Summer is at its peak and it's taking a lot for us to brave this scorching weather. It's not humanly possible to pull down the soaring temperatures but we can definitely adjust ourselves to adapt and take on the searing heat with success. The best way to do this is by keeping our body hydrated and by eating cool summer foods. There's a volley of seasonal produce lining the shelves of the grocery stores. Apart from mango and mandarin, there are many other fruits that are great for consumption during summers and lychee is one of them. The origin of Lychee or Litchi chinensis is traced back to China. But, in present times, lychee is widely available in India and other parts of the world as well.
Lychee is a sub-tropical fruit with a textured dark pink layer and a pulpy, translucent white flesh enclosing a dark brown seed. The outer layer in discarded and the seed is lobbed off to enjoy this juicy, uber sweet fruit. While its great taste tantalises the taste buds, knowing the fruit's various nutritional properties can make you relish this fruit even more.
(Also Read: 5 Summer Fruits In India You Cannot Afford To Miss)
Summer fruit: Lychee is a sub-tropical fruit
Lychee (Litchi) Nutritional Facts and Value
One bite into this fruit unleashes a fount of freshness into the mouth. That's because of its high water content; almost 81% of lychee is water! Lychee is also rich in carbohydrates, which mostly comes from the natural sugar found in abundance in it. A 100 gms of lychee contains 16.53 gms of carbohydrates.
| Nutrient | Unit | Value per 100 g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proximates | |||
| Water | g | 81.76 | |
| Energy | kcal | 66 | |
| Protein | g | 0.83 | |
| Total lipid (fat) | g | 0.44 | |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | g | 16.53 | |
| Fiber, total dietary | g | 1.3 | |
| Sugars, total | g | 15.23 | |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium, Ca | mg | 5 | |
| Iron, Fe | mg | 0.31 | |
| Magnesium, Mg | mg | 10 | |
| Phosphorus, P | mg | 31 | |
| Potassium, K | mg | 171 | |
| Sodium, Na | mg | 1 | |
| Zinc, Zn | mg | 0.07 | |
| Vitamins | |||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | mg | 71.5 | |
| Thiamin | mg | 0.011 | |
| Riboflavin | mg | 0.065 | |
| Niacin | mg | 0.603 | |
| Vitamin B-6 | mg | 0.1 | |
| Folate, DFE | µg | 14 | |
| Vitamin B-12 | µg | 0 | |
| Vitamin A, RAE | µg | 0 | |
| Vitamin A, IU | IU | 0 | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | mg | 0.07 | |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | µg | 0 | |
| Vitamin D | IU | 0 | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | µg | 0.4 | |
| Lipids | |||
| Fatty acids, total saturated | g | 0.099 | |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | g | 0.12 | |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | g | 0.132 | |
| Fatty acids, total trans | g | 0 | |
| Cholesterol | mg | 0 | |
| Other | |||
| Caffeine | mg | 0 | |
Why is Lychee Good For Health? | Benefits of Litchi
1.Promotes Heart Health
Copper plays a big role in preventing heart enlargement. Likewise, potassium promotes contraction and beating of the heart. Lychee is rich in both these vital nutrients that ensure a healthy heart.
2.Protects From Serious Diseases
Lychee contains more antioxidant polyphenols than many other fruits known to us. The compounds help in fighting off chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer.
3.Reduces Inflammation
The flavanols present in lychee possess anti-inflammatory properties which aid in combating flu and infections like sore throat, cold and even breathlessness.
(Also Read: 5 Refreshing Lychee Summer Coolers)
Summer fruit: lychee juice
How To Consume Lychee
There's nothing like enjoying the fruit directly and reveling in the splash of pulp of the fruit overflowing with freshness. However, if you like to spice things up when it comes to consuming fruits, you can juice lychee to make mocktails, cocktails, and sherbets. Lychee has a neutral taste which goes well with many other foods to make a refreshing salad or even a delicious dessert.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.