Description
Limes are small, round, greenish-yellow, intensely acidic citrus fruits. Lime is primarily used for its juice in the western world, and for preparing “condiment-pickle” in many Southeast Asian countries.
Health benefits of Limes
- Limes carry almost the same amount of calories as lemons; 30 cal/100 g. They are one of the very low glycemic index fruits.
- Lime juice contains citric acid, an organic acid which gives sour taste. Citric acid constitutes about 5 mg per oz of its juice. Citric acid is a natural preservative, antioxidant, helps dissolve kidney stones and helps in smooth digestion.
- Limes carry moderate concentrations of vitamin-C on comparison to other citrus ategory fruits like oragnge and lemon. 100 g of fresh fruit contains 29.1 mg or 48.5% of daily average intake. Vitamin C is a natural water-soluble anti-oxidant. It helps in the prevention and cure of scurvy disease.
- Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin-C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the human body.
- Limes and lemons compose flavonoid glycoside phytochemicals such as hesperetin, naringin,and naringenin.
- Naringenin is found to have a bioactive effect on human health as an antioxidant, free radical scavenger, anti-inflammatory, and immune system modulator. This substance has also been shown to reduce oxidant injury to DNA in the cells in-vitro studies.
- Limes carry relatively more vitamin-A content than lemons. Vitamin-A is a natural antioxidant that helps in the mucosa and skin integrity as well as acuity of vision. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin-A and carotenoids helps the body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
- They compose modest amounts of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and folates. These essential in the sense that the body requires them from external sources to replenish.
- Further, they carry a modest amounts of minerals like iron, copper, potassium, and calcium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
- The outer peel of lime fruit composes aromatic essential oils. The oil is used in the food and pharmaceutical industry for its preservative, anti-viral and antioxidant properties.
Lime fruit (Citrus aurantifolia), fresh, raw, without peel, Values per 100 g.
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Percent of RDA |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 30 Kcal | 1.5% |
| Carbohydrates | 10.54 g | 8% |
| Protein | 0.70 g | 1.2% |
| Total Fat | 0.20 g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.80 g | 7% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 8 ฮผg | 2% |
| Niacin | 0.200 mg | 1.2% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.217 mg | 4% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.043 mg | 3.3% |
| Riboflavin | 0.020 mg | 1.5% |
| Thiamin | 0.030 mg | 2.5% |
| Vitamin-C | 29.1 mg | 48.5% |
| Vitamin-A | 50 IU | 1.66% |
| Vitamin-E | 0.22 mg | 1.5% |
| Vitamin-K | 0.6 ฮผg | <% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 2 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 102 mg | 2% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 33 mg | 3.3% |
| Copper | 65 ฮผg | 7% |
| Iron | 0.60 mg | 7.5% |
| Magnesium | 6 mg | 1.5% |
| Manganese | 0.008 mg | <1% |
| Zinc | 0.11 mg | 1% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ฮฒ | 3 ฮผg | — |
| Carotene-ฮฑ | 0 ฮผg | — |
| Crypto-xanthin-ฮฒ | 0 ฮผg | — |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 0 ฮผg | — |
| Lycopene | 0 ยตg | — |
