The Health Benefits of Longan fruit
The longan fruit is actually an immediate family member of the lychee and has a somewhat similar taste. This fruit has an enormous amount of Vitamin C, over three-quarters of the daily recommended intake, in fact. Also present in good amounts are Vitamin A, complex carbohydrates, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium.
WELLNESS
Longan fruits have become increasingly popular in the Western world due to their crisp sweetness and outstanding health benefits including but not limited to;
Anemia Longan fruits improve blood circulation and iron absorption, both which help prevent anemia.
Anxiety and Depression Longan’s promote healthy nerve function in the body and thus can be used as a natural mood enhancer, anxiety reliever, relaxant and sleep inducer.
Anti-cancer properties Vitamin C is a mighty anti-oxidant, which combats the oxidative stress caused by cell-damaging free radicals, repairs tissue and fights off various forms of cancer including those of the cervix, esophagus, oral cavity, pancreas, rectum and stomach.
Arthritis Vitamin C’s anti-oxidant super powers deactivate the free radicals that cause the uncomfortable inflammation generally associated with osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Bone health Potassium works to help preserve calcium in the bones and increase their density, longevity and overall strength.
Digestive health Longan has been proven to be an effective remedy for stomach aches.
Excessive perspiration The pulverized seeds of this fruit can be used to combat heavy sweating.
Healthy bones and teeth Vitamin C is essential for healthy gums. Vitamin A is good for the teeth and for the skeletal tissue.
Heart health Vitamin C is known to lower blood pressure and fight atherosclerosis. Potassium is vital in regulating the heartbeat and it also lowers blood pressure. Longan also stimulates proper blood circulation and can prevent heart attacks and stroke. As previously mentioned, this fruit has the uncanny ability to reduce stress, which is always good news for the heart. These fruits are also very low in sodium.
Immune system health With its abundance of Vitamin C, the longan fruit is a terrific immune system booster and can not only reduce your risk of catching the common cold or influenza, but also lessen the severity of the symptoms if you have already succumbed to either illness.
Qi tonic Qi is the energy force or “life-force” within the body systems and organs and in Chinese culture and medicine, Qi tonics are ingested when that energy is low or depleted. Longan fruit tonic is said to strengthen the circulatory, digestive, immune and respiratory systems, in particular.
Sexual health Longan fruit is purported to boost sex drive, particularly in women.
BEAUTY
Anti-oxidant properties Vitamin A and Vitamin C are both powerful anti-oxidants in their own right, and can markedly improve skin health and give it a radiant glow.
Longan is a fat-free food that is extremely low in calories with only two per fruit.
Cravings Due to its composition of complex carbohydrates, longan is useful as an appetite suppressant.
Energy Longan is said to be a superb long-term energy booster so one might aim to pop this little fruit in the morning before kick-starting the day or right before a rigorous workout.
The longan fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, dried or even pickled. It is at its peak, and found most readily in grocery stores, during the summer months.
Many Western folks have gotten wise to the ancient healing secrets of Southeast Asia and now make their own longan tonics at home. It is as simple as simmering down longan flesh with honey and water until it becomes a condensed and powerful syrup taken twice a day by many.
Fresh longans are sumptuously sweet little inclusions to fruit salads, and dried longan’s make for exquisite tangy little textural bites in a savoury gourmet salad.
Longans also stand up well to stir-fries and can be chopped and thrown into a hot wok along with some marinated chicken breast chunks, additional tamari, honey, coconut water, and cornstarch, and your favorite veggies like peppers, sprouts, bamboo shoots, macadamia nuts & crispy daikon radish slithers.
Another sumptuous, savoury entrée is Longan fruit and pulled Pork Radicchio wraps. Just shred slow cooked and seasoned pork into a sauté pan along with chopped garlic cloves,of longan fruits, a cup of the longan syrup or juice and one tablespoon of cornstarch and let simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Serve this savory filling in crisp cold radicchio wraps.
Longans, like their lychee brethren, are delightful in tarts or pies and make tantalizing sorbets, ice creams and gelatos.
For your after dinner cocktail, concoct a tropical Longan G&T or Cosmopolitan. All you need is a nip of premium vodka, a splash of grapefruit juice, an dash of longan syrup and a few whole longan fruits on toothpicks for garnish.
“Interesting fact about the longan fruit”
The seeds of longan fruit are actually used to absorb the venom from snakebites
