In the memory of the older generation, the memories of the times when the banana was considered the most exotic fruit are still fresh, and they did not even know about the existence of the wonderful lychee fruit.
China is considered his homeland. Lychee fruits grow on trees, the height of which sometimes reaches 30 meters. Moreover, the fruits themselves are rather small, only about 2.5 - 3 cm in length. Lychee-fruits have a hard, thin peel of a reddish color, densely covered with small, non-sharp thorns.
The peel is easily separated from the pulp, which looks and tastes like light grapes. Inside the jelly-like pulp there is a solid, shiny and large dark brown stone relative to the size of the fruit itself.
The fruits are rich in their vitamin and mineral composition. They contain vitamin C, which is so necessary in the season of viruses and colds. In addition, lychees are rich in B vitamins, vitamins E and PP, and some others.
Of the micro- and macroelements, lychee fruits contain iron and iodine, as well as other substances important for the body. Since ancient times, lychee has been valued by the Chinese not only for its high nutritional qualities, but also for its medicinal properties. In particular, due to the high iron content, this fruit was used for the prevention and treatment of anemia, including in young children. It is useful to use lychee for the prevention of iodine deficiency, especially for pregnant women. However, it is worth taking into account the fact that lychee is considered a highly allergenic product and, like all other exotic fruits, it should be introduced into the diet with caution.
Despite the high, up to 15%, content of sugars in lychee fruits, fruits are very useful for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as they tend to normalize blood sugar levels. It is not recommended to consume more than 10 lychee a day, as this can provoke flatulence, heartburn and indigestion.
The fruits are tasty fresh, they are also dried, canned, and fillings for pies and pies are prepared from them. Not only desserts and drinks are prepared from lychee, but also sauces for meat dishes.
