Although lychee season is long gone, here’s a reason you should know in advance so you can stock up on lychee’s next summer. In the past few years, studies have explored scientific evidence and mechanisms that suggest lychee may play a role in cancer prevention. Researchers from the Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Palermo mentioned in a study titled ‘Lychees a Functional Food and a Source of Antitumor Compounds’ that Lychee is emerging as a potential anti-cancer fruit. Amusingly, not just the pulp, but also the seed and peel are packed with antitumor properties.
Can Lychee Prevent Cancer?
Cancer often develops due to genetic mutations or damage to DNA. One major contributor to this DNA damage is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between harmful compounds called free radicals (for example hydrogen peroxide and ozone), and antioxidants in the body. High levels of free radicals can lead to cellular damage, increasing the risk of cancer.
Fortunately, lychee is a rich source of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and various polyphenolic compounds. These antioxidants help combat oxidative stress by neutralising free radicals.
Also Read: Men, Wealthy People More Prone To Skin Cancer: Study
While research is ongoing, there is evidence to suggest that lychee may have a protective effect against certain types of cancer, particularly breast cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer.
Here's how lychee's antioxidant properties help in preventing cancer:
- Reducing DNA Damage: Antioxidants in lychee may help protect DNA from oxidative damage, reducing the chances of genetic mutations that can lead to cancer.
- Inhibiting Tumor Growth: Lychee extracts also have anti-cancer properties that prevent the growth of cancer cells.
- Boosting Immunity: Vitamin C, found in lychee, supports a healthy immune system, which aids the body to better identify and destroy potentially cancerous cells.
Incorporating Lychee into Your Diet
To enjoy the potential cancer-preventing benefits of lychee, here are a few ways by which you can include it in your diet:
- Fresh Lychee: Enjoy lychee as a refreshing snack, or add it to fruit salads for a burst of flavour and nutrition. You can add some lemon juice to your fruit salad for an extra kick of Vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Lychee Smoothies: Blend lychee with your favourite fruits and yoghurt for a delicious and healthy smoothie.
- Lychee Infused Water: Add peeled and chopped lychee to a pitcher of water for a subtly sweet and hydrating beverage. Leave this mixture in your fridge overnight, and enjoy the cancer-preventing benefits of lychee with your breakfast.
Remember, preventing cancer is a holistic endeavour, and lychee can be a delicious addition to your cancer prevention toolkit. However, this advisory in no way acts as a replacement for credible medical intervention to treat cancer, nor should you use lychee as compensation for a poor lifestyle full of unhealthy food, lack of rest and time management, and indulging in harmful habits like smoking. Lychee is not a magical cure for cancer, but incorporating such small tweaks into your daily diet can improve your health significantly and potentially save you from chronic diseases like cancer.