May to June is the time when the seasonal Litchi (Lychee) makes in appearance in India. Did you know that India is the second-largest producer of Litchi in the world, after China? It is traditionally grown in the Northern parts of the country like Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. However, few Southern states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are also growing it now, and usually, their produce is out in the off-season time of December to January.
Importance of seasonal fruits
We have seen how the seasonal fruits are incredibly beneficial to our health and are a nature’s gift to us to tide over the season. It is extreme summer now and we see that the mercury is rising by the day across India. Add to that, the troubles of being cooped up indoors due to the fear of the Coronavirus; it becomes essential to ensure that we eat healthily, build our immunity, and keep ourselves safe. Perse, it is a good thing that we have a lockdown of sorts going on when the heatwave is hitting us.
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It is good to avoid going out and stay indoors to prevent exhaustion and heatstroke. It is also important to keep yourself hydrated and drink lots of fluids, especially those with electrolytes like citrus fruit juices, lassi, and so on. Don’t miss out on the seasonal litchi though, this time. It has its benefits in keeping you healthy and active, and it is 81% water, and highly nutritious as well. It is an excellent source of Vitamins C & D, Magnesium, Copper, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, and more.
Immunity Booster
The one thing that most people are looking for now, is to boost their immunity. This is a great factor in fighting off the Coronavirus, and Litchi happens to be one fruit that can help you with that. The Vitamin C content helps you with the immunity, and also strengthens the white blood cells in the body. As you well know, this helps wade off the infections.
Digestive aid
The fruit is rich in fibre, and this aids in digestion and easy passing of stool. It relieves abdominal discomfort by preventing constipation, and this is a big blessing in old age. More importantly, litchis also induce the release of some digestive enzymes that makes the nutrient absorption easier for the body.
Improved cardiovascular health
Litchis also have a high amount of Copper, and this helps with the blood circulation, production of red blood cells, and overall good heart health. Not just that, Litchis also contain a good amount of Potassium, while being low in Sodium, and thus it helps balance the body’s fluid balance. That makes it an ideal aid for better metabolic functions, and blood pressure regulation. Even the Potassium helps ease the blood flow through the arteries. Thus, the consumption of litchis can be good for cardiovascular health.
Good for skin
The high amount of Vitamin C in litchi helps reduce the oxidative stress in the body, by negating the effects of the free radicals. The free radicals are a major cause of a lot of issues in our body, including skin issues and ageing. Thus litchis can help ease the skin issues and ease the wrinkles and blemishes as well.
Bone health
Another reason why older people should consume litchis is the positive effect it has on your bone health. The nutrients present in litchis like Copper, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Manganese, and Iron helps our body to absorb Calcium better. Better Calcium absorption is important for maintaining our bone health, especially as we age, as otherwise, we become prone to easy fractures.
Apart from these, there are a few other benefits as well, but when the fruit is as tasty, why would you need more excuses to eat it anyway? The best part is that it is easy to store, peel, and eat. You could also try out some recipes like sorbet, ice cream, kheer, cake, and more.
