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Lychee fruits (Litchi chinensis) have grown on tall, tropical, flowering evergreen trees in Southern China since ancient times. These sweet gems are part of the soapberry family, and were first mentioned in Chinese literature around 1060 AD. 

Lychee trees are thought of very highly in China, and many varieties of lychees are named after wealthy and influential Chinese families. Besides their sweet and pleasing flavor, lychees are known for their cooling effect on the body, and various nutritional benefits.

Starting around the 1600s, cultivation of lychees spread from China to Burma and India, and later to the West Indies. They were growing in English and French greenhouses starting sometime around the 1800s, and in the late 1800s, could be found in California, Florida and Hawaii.

Lychee trees can grow to be 100 feet tall, have smooth, gray bark and densely-spaced leaves. The fruits are small and oval shaped, about an inch long, and have a bumpy, leathery pink or red peel.

Inside the inedible peel is the white lychee fruit pulp, which is very sweet and has an aroma somewhat resembling roses. The texture of the fruit is akin to that of a peeled grape. There is a single brown seed inside each lychee fruit.

The seeds are generally inedible, but are ground and used in some medicinal preparations, such as an Indian concoction that uses it for digestive disturbances.

Health benefits

Lychees are rich in numerous antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. One of the polyphenols that they contain is oligonol, which has been found to have antiviral properties, helps to improve circulation, protects the skin from UV rays, and can also be beneficial to weight loss. Another antioxidant compound found in lychee, litchitannin A2, also has antiviral properties.

Likely due to their unique antioxidant composition, lychees have been linked to inhibiting the growth of breast, colorectal and liver cancer cells. The anti-inflammatory properties and free radical-fighting activity of these antioxidants can also help to prevent against cancers, as well as an array of other chronic illnesses. Lychees are very high in vitamin C, another potent antioxidant which supports the immune system and is vital to healthy skin and hair.

These little tropical fruits have significant benefits when it comes to heart health. Two of the minerals found in good amounts in lychee fruit are potassium and copper. Potassium helps to balance out sodium levels in the body, and also regulates blood pressure and heart rate.

Copper is essential to the body’s manufacture of red blood cells. Lychees are also high in fiber, which helps to lower LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol, and maintains optimal digestive function. 

In Chinese medicine, lychees are sometimes used in remedies for abdominal pain, coughs, neuralgia and swollen glands. A tea made from the peels is sometimes prepared to alleviate diarrhea. In India, lychee bark, flowers and roots are all used in a gargle to relieve sore throats.

Note: Although the health benefits of lychees are vast, make sure to eat them in moderation, as they contain a high concentration of natural fructose.

Aloe vera juice benefits seem endless. After all, the Sanskrit name for aloe vera is kumari, which means ‘princess’, attesting to its ability to help you maintain youthful beauty and a healthy glow. Sounds good, right?

Sebastian Pole, co-founder of Pukka Herbs and an expert in herbalism, says: ‘Aloe vera is renowned as a ’heal-all’ that is good for many conditions, both internal and external.

‘It is a great rejuvenator and can help in some of life’s big transitions, from cleansing teenage skin to cooling menopausal hot flushes and soothing dryness.’

Here, Sebastian breaks down the benefits of aloe vera juice:

1. Detoxifying

Aloe vera juice is crammed full of amino acids, vitamins and minerals making it one of nature’s most effective cleansers. ‘It can help strengthen digestion and rid the body of any nasty waste, thus detoxifying the body naturally,’ says Sebastian. ‘Its main property is to be soothing, cooling and moistening which helps to clear inflammatory and irritating heat, such as in menopause, plus inflammatory skin and digestive problems, such as acne, rosacea and IBS.’

2. Supports the immune system

Aloe vera is packed full of immune-boosting polysaccharides which help the immune system to behave properly. ‘Too much inflammation in the body can cause problems within the immune system and can cause conditions like asthma, eczema and Crohn’s disease. Soothing herbs like aloe vera juice can slow the inflammatory cascade and help reorder the immune response to prevent these conditions.’

3. Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

There is some evidence to suggest aloe vera lowers cholesterol and has a positive effect on blood sugar levels, meaning it can be useful for treating diabetes and obesity.

4. Excellent for digestion

It’s worth trying for anyone who suffers with digestion problems like IBS. Its healing and soothing properties can help with the painful symptoms.

Aloe Vera Juice Benefits

5. An easy way to boost your vitamin and mineral intake

Aloe vera juice is packed with vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and folic acid. It’s also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium and potassium. Sounds pretty good, right?

6. Hair growth

Full of natural vitamins and enzymes that can directly promote healthy hair.

7. Good for burns, acne and hydrating skin

When used topically aloe vera can soothe inflamed skin and enhance collagen and hyaluronic acid to help rejuvenate skin.

The vibrant hue and naturally sweet flavor of strawberries make them a summertime favorite in many households. The berries also juice well, yielding a beverage packed with beneficial nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. Incorporating strawberry juice into your diet promotes tissue health, and some of the nutrients abundant in strawberry juice also prevent chronic disease.

Orange juice is made from unfermented fresh oranges and provides many benefits for the body. Fresh orange juice is the richest source of vitamin C and fulfills an entire day’s worth of vitamin C in just one serving. Chock full of useful minerals like potassium and magnesium, orange juice is also very low in fat and contains no cholesterol whatsoever.

Benefits of Orange Juice

• Provide Vitamin C. Vitamin C cannot be synthesized by the human body so we must ingest it in our food and drink. Drinking two glasses of orange juice each day can increase the Vitamin C concentration in your body by 40 to 64 percent. The vitamin C we get from orange juice protects our bodies from the harmful effects of free radicals that cause early aging, and aids in the absorption of essential minerals like calcium.
• Reduce Inflammation. Eating meals with a lot of fat or glucose can lead to the development of inflammatory reactions. Inflammatory reactions lead to the resistance of insulin, which is a common cause of type II diabetes and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a very serious condition where the blood vessel walls harden due to fatty deposits. Drinking orange juice when ingesting a high-carbohydrate and high-fat meal will prevent the occurrence of this inflammation, making it a good preventative measure against insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.
• Balance Blood Pressure. You can improve your diastolic blood pressure by adding a glass of orange juice into your diet. Studies have found that orange juice contains hesperidin, a very healthy, water-soluble plant pigment. It improves the activity of small blood vessels bringing your overall blood pressure into balance and helping to decrease cardiovascular risks.
• Lower Bad Cholesterol. Drinking orange juice regularly is thought to decrease levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is commonly known as the “bad” cholesterol and it collects in your arteries and blood vessels, causing heart problems, cardiovascular issues, and problems with healthy blood and blood oxygen flow. The mechanism in drinking orange juice that is behind the improvement in LDL cholesterol levels is still unknown. More studies and clinical trials will need to be performed in order to hammer this out as concrete fact.
• Promote Skin Condition. Drinking orange juice is said to bring a radiant glow to your skin and provide other skin benefits as well. Drinking this juice will help to hydrate skin and keep it firm. Using this juice as a topical treatment does wonders for the skin as well. It cleans out and tightens clogged pores and is believed to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. Orange juice is also a great natural remedy for treating sunburns.
• Prevent Neural Tube Defects. Folate deficiency is one of the main causes of low birth weight and neural tube defects, which are congenital problems in the brain and spinal cord. It also one of the most preventable causes of these birth defects. Drinking ⅓ cup of orange juice each day provides 40 mcg of folates to expectant mothers. Folates are important micronutrients that are known to prevent a wide variety of birth defects. The ⅓ cup serving mentioned provides 10% of the recommended daily value of folates.
• Produce Collagen. Vitamin C is the key ingredient for healthy production of collagen, which is the structural component of bones, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. When the body is deficient in vitamin C it can lead to scurvy, a disease characterized by bruising, bleeding, tooth loss and immense joint pain. In order to prevent occurrences of scurvy it is recommended for an adult to take in at least 90 mg of vitamin C each day. Those who smoke may need to take in as much as 125 mg per day. Taking in these amounts should be easy as one 6 oz. glass of orange can provide up to 93 mg of vitamin C.
• Other Benefits. The Vitamin B6 found in orange juice aids in the production of hemoglobin. Beta carotene from orange juice can help prevent cell damage. Orange juice has quite a bit of calcium in it, too. This helps promote bone health and strengthen teeth. Folic acids in orange juice help boost brain, spinal cord and neural system health. It has also been found that orange juice is highly beneficial to weight loss.

Calamansi, known as Calamondin in other countries, is a sour fruit that resembles a small mandarin. This fruit is indigenous to the Philippines that is usually used in beverages, or in sauces to enhance the flavor of food. It is sold cheap in the market and can be found in residential backyards as an ornamental plant.

This small fruit is known to be packed with Vitamin C. Drinking calamansi juice will help increase the body’s resistance to diseases like common colds and cough.Due to its good dose of vitamin C, drinking calamansi juice can also help prevent tooth decay, bleeding gums and will help strengthen teeth.

Calamansi is good for colds, flu, and fever. It will help increase perspiration and it serves as an effective antihistamine that will lessen the unpleasant effects of the common cold, including inflammation, stuffy nose and aches.
Calamansi helps strengthen immune system. Since Calamansi is rich in vitamin C, it will help protect your body from infections and maintains healthy bones and teeth and it will quicken the body’s ability to repair wounds.
Calamansi can help aid sore throats. You just mix one Calamansi with warm water, a pinch of salt and gargle.
Calamansi may help control high blood pressure and so it helps lessen the probability of hypertension and other serious health problems.
Calamansi may also help expel phlegm. In Malaya, it is mixed with pepper to expel phlegm.
Calamansi mixed with water can help a person who has respiratory problem.
Calamansi is extremely beneficial for the body as it helps eliminate toxins that result to a faster weight loss.
If you have burn, Calamansi can help reduce burning sensation because it acts as a cooling agent.
Calamansi juice serves as a liver cleanser. It lessens toxic damage to liver cells and helps keep the liver clean

Here is a list of additional health benefits derived from drinking calamansi juice:

* The vitamin C present in this drink offers relief from scurvy, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, cracked lips, cold, cough, as well as other viral infections.

* A natural skin rejuvenator, it safeguards the skin from various infections also.

* A natural deodorant, it has the potential to eliminate dandruff and act as scrub.

* The mild smell of this concentrate is a mood enhancer; hence, is suggested to be included in the bathing water to ward off tiredness and uplift the mood.

* The irresistible scent of the drink promotes primary digestion while the flavanoids enhance the secretion of digestive systems and strengthens digestive system.

* The abundance of acids enables the drink to act as a natural cleanser of digestive tract and excretory system.

* Diluted with water and flavored with salt, calamansi juice is a natural purgative, which offers relief from constipation without side effects.

* The antioxidant nature of the drink makes it ideal for averting age-related vision disorders.

* Being a good natural antioxidant, its daily consumption is ideal to prevent wrinkles and thus, delay ageing.

* The astringent and antibacterial properties of the drink make it an efficient refreshing agent for oily skin.

* Being a reservoir of antioxidants and detoxifiers, it eliminates the free radicals and toxins; thus, preventing gout as well as cancers.

* The presence of potassium in abundance enables it to eliminate the kidney stones, while the disinfectant property of the drink offers relief from urinary system infections.

* The drink is a wonderful good digestive stimulant as well as appetizer.

* The juice concentrate is known to offer relief from various medical conditions including fatigue, diabetes, cholera, rheumatism, arthritis, cardiac disorders, as well as arteriosclerosis.