When summer markets fill with the scent of juicy lychees, the fruit is almost impossible to ignore. For young and old alike, lychee means a taste of joy. Sweet, juicy and fragrant, it quenches thirst on hot days and brings relief to the body.

But this favourite fruit also has aspects that can make it risky when eaten on an empty stomach, especially for children. Doctors have been warning about this for a long time.

Lychees naturally contain certain chemical compounds, notably hypoglycin A and methylene cyclopropyl glycine. These are present in relatively higher amounts in unripe or half-ripe lychees. Once in the body, they can interfere with the normal process of making glucose.

The effect is stronger when there is no food in the stomach. Blood sugar can then fall suddenly, a condition known in medicine as hypoglycaemia, which can sometimes lead to fatal complications.

Eating lychees on an empty stomach can quickly deplete the body's existing glucose reserves. This is more sensitive in children, whose bodies can store relatively little glucose. According to experts, the risk is highest in malnourished children. People who go without food for long periods can face the same danger.

In several places, including Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Jamaica, serious illness has been seen in some children after eating lychees. In medicine this is often described as 'acute encephalitis syndrome'. An affected child may have seizures, mental confusion, abnormal behaviour, sudden loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, coma. If these symptoms are ignored, the situation can quickly become complicated.

If such symptoms appear, it is essential to see a doctor without delay.

Lychees are not equally risky for everyone, but some groups need extra caution:

• children under 15
• malnourished people
• people who go without food for long periods
• people who eat irregularly

In these groups, the balance of blood sugar is more likely to be upset quickly.

Despite the risks, lychee is a highly nutritious fruit. It contains vitamin C, antioxidants, plenty of water and components that strengthen immunity. These are good for the body, and eaten the right way lychees benefit health.

Lychee is undoubtedly a favourite summer fruit, but as with any food it is important to know the right time and amount. Eaten on an empty stomach or in excess, it can do harm instead of good, especially to children and the malnourished. So the need is for awareness, not fear. Eat lychees in moderation on a full stomach, and you can enjoy the taste while keeping your body safe and healthy.

The information is based on Healthline.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.