Longan is entering its peak season, and many people want to eat more to boost their health. Indeed, this fruit offers a wealth of nutritional value and medicinal benefits.
According to former Colonel and general practitioner Bui Hong Minh (Vice President of the Ba Dinh Traditional Medicine Association in Hanoi), in Traditional Medicine, longan is sweet, warm, neutral, and non-toxic. It helps eliminate tuberculosis bacteria, nourishes the heart and spleen, enhances memory, and increases longevity for the elderly.
The writings of Hai Thuong Lan Ong also note that regular and long-term consumption of longan can promote intelligence and youthfulness. People often use longan to nourish the body, combat insomnia, and alleviate nervous exhaustion. In modern medical research, longan is found to be rich in vitamin C. Therefore, many individuals strive to eat more longan and dried longan to enhance their health.
Longan is sweet, warm, neutral, and non-toxic, helping to eliminate tuberculosis bacteria, nourish the heart and spleen, and enhance memory…
However, there are some prohibitions when eating longan to ensure health that everyone should remember:
Do Not Eat If You Want to Lose Weight
Many women think that eating fruit instead of rice will help them lose weight quickly. However, choosing to eat longan instead of rice is indeed a mistake.
Nutrition experts state that longan has an extremely high sugar content. Skipping rice and eating longan can lead to even faster weight gain.
Instead, you should choose fruits that are low in sugar, such as cucumbers or jicama, which are more effective for weight loss and maintaining body shape.
Do Not Let Infants and Young Children Eat Longan on Their Own
For infants and young children, eating longan on their own can pose a serious choking hazard. Longan is small and round, and many children tend to put the whole fruit in their mouths, which can lead to choking. Choking can cause severe health issues and even death if not addressed promptly.
Experts recommend that parents should peel and remove the seeds before giving longan to their children to avoid choking. Children should not eat longan while running, playing, or lying down.
For infants and young children, eating longan on their own can pose a serious choking hazard.
Individuals with Certain Health Conditions Should Avoid Eating Longan Recklessly
According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam (Former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition), longan is a nutritious fruit but is not suitable for individuals with certain health conditions such as:
- Overweight and Obese Individuals: According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, longan has a high sugar content and provides a lot of energy. Eating too much can exacerbate the condition of overweight and obese individuals. Consuming 300g of longan or lychee is equivalent to one bowl of white rice, so those looking to lose weight should be very cautious; overweight individuals should only eat a few pieces and not regularly.
- People with Diabetes or Fatty Liver Disease: Longan is sweet and high in sugar; eating it recklessly can worsen diabetes and fatty liver disease. Therefore, these individuals should avoid eating it casually, even just a few pieces, and should consult their doctor to prevent their condition from worsening.
- Pregnant Women: Longan contains a lot of sugar, and eating it recklessly can increase the risk of gestational diabetes. If pregnant women wish to include longan in their diet, they should consult their doctor. Additionally, this fruit can cause internal heat, abdominal pain, bleeding, and even threaten pregnancy, which poses serious risks to both maternal and fetal health.
Longan contains a lot of sugar, and eating it recklessly can increase the risk of gestational diabetes.
- Individuals with Acne: Longan is high in sugar, and consuming it can raise blood sugar levels, which can negatively affect the skin. Those with a hot constitution and prone to acne should also limit their intake, and when eating longan, they should drink more water and include green vegetables to reduce the risk of acne.
From this, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Toan (Director of the Clinical Nutrition Institute) provides a general recommendation: Healthy individuals should only eat 200 – 300g of longan per day to ensure they receive enough essential nutrients and for effective absorption. Not everything that is good for you should be consumed in excess. Eating longan in moderation will provide health benefits, while overconsumption can lead to internal heat, resulting in skin rashes and prickly heat.
It is advisable to eat longan purchased on the same day to ensure freshness. When selecting longan, look for fruit with both stems and fresh leaves, dark yellow skin, thick, juicy flesh, and small seeds. Before eating, be sure to wash it thoroughly and soak it in diluted salt water for 10 minutes, then peel it by hand when consuming.
