Lychee - Description, Composition, Useful Properties, Vitamins

The ratio of BJU in the product

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Description of lychee

Lychee is a tree from the Sapindov family, which is also called fox, liji or Chinese plum. The plant grows mainly in America, Asia and Africa. You can see it in Australia, but not in such a large number.

The tree bears fruit of ovoid or oval shape, covered with a pimpled red skin. The peel is dense and bumpy, easily separated from the pulp, and inside the fruit there is a large brown seed. The pulp has a jelly-like shape, creamy or white, with a pleasant aroma and sweet and sour refreshing taste. The weight of a ripe fruit does not exceed 20 g, and the diameter of the fruit reaches 3-3.5 cm. The Chinese also call the fruit of the tree "dragon's eye" because of the unusual combination of dark seed and light pulp.

History

The homeland of lychee is China. According to documentary sources, the inhabitants of Ancient China consumed this fruit as early as the 2nd century BC. Over time, they learned about lychee in neighboring countries, and it spread throughout all territories of Southeast Asia. Later it was grown on many other continents.

In Europe, they learned about the exotic fruit in the 17th century. The first detailed description of lychee appeared in a book by Gonzalez de Mendoza, a Spanish writer who was interested in Chinese history. According to him, lychee fruits are similar to plums, and they can be consumed in almost unlimited quantities, since they do not cause heaviness in the stomach. To this day, lychee is sometimes called the Chinese plum.

Lychee is eaten both fresh and added to various sauces, desserts, ice cream, liqueurs and drinks. It is also used as a filling for puddings and pies. In China, wine is made from the fruit of the tree.

When buying fruits, you need to pay attention to the color and condition of the peel. If the color of the fruit is too dark, it means that the fruit has been plucked from the branch for a long time and has lost its useful and taste qualities. Therefore, it is worth purchasing only completely whole fruits, without defects, of moderate red color.

The composition and calorie content of lychee

100 g of lychee contains 79.5 g of water, 17 g of carbohydrates, 1.6 g of fiber, 0.9 protein, 0.3 g of fat; vitamins: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), ascorbic acid (C), tocopherol (E), biotin (H), phylloquinone (K); macroelements: phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium; trace elements: fluorine, zinc, iron, copper, iodine, manganese.

The calorie content of lychee is 76 kcal per 100 g of product.

Useful properties of lychee

The lychee contains a large amount of vitamins, so this fruit is very useful for the human body. It contains a lot of water and complex carbohydrates, there is enough dietary fiber, protein and a little fat necessary for the body. Sugar in lychee fruits is 6-15% - its content depends on the area where the plant grows, as well as the type of tree.

Due to the high content of ascorbic acid and potassium, the beneficial properties of lychee are obvious for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system. In China, this fruit is used to prevent atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Among other things, lychee helps to lower blood cholesterol levels.

This fruit perfectly tones the body, and in the east it is considered an excellent natural aphrodisiac. No wonder in India, lychees are called the fruit of love.

The beneficial properties of lychee include its ability to quench thirst, normalize the intestines and stomach, and relieve constipation. And due to its low calorie content, lychee effectively helps to get rid of extra pounds.

Doctors recommend using this fruit for diabetes, anemia, peptic ulcer and diseases of the pancreas and liver.

The Chinese are sure that lychee, in combination with lemongrass or other medicinal plants, is very effective in treating cancer.

But in addition to the fruit itself, its peel is also used in medicine. A decoction is prepared from it, the regular use of which increases the tone of the body and effectively prevents the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues.

Contraindications

Overuse of lychee can cause an allergic reaction. In general, it is not recommended to consume the fruit only in case of individual intolerance.

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