15 Incredible Health Benefits of Lime

 

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is a small, round, green-color hybrid citrus fruit. Due to its acidic sour juice and unique aroma, the lime fruit is widely used in various cuisines to accent flavor.  There are several species of citrus fruits referred to as limes that include key lime, kaffir lime, wild lime, desert lime, and Persian lime. 

Lime is a citric juice that is round in shape and contains citric acid to a certain level that is not harmful to human health as many people may think.

Lime is greenish or yellowish-green in color and has a bitter taste in the juice where most of the nutrients such as calories, carbohydrates, sugar, dietary fiber, some minerals, and vitamins are contained.

This zesty, tropical fruit is well-known for its medicinal properties for ages. Lime finds its application in cosmetic and health products, too. Extracted from the lime’s peel or skin, the lime essential oil is extensively used in aromatherapy and perfumes. 

Lime Nutrition

Predominantly known for its ascorbic acid reserves, lime provides 32 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. It has high water content and important vitamins and minerals like magnesium and potassium, as well as vitamins like folate, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K.

Lime peel and pulp are rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants, flavonol glycosides like kaempferol, as well as diverse phytochemicals like polyphenols, limonene, and terpenes.

15 Incredible Health Benefits of Lime

Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits in detail:

1.  Improves Your Immune Health

Vitamin C is vital to your immune health. Regularly eating limes, which are high in Vitamin C, can even help you stave off the common cold.

2.  Acts as an Antioxidant

Lime juice and oil contain antioxidants and exhibit the properties disinfectants and antibiotics such that when applied directly to the external parts of the body helps to clear skin diseases and wipe dead cells. These antibiotics can treat peptic ulcers as well.

The vitamin C in lime is the ascorbic acid which naturally acts as an antioxidant in the body, preventing any form of oxidation processes (free radicals) in the body which could lead to damages of the body cells and organs.

3.  Promotes Heart Health

Lime naturally contains minerals like potassium and magnesium which helps in improving the heart and reducing the chances of being at risk of heart attack and stroke.

Magnesium helps in the heart and nerve-muscle coordination, it helps in regulating the heartbeat, its deficiency as well can cause irregular heartbeats. While Potassium helps in enhancing blood circulation and also helps to lower the pressure on the blood.

Limonins is also a compound that is believed to be in lime and helps to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the body which is good for the heart as well.

4.  Reduces Inflammation

Limes contain antioxidants, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation and even help prevent certain chronic illnesses.

5.  Helps in Diabetes Management

Lime fruits are known to manage diabetes just like other citrus fruits can do. This is so because of the presence of soluble fiber in the pulp, peels, and juice of lime which helps to stabilize the blood glucose level.

They also have a low glycemic index which regulates the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream and helps in reducing the chances of raising the blood sugar levels.

6.  Protects Against Infection

The high levels of Vitamin C found in limes can help protect you from infection and speed up your body’s healing process.

7.  Helps in Disease Prevention

Some nutrients such as antioxidants, flavonol glycosides, kaempferol, and vitamin C in lime fruit make them medicinal to treat certain diseases and reduce the risks of contracting them.

Also, these nutrients can also help in reducing the risk of getting infections by providing the immune system with the energy it needs to defend itself against such, and also help in minimizing the effect of the ones in the body have already.

The chances of getting infections are much during the cold season, which is why lime is recommended especially in such times to help fight infections and certain diseases.

8.  Helps to Treat Scurvy

Lime is used in treating scurvy which is a deficiency that arises from lack of vitamin C in the body. Studies show that there is 48% of vitamin C content in one lime fruit and with this when taken adequately, can treat scurvy.

But in order to avoid developing sore or tooth decay which could be caused by the acidic content of lime, it is recommended to be well diluted with water before taking it.

9.  Healthy Bones and Teeth

Bone and tooth development can also benefit from the Vitamin C found in limes.

10.  Enhances for Weight Loss

The citric acid present in lime fruit plays an essential role in weight reduction. It also acts as an alkalizing agent in the body that helps to reduce the level of acid in the body fluid.

There are many compounds and nutrients in lime that contribute to weight loss, such as flavonoids which is an antioxidant that helps in improving collagen on the skin, which helps in the burning of fats.

It is rich in acid content, such as citric acid which helps in improving the metabolism processes in the body leading to weight loss by burning more fats.

11.  Helps in Iron Absorption

There are so many fruits/food which inhibits the absorption of iron in the body or even stop the body from utilizing its iron content which can lead to weakness, heart failure, and other related health conditions.

The vitamin C in lime is known as the Ascorbic acid helps in the absorption of nonheme iron (from plants) in the body but is most effective when it is taken together with the iron-rich food for easy digestion.

12.  Improves the Skin

Collagen is one of the vital protein which is commonly found on the skin, and functions to help build muscles, as well burn fat, it also aids in preventing aging thereby it is used in many cosmetic products as it can remove wrinkles, smoothen and rejuvenate the skin.

Lime is one of the fruits which can help in achieving a better-looking skin, it contains an antioxidant known as flavonoids which works to make the collagen on the skin improved in both firmness and elasticity as such reduces wrinkles and makes the skin firm.

It also contains vitamin C which also contributes a lot to improve the skin and is used in many topical health products and cosmetics.

The best way to gain these nutrients is by consumption, drinking of lime water or juice. It is advised not to apply the content on the body to avoid effects of lime burn like rashes, itchiness,  phytophotodermatitis, and others when exposed to the sun.

13.  Acts as a Diuretic

Intake of lemon juice in combination with water or other fluid can increase the amount of fluid in the body system thereby enhancing urine production in order to flush dirt from the body and reduce urine supersaturation.

It contains antioxidants known as bioflavonoids in a high quantity, its function in the body is to make sure that the agents that cause free radicals are eliminated through waste - Urine.

Therefore, adequate intake of lime juice or water will help in detoxifying the system especially when its consumed on an empty stomach.

14.   Helps in Digestion 

The content of acid in limes helps to maintain proper digestion by breaking the macromolecules in food easily while the flavonoid in the oil stimulates the digestive system and increases the secretion of digestive juice thereby reducing constipation.

But it is not advised to be taken much during pregnancy as it can lead to health conditions like indigestion, cramps and is as a result of their weak immune system.

For those who suffer from acid reflux which results from indigestion, it is recommended to dilute 2 teaspoons of lime in warm water, take it 30 mins before a meal as it can help stop the symptoms.

15.  Treats Kidney Stone

Lime water is good for the kidneys, it helps in keeping it healthy as it can also prevent the risk of developing a kidney stone.

But for those who already have kidney issues, the intake has to be in moderation or supervised by your doctor as it can destabilize the body’s electrolyte, causing an imbalance which the kidney may not be able to maintain.

This is because of the content of lime, just like other citrus fruits contain potassium in a high amount which could lead to the imbalance of potassium and sodium in the body.

Things to Watch Out For

Like other citrus fruits, limes are acidic and can damage your tooth enamel when eaten in large quantities. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and rinse your mouth out after eating limes to flush out limes’ citric acid.

If you're allergic to other citrus fruits, you might be allergic to limes. Talk to your doctor about your allergies before adding limes to your diet.

How to Prepare Limes

You can usually find limes at your local grocery store, but if you want to pick them yourself, you need to know what to aim for. The healthy limes for the picking are:

•  Heavy

•  Bright

•  Not discolored

Limes have countless uses. Sliced lime is great for adding citrusy notes to a pitcher of water, while lime wedges are the perfect way to add some acidity to your favorite tacos. Here are some other uses for limes:

•  Stir lime juice with sugar, seltzer water, and ice to make a refreshing limeade

•  Squeeze lime juice into Mexican rice and serve with extra lime wedges

•  Serve slices in a floral tea, like hibiscus

•  Mix lime with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger to make a marinade for baked salmon

Uses of Lime

Limes have many surprising medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic uses. Some are as follows: 

1.  Culinary Uses: Lime juice adds a tart flavor to soups, salads, vegetables, and baked foods. Squeezing some lime juice onto roasted chicken or pan-fried white fish can add a tangy taste to it. It is also widely used in the preparation of desserts, pickles, jams, jellies, snacks, and candies.

2.  Medicinal Uses: Because of their antibacterial, antiseptic, and disinfectant properties, the peel, oil, and juice of the fruit have medicinal uses. It is also used in making anti-congestion medicines and to treat severe diarrhea.

3.  Aromatherapy & Perfumes: Lime essential oil is used in aromatherapy and perfumes for its fragrance and its stimulating effect on the body and mind.

4.  Cosmetic Products: It is used in cosmetic products like body oil, hair oil, toothpaste, beauty soap, disinfectant, mouthwash, and deodorant.

5.  Beverages: It is a favorite ingredient when it comes to cocktails, sorbets, and fresh beverages.

6.  Cleansing Agent: It can easily increase the cleansing properties of any facial cleanser or shampoo by merely adding 2-3 drops.

Side Effects

Although limes do not have major side effects, excessive intake may cause some issues like:

1.  Eroded enamel: Over-consumption may erode the tooth enamel and increase its sensitivity due to the high amount of citric acid.

2.  Skin allergy: Itchiness, redness, and swelling. 

3.  Citrus fruit allergy: Nausea, abdominal pain, wheezing, repeated vomiting.

4.  Phytophotodermatitis: In some cases, applying the lime juice to the skin directly may increase skin sensitivity to UV rays, resulting in phytophotodermatitis.

Conclusion

People do think that limes are not good for consumption due to the presence of citrus acid in it but when you think of amino acids, nucleic acids, fatty acids which are important acids the human body cannot do without you will come to know that lime is good for the health and serve as a natural remedy for treating arthritis, gouts, eye diseases, fever, cholera, urinary disorder and much more.