On the benefits of Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia)

It’s hard to imagine a day without lime in the Thai diet. The sour and acidic fruit gives many Thai dishes their distinctive and pungent “wake-up” taste. Cultivated in Southeast Asia and other tropical areas like Brazil, Mexico, Egypt and the Mediterranean countries, lime is valued for its tangy juice and fragrant aroma.

Traditionally used to treat numerous ailments and health-related conditions, this small green citrus fruit contains more vitamin C than its larger cousin, the lemon. An age old remedy is a glass of warm lime juice and some honey to relieve sore throats and cold symptoms. Warm lime water helps to cleanse and stimulate the liver, liquefying bile and preventing excess bile flow. In his book Biological Ionization as Applied to Human Nutrition, A.F. Beddoe writes that lime juice triggers the production of more enzymes in the liver than any other food.

The oil extracted from lime contains flavonoids, a large family of compounds synthesized by plants that offer potential health benefits due to their capacity to regulate and adapt cell signals. Lime oil extracts are widely used in balms, inhalers and vaporizers.

In 1996, a cholera epidemic broke out in several West African villages. To stop if from spreading, researchers conducted a case control study in the community. They experimented by adding lime juice to the peanut sauce in villagers’ lunches. Lab tests indicated that the cholera strain spread rapidly in rice with the peanut sauce, and the scientists knew that cholera was triggered by bacterial activity called Vibrio cholera. Their experiment proved that lime can inhibit Vibrio cholera growth.

Vitamin C deficiency initially causes you to feel down in the dumps. In this case, a glass of nam manoa (lime juice) will perk you up. Vitamin C accelerates the healing of wounds. With regular consumption, the pectin content in lime pulp will lower your blood cholesterol. Teeth and gums become stronger – and bones too. Don’t brush your teeth immediately after consuming lime because the acidic content may damage your tooth enamel. It’s best to wait until your saliva normalizes the acidity.

Lime has been the traditional curve for scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency disease characterized by coughs, colds, cracked lips and mouth corners, bleeding gums and ulcers in the tongue. In former days, lime was distributed to sailors at sea to prevent the much dreaded scurvy.

The scent of lime causes digestive saliva to fill the mouth even before you taste it. The flavonoids in the oils extracted from lime stimulate your digestive juices. While the acids break down the molecules in the food, the antioxidant and antibiotic actions inhibit microbial growth.

Lime rinds contain volatile oils which also aid digestion and prevent stomach gases. They are acidic, but once they are digested in the stomach, they have an alkalizing effect and help to treat peptic ulcers. This is because the atomic make-up of lime resembles saliva and hydrochloric acid, which is present in your digestive juices.

The acids in lime cleanse the tracts of the excretory system, while the fibers help to ease bowel movements. Several glasses of lime juice provide relief from constipation. Drinking lime juice during a fast helps eliminate waste from your body as the lime dissolves mucus from toxins. With its high fiber content, lime helps to flush out toxins regularly, reducing their build-up in your body. Adding lime juice t other juices during a liquid fast will accelerate the detoxifying process.

The high potassium content in lime works in coordination with sodium to regulate the smooth flow of electrical transmission in the brain and nervous system. Low potassium levels can cause anxiety, depression and forgetfulness. The potassium also helps to remove toxins and substances that have been deposited in the kidney and urinary bladder.

Contrary to popular belief, citrus fruits such as lime, lemons and grapefruit do not raise your metabolism causing you to burn more fat. The American Council of Exercise says that only exercise does that. However, if you replace high-calorie beverages, such as sodas and lattes, with lime juice or water spruced with a slice of lime, you’ll reduce your overall calorie intake.

Limes can enhance the flavor of food without adding many calories. Your taste buds will be satisfied without an extra salt, sugar or cream. You can squeeze lime over your salad or use it as flavoring a minty ice tea. You also can use lime in Mexican or Mediterranean inspired recipes. Try squeezing a lime over a vegetarian burrito or a grilled chicken from your local vendor.

Lifestyle Thai Guru Tanyakamon Pramualratana

Bangkok Post, the magazine, Life

Article's original title: Limes for Health 

One (or two) lime a day keeps the doctor away...

Caution: The seeds of all citrus fruits (and also apples) are poisonous and if ingested in large quantity (even a small handful) can be fatal. So, avoid chewing or swallowing the seeds.