Longan fruit Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
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A longan is a tropical fruit that belongs to the soapberry family. It is native to southern China. The longan fruit is comparable to lychee fruit. The edible part is inside a soft skin. Inside is a single black seed surrounded by white, translucent flesh that has a sweet, slightly musky flavor.
Nutritional Value of Longan Fruit
Longan fruit contains 82% water, 15% carbohydrates, 1.3% protein, and negligible amounts of fat. They are a source of vitamins C, riboflavin, magnesium, and potassium.
In a 100-gram reference amount, raw longans supply 60 calories, 15.1 g carbohydrate, 1.31 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 84 mg vitamin C, 0.14 mg riboflavin, 1 mg calcium, 0.13 mg iron, 266 mg potassium, and 10 mg magnesium.
Raw Longans Nutrition Facts Label
Health Benefits of Longan fruit
Longan is both a tasty and a nutritional subtropical fruit. Since ancient times, longan fruit pericarp has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the enhancement of human immunity.
Lysophosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidate and phosphatidic acid glycerol have been detected in longan flesh. Such phospholipids can be metabolized by a variety of membrane lipid-related enzymes and purportedly enhance immune function in human consumers. Thus, longan fruit flesh may have beneficial effects on human health.
The Longan flesh contains polysaccharides such as D-galactopyranose, L-arabinofuranose, D-glucopyranose, and D-galacturonic acid. Phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, corilagin, flavone glycosides, and glycosides of quercetin and ellagic acids have been isolated from the pericarp. The pericarp, aril, and seeds exhibited antityrosinase, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiglycated activities. The pericarp portion also possesses antimicrobial (antibacterial and antiviral), anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties.
Longan fruit contains a lot of vitamin C (93% of the DV). Vitamin C is a natural, water-soluble antioxidant. It plays a vital role in tissue repair and as an immune-booster. It helps in the prevention of gum bleeding and iron absorption. Its antioxidant effects help keep the human body disease-free through warding off oxygen-derived free radicals.
Longan fruit contains 12% DV of riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2. It is a water-soluble vitamin and is one of the B vitamins. Riboflavin is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and fats. It is also involved in the metabolism of niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Riboflavin is prescribed to treat corneal thinning and, taken orally, may reduce the incidence of migraine headaches in adults. In riboflavin deficiency, homocysteine levels increase, elevating the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
It also contains trace amounts of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and iron.They are an important component of cell and body fluids which help control heart rate and blood pressure.