It is hard to find anyone who does not like the sweet, juicy taste of ripe lychees, and once people start eating them they lose count. Lychees may cool the body in hot weather, but eating too many can cause problems ranging from an upset stomach to other ailments. For some natural reasons, it is also important to be careful when eating the fruit. Here are the situations in which you should avoid lychees:

• On an empty stomach: eating lychees on an empty stomach in the morning can make blood sugar drop sharply, which is a serious health risk.
• Unripe lychees: unripe lychees contain far higher levels of harmful compounds than ripe ones, so it is best not to eat them at all.
• Too many lychees: eating more than 10-12 lychees a day can cause fever, stomach pain or allergy-like problems.

Lychees contain two toxic compounds, hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), which block glucose production in the liver. This can make blood sugar fall suddenly and dangerously, a condition called hypoglycaemia. The World Health Organization and various studies have found that, especially when children eat lychees on an empty stomach, they can develop acute encephalitis syndrome, or inflammation of the brain, which can sometimes be fatal.

Ripe lychees are also very sweet, meaning they contain natural sugar. People with diabetes should therefore eat them in limited amounts, and it is better not to eat them if blood sugar is not under control.

• Check whether lychees are unripe or half-ripe before eating them.
• Do not eat lychees on an empty stomach; eating them on a full stomach does no harm.
• It is better not to give children more than 2-3 lychees a day.
• Adults should not eat more than 10-12 lychees a day.

The lychee is a beneficial fruit, but it can harm health if not eaten properly and in moderation. Children and people with diabetes in particular should take special care. Eat lychees sensibly to enjoy their benefits and avoid the risks.

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