- The sweet, exotic lychee fruit hails from China. It is a heart shaped fruit that must be peeled to reveal the tasty white flesh inside.
- Let’s look at the health benefits of lychee fruit:
- Breast cancer prevention:
- Lychee may be beneficial in preventing breast cancer. A study from China showed that the flavonoids found in the pulp of lychee decreased the size of tumors. Further studies need to be conducted to confirm these findings, but the results are very promising for breast cancer prevention.
- Rich in B vitamins:
- Lychee is a good source of B vitamins like riboflavin and vitamin B6. Riboflavin helps with energy production, breaking down carbohydrates in the body, and aids in red blood cell production. Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient for our brain health and function. It helps create important molecules that send messages throughout our nervous system. Vitamin B6 is also linked to a reduction in chronic inflammation.
- High in Vitamin C:
- Lychee is an excellent source of vitamin C. Just one cup provides a whopping 226% of the recommended daily value for vitamin C. This potent vitamin has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect the body from the effects of oxidative stress, which may help strengthen the immune system and ward off diseases.
- Low fat and calories:
- Lychee contains 125 calories in one cup. Only 7 of those calories come from fat. Lychee is high in sugars, but be aware that these are natural sugars. Stay away from canned fruit, because they usually contain more added sugar and preservatives.
- Polyphenols:
- Polyphenols are compounds naturally in foods that act as antioxidants. We already saw how antioxidants work in the body to fight the effects of oxidative stress. A study published in 2006 by the Journal of Nutrition shows that lychee has the second highest polyphenol content behind only strawberries.
- Potassium:
- Lychee is high in potassium, which is important for regulating blood pressure. “A diet that includes natural sources of potassium is important in controlling blood pressure because potassium lessens the effects of sodium. The recommended daily intake of potassium for an average adult is about 4,700 milligrams per day,” The American Heart Association explains.
- One cup of lychee fruit contains 325 milligrams of potassium. Smoother muscle function, bone strength, and better digestive function are also benefits linked to potassium.
- For a real vitamin water recipe with lychee.
- Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
- REFERENCES:
- 1. “Daily Polyphenol Intake in France from Fruit and Vegetables.” Jn.nutrition.org. The Journal of Nutrition, Sept. 2006. Web. 05 Aug. 2013.
- 2. “An Analysis for Litchis, Raw lychee.” Nutritiondata.self.com. SELFNutritionData, n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2013.
- 3. “Potassium.” UMM.edu. University of Maryland Medical Center, n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2013.
- 4. “Potassium and High Blood Pressure.” Heart.org. American Heart Association, n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2013.
- 5. “Anticancer Activity of Litchi Fruit Pericarp Extract against Human Breast Cancer in Vitro and in Vivo.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 01 Sept. 2006. Web. 05 Aug. 2013.
