Lychee fruit is a small round fruit with red scaly skin, sweet juicy pulp, and one large seed. Lychee is also known as litchi. Itâs a popular fruit in Asia and found in many desserts and drinks like jellies, cocktails, and ice creams.Â
ââLychee is a fruit thatâs been cultivated for thousands of years in China. Today it grows in many regions including India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, and the United States.
You can buy lychee fresh, dried, and canned. Lychee is also made into preserves, wine, and sauces.
It is an excellent source of vitamin C and also contains fiber and other vitamins and minerals. The plant compounds in lychee have antioxidant properties which are beneficial to health. A person should avoid eating too many processed lychee foods or drinks as they contain added sugars.
Calories and Nutrition in Lychee
A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving of fresh lychee fruit contains:
- 66 calories
- 0.83 grams of protein
- 0.44 grams of fat
- 16.5 grams of carbohydrates
- 1.3 grams of dietary fiber
- 15.2 grams of sugar
- 71.5 milligrams of Vitamin C
Adverse Effects of Lychee Fruit
When eaten as part of a healthy diet, lychees typically donât adversely affect your health. â
Low blood sugar. Lychee fruit has been linked to brain inflammation in children in some villages in India. Researchers say a compound in lychees known as hypoglycin A can cause your blood sugar level to drop. This results in low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.
But malnutrition may also have been part of the blood sugar issues in this study. Many of these children ate lychees and didnât have dinner. They fell sick the next morning with symptoms like seizures and high fever.Â
Allergies. Lychee contains some proteins that can lead to rare allergic reactions. There have been few scientific studies on allergies to lychee fruit. They reported symptoms such as:
- Hives (urticaria)
- Itchiness
- Swelling of the lips and tongue
- Difficulty breathing.
Lychee Fruit and Hypoglycin: How Many Are Too Many?
FAQ
Are canned lychee good for you?
How much lychee can I eat in a day?
Are lychees full of sugar?
When should we not eat lychee?
Is lychee healthy?
Lychee is a sweet, floral-tasting fruit that’s bursting with important vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and potassium. Here’s how it may help you stay healthy and how to pick and eat ripe fresh lychee.
Is lychee good for kidney?
There are no high quality human studies that associate lychee with kidney health. However, lychee and other fruits have a high water content and in addition to drinking water, make sense to include in a diet for kidney health. Staying hydrated is critically important for kidney function. Also, maintaining a healthy blood pressure is important for kidney health as high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Lychees are rich in potassium and low in sodium. A diet high in potassium and low in sodium help to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Individuals with late stage chronic kidney disease may need to control their portion size of high potassium fruits and vegetables. Individuals with kidney disease should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner for dietary guidance.
Can lychee help prevent cancer?
Some in vitro studies have found that lychee could bring some big benefits when it comes to cancer prevention. According to a 2017 review published in Nutrients, the pulp, peel and seed of the lychee fruit all contain potent compounds that can inhibit tumor formation and block cancer cell growth.
Can you eat fresh lychee?
Lychees, both fresh and canned, can be enjoyed on their own, but also work well in refreshing drinks. Whole fruit can be blended into smoothies, and lychee juice can be used to make lychee martinis. (If you are using fresh lychees, just remember to remove the seed first!)