Limes are small, round, green-color citrus fruits that are packed with a large nutritional punch. It has become a common ingredient in various cuisines due to its acidic sour juice and unique aroma.
One lime with a 2-inch diameter contains the following nutrients:
- Phosphorus – 12 mg
- Calcium – 22 milligrams
- Potassium – 68 mg
- Vitamin C – 19.5 mg (about 20–25 percent of the daily value recommended for adults)
This zesty, tropical fruit has been found to be able to provide our body with numerous health benefits.
May Help Boost Immunity
Limes are rich in vitamin C, an important nutrient that can help boost our immune system. Human studies showed that taking vitamin C helped shorten the duration and severity of colds.
Aside from this, limes are also significantly rich in antioxidants that can strengthen our immune system by defending cells against free radical damage.
Helps Manage Blood Sugar Levels
Limes are rich in soluble fiber that is effective at regulating the body’s absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. This helps reduce blood sugar spikes that are a serious risk to diabetic patients.
Moreover, limes also have a low glycemic index. This means that consumption of it will not cause any significant spikes in glucose levels.
Helps Reduce Wrinkles
Aside from fighting the common cold, the vitamin C content of lime also assists in the production of collagen, a protein that keeps your skin, hair, and nails strong. This is needed to smooth our wrinkles and boost our skin’s elasticity.
For this benefit, we simply need to squeeze the juice of a lime into a large glass of water and drink it every morning. Do this in about 3 weeks to obtain the best results.
Has Anticancer Potential
Research from the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that citrus fruits may have valuable anti-cancer properties.
In separate research, it was revealed that lime consumption may be useful for cancer therapy as it has the ability to scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
Limes have been found to be beneficial in stopping the growth of various cancer cells in the colon, prostate, lungs, kidneys, pancreatic, stomach, breast, and blood cancer.
Helps Improve Heart Health
The University Health News Daily noted that lime contains potassium, an important mineral that lowers down blood pressure by releasing some of the tension held by blood vessels.
Also, in addition to getting rid of early signs of aging such as wrinkles, its vitamin C also helps protect against coronary heart disease by reducing free radicals’ ability to damage cell walls.
Helps Prevent Kidney Stone Formation
Intake of fresh lime juice may help remove and prevent kidney stones. It works by increasing urinary citrate and urine volume, according to a 2007 study from the journal Urology by Dr. Kristina Penniston, Division of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison.
We can obtain these benefits by incorporating limes in our diet. Use lime zest and juice into desserts and baked goods or into savory dishes. It can also be used to add flavor in various beverages.
