Longan – Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Longan is a tasty tropical fruit that grows all over China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand. Longan fruit is good for your health in many ways because it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.

What is longan?

Longan is a tropical fruit that is mostly grown in China and Southeast Asia. Its scientific name is Dimocarpus longan. Longan fruit grows on a tree that is part of the soapberry (Sapindaceae) plant family. Other fruits in this family include lychee, rambutan, guarana, korlan, pitomba, genip, and ackee. Fresh longans are white and almost see-through. Dried longans, on the other hand, are dark brown to black.

What does longan fruit taste like?

It is said to taste sweet and a little "musky," kind of like grapes. Even though it comes from the tropics, it is not as sweet as mango, passionfruit, or pineapple.

Longan Vs Lychee: 

Even though they come from different trees, these two fruits are in the same plant family, so they have some similarities. Longans are said to have a dry sweetness like dates, while lychees are said to be more fragrant, juicy, and slightly sweeter than dates.

The fruit of the Southeast Asian evergreen tree Litchi chinensis, which is called lychee, is usually eaten fresh or squeezed to make juice. In terms of calories, carbs, vitamins, and minerals, it has about the same amount as longan. But it's a bigger fruit, which is why it's called the "little brother of the lychee," as Purdue University explains. 

Even though both of these have less polyphenols and vitamin C than fruits like berries, oranges, kiwi, and mango, they still have some. More than longan, lychee also has small amounts of minerals like magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, but not as much as longan. 

Both of these fruits are related to the rambutan fruit, which has a red skin with spikes and is a good source of fibre, manganese, and vitamin C.

Nutritional profile of longan:

Longan is low in calories and carbs and has no fat. There are 17 calories in one ounce of longan. It has about the same amount of nutrients as lychee. Longan is full of antioxidants and is also full of:

Potassium

Vitamin C

Vitamin B2 

Health benefits of longan:

1) Helps keep the skin healthy

Longan is full of antioxidants and helps the body make collagen. This helps fix damage caused by the sun and age spots.

2) Makes you healthier

Vitamin C helps the immune system work better, so it can fight off infections and colds.

3) Improves sleep 

Longan has been used for centuries to treat anxiety and trouble sleeping. It may have stress-relieving properties and may also help people sleep longer. Because it is high in potassium, which lowers blood pressure, longan may make you feel less anxious or stressed and help you sleep better.

4) Keeps your heart healthy

Vitamin C from plants like Longan may keep arteries from getting clogged and protect against heart disease.

5) Supports digestion

Longan may improve digestive health and make bowel movements easier because it has anti-inflammatory and fibrous properties.

Ways to eat longan:

Longans can be eaten in many different ways. You can eat it raw after peeling it and taking out the seed, or you can add it to a salad. The sweet fruit can also be used to make smoothies or ice cream for dessert. Longan is also mixed with other herbs and fruits to make teas that are tasty.

Longan is a fruit you should eat every day because it is good for your skin, sleep, heart, and immune system, among other things.

Drawback of longan:

If you have diabetes, you shouldn't eat longans. They are high in sugar, which can cause your blood sugar to rise. Longan should also be avoided during pregnancy because it can cause the body to get too hot and cause problems like constipation and dry mouth.