If you love lychees, then you are not going to have any trouble welcoming longans into your life. That’s because longans are long regarded as little brothers to lychees as they pretty much taste the same. Also sometimes refrered to as dragon’s eyes, longans originated in China but they are now widely cultivated in many Asian countries and other regions on the planet. Mostly available during summer, you can easily come across them at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
Other than having the familiar taste of lychees, another great thing about longans is they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They are particularly rich in vitamins A and C, as well as phosphorous, magnesium, iron and potassium. Longans are also loaded with antioxidants, making them more popularly used as remedies for an assortment of health problems in Oriental medicine rather than served as edible fruits on the table.
Whenever you come across longans, go ahead and get your hands on some of them. Here are some of the reasons why it is a great idea for you to include sweet-tasting longans in your diet:
Longans Promote Regular Bowel Movement
There are a couple of reasons why longans are very good at saving you from having constipation. First, they contain lots of water which contributes to your daily intake of fluids. Second, longans are excellent sources of fiber, something which promotes the regular emptying of the bowels. Experts say that fiber may also help reduce your risk of colon cancer.
They Help Promote Wound Healing
You should consider including more longans in the diet if you have wounds because it is rich in vitamin C, a nutrient so important for the healing of injured skin. Vitamin C can also help you bounce back much faster from wide variety of infections and allergies because it is a well-known booster of the immune system.
Eating Them Helps You Stay Looking Young
Vitamin C is something that’s known to promote the production of collagen, a substance that makes your skin become soft and elastic. With more collagen, it is easier to keep at bay the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. You should include more vitamin C-rich foods in the diet such as longans as you age because aging lowers the body’s collagen production.
Having Them May Help Prevent Anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia, like what the name says, is a problem wherein there’s insufficiency in red blood cells due to lack of iron in the diet. To keep this blood problem at bay, you should consume iron-rich foods such as longans. Longans also contain loads of vitamin C, a nutrient so important for the proper absorption of iron.
Longans are Good for the Nerves
Consuming them is said to promote healthy nerves, warding off problems such as tingling or burning sensation in the hands and feet. Thanks to their beneficial effects on the nerves, longans may also help reduce fatigue and anxiety. So go ahead and snack on longans whenever you feel stressed or you constantly find yourself having a bout of insomnia.
They Also Protect Your Heart
For centuries now, longans are being recommended by traditional healers in promoting a healthy circulatory system. This does not come as a surprise as these fruits are capable of reducing stress, something which can wreak havoc to your heart. Longans also contain potassium which is good for regulating the blood pressure and heart muscle contraction.
Munching on Them May Promote Weight Loss
Got hunger pangs but you are trying to slim down? Reach for some longans to feel satisfied as well as to have your body properly nourished. These tropical fruits are low in calories and contain a really negligible amount of fat. Longans also help energize your body, making it easier for you to get off that couch and have your daily dose of exercise.
