by K Vaze

Created on: May 12, 2008   Last Updated: February 08, 2009

Lychees are these brightly colored strawberry shaped fruits with thin leathery skin and sweet musky aroma. When you peel off the skin which is fairly easy, sweet smelling white, translucent flesh is revealed. It has a distinctive sweet, succulent taste with a sub acidic, tart flavor. The seed in the middle can be little bothersome, but it can be easily taken out. Not only it tastes bad but it can have some particularly unpleasant effects on your digestive system.

These little fruits grow on Lychee trees which have rounded body of thick dense dark green foliage. They belong to Soapberry family, and are widely grown in China, India, Nepal, Indonesia and neighboring countries. References to lychee and its health benefits are found in ancient Chinese literature dating back to 10th century. Later it spread to western countries by 1700's and lychee cultivation began in USA around 1800's.

Because of its distinctive sweet delicious taste and numerous health benefits it was a favorite fruit of Chinese royalties from ancient times. From China and neighboring countries Lychees slowly became very popular all over the world and its benefits to human body were well researched in many countries over the years. Seeing its wonderful nutritious and medicinal values it has been declared "a Super Fruit" by scientists.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF LYCHEE

1. Flesh of Lychee is used to treat cough and congestion.

2. Lychee flesh is also considered a good antacid; it is used to treat High acidity, Stomach Ulcers, and Gastro Intestinal illnesses like upset stomach, mild Diarrhea, Nausea etc.

3. Seeds of Lychee are said to have analgesic properties and is traditionally used to relieve pain by drinking tea made with powdered seeds or applying the ground seeds to various body parts to reduce swelling and pain.

4. The peeled skin also has its uses. Tea made by boiling these peels is used to help fight off common colds, throat infections, mild diarrhea and other common viral infections.

5. Similarly herbal tea made by boiling tree bark, roots, and flowers from lychee tree is used to fight common infections, chicken pox and boost body's immune system.

6. Traditionally in northern India powdered lychee seeds are taken to relieve intestinal troubles, it is also believed to help the body get rid of annoying and harmful intestinal worms.

7. Honey made by bees near lychee groves is also considered very healthy and good quality, with many medicinal uses.

8. Due to its high fiber content, low calorie count and calorie

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