in the form of rashes, acne or irritation of the mucous membranes. Children can consume no more than 100 g of pulp per day. In rare cases, individual intolerance occurs.

Birch sap benefits and harms

Lychee (lat. Litchi chinensis- Chinese plum) - 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 homeland 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 lot 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 is an oval brown bone. The main harvest of lychee occurs in May-June.

History of appearance and distribution around the world

The first mention of lychee dates back to the 2nd century BC. during the reign of the Chinese emperor Wu Di. At that time, China was divided by the Great Wall of China into two separate states: South and North China. According to one legend, the ruler Wu Di tried to bring in from the south and begin to cultivate fruit in the northern territories, but due to a lack of heat, moisture and fertility of the land, the plant did not take root. Angry, he ordered the execution of all the court gardeners. Lychees were first introduced to European countries in the middle of the 17th century.

Currently, lychee is grown everywhere throughout the subtropical territory of Southeast Asia, where there are no harsh winters, and the climate is quite dry.

Cooking use

Lychees are mainly used fresh as food. However, you can also make desserts from the pulp of the berry (ice cream, jelly, marmalade), preserves, jam, and Chinese wine. You can also find dried lychees. At the same time, the peel of the fruit becomes stiff, and the dry pulp with a bone rolls freely inside. Lychees in this form are called lychee nut.

Selection and storage

Fresh fruits are very difficult to store and transport over long distances. To keep the lychees longer, they are plucked in bunches together with a branch and several leaves. At a temperature of 1-7 ° C, lychees can be stored for a month, and at room temperature - only 3 days.

When purchasing lychee in a store, you should pay attention to the peel. It should be red, not too soft, and free from visible damage. Brown color indicates stale lychee.

Nutritional value per 100 grams:

Useful properties of lychee

Composition and presence of nutrients

Lychee fruits contain a large amount of nutrients, including vitamins (,,, group B, PP,), minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, iodine, selenium, manganese), organic acids and pectin substances ...

Doctors of oriental medicine use lychees to treat and prevent atherosclerosis, normalize sugar levels in diabetes, liver, lungs and kidneys. Together 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 people with cardiovascular disease, with high blood cholesterol and anemia. It is also used to treat the stomach, pancreas, and intestinal malfunction. In Hindu medicine, lychee is considered an aphrodisiac that enhances sex drive and male vigor.

Dangerous properties of lychee

Lychee has no contraindications to use. They should not be eaten only by those people who have an individual intolerance to the fetus. When offering lychee to children, it is necessary to ensure that they do not consume more than 100 g per day. Also, excessive consumption of the fruit can cause

Lichi benefit and harm. The lychee or laysi fruit is widely distributed in our country under the name "Chinese plum". This tropical fruit really comes from the southern regions of the Middle Kingdom. However, today it is grown in northern Vietnam, and throughout Southeast Asia, and even in South America. On the shelves of shops, lychee is found from July to October, the rest of the time it can be obtained only in supermarkets specializing in exotic fruit. And in our country they sell canned lychee, which tastes like rose petal jam. Fresh fruits are extremely beneficial for health, and canned ones can serve as a substitute for the usual sweets. Useful properties of lychee Lychee is a low-calorie fruit. 100 g of its pulp contains about 65 kcal and only 14 g of carbohydrates. At the same time, the fruit is very sweet, and can even replace the candies we are used to. At home in China, jelly with agar is prepared from lychee, boiling the fruits without adding sugar, and ice cream. Real Chinese ice cream is simply mashed fruits, frozen to the state of "snow" and tinted with beetroot juice. Lychee has a relatively low glycemic index, and can be used in the diet of diabetics. In India, this fruit is considered a natural aphrodisiac and is called "the fruit of love." The high content of vitamin PP really helps the proper functioning of the hormonal system of the body. In addition, nicotinic acid helps maintain vascular elasticity. The introduction of lychee into the diet is useful for everyone who, for some reason, is prone to atherosclerosis, strokes, or has a case of heart attack in the family history. Lychee also contains vitamin C, which is a strong antioxidant, so fruits can be used as a kind of prevention of aging, lowering immunity and general body tone. In China, lychee juice is often advised to drink with iron deficiency anemia, since the fruit is rich in this trace element. Regular consumption of Chinese plums has a beneficial effect on digestion. The pectin contained in the fruits nourishes the beneficial intestinal microflora and contributes to the fastest satiety, so several fruits can be eaten before lunch or dinner if you are very hungry and risk overeating. These fruits increase the enzymatic activity of the gastrointestinal tract and promote the active secretion of gastric juice. The harm of lychee Chinese plum, unlike ordinary plum, is not a laxative. Historical sources even say that, they say, you can eat as much as you like. However, doctors do not advise giving children more than 100 g of lychee, since the fruit can cause increased gas production in the intestines, being consumed in excess. Adults can eat lychees reasonably. But remember that fruits do not go well with starch, bananas, white flour products. Eating these foods together usually causes flatulence. In China, the fruit season falls in mid-late summer, while in our country they are sold much longer. This means that you should carefully choose lychees purchased off-peak season. The crunchy "rind" of the lychee masks the not too fresh flesh. Therefore, before buying, do not be too lazy to shake each fruit. If you do not hear a light tapping, the fruit may be rotten. Carefully inspect the place where the petiole is attached - there should be no white spots or traces of mold on it. Fresh lychee smells slightly of roses, but overripe - exudes the aroma of sweet heavy perfume. Choose fruits carefully, and try not to chase the cheapness of not too fresh "specimens", and your health will not be in order.