Limes: Important Facts, Health Benefits, and Recipes

The lime is a small, green citrus fruit in the Rutaceae family that grows on trees in warm climates.

Yes! They are a great source of Vitamin C.

1. Limes are a good source of Vitamin C

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage
• Vitamin C supports the immune system

2. Limes may help reduce inflammation

• Limes contain antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation, preventing chronic illnesses like heart disease

3. Limes may help protect against infection

• The Vitamin C in limes may help protect us from infection and speed up the body’s healing process if we get sick
• Regularly eating limes or drinking lime water may help prevent the common cold
• Vitamin C may help increase the production of white blood cells, which fight off infection

4. Limes contain flavonoids

• Flavonoids are phytochemicals that may have health benefits, such as helping to prevent heart disease and inflammation

5. The Vitamin C in limes may help lower blood pressure

6. The citric acid in limes may prevent kidney stones

• Citrus fruits have been shown to help people who get kidney stones
• Citric acid in limes (and lemons) makes it more difficult for kidney stones to form

7. The Vitamin C in limes Increases iron absorption

• Iron is needed to make red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout our body

8. Limes may promote healthy skin

• The Vitamin C in limes helps make collagen which keeps our skin firm and strong

• The antioxidants in Vitamin C can help combat the oxidative stress the sun can put on our skin that causes premature aging

9. Limes may help prevent heart disease

• Vitamin C may protect against atherosclerosis, when plaque builds up in your arteries making them narrow and hard

• Limes have varying origins within tropical Southeast Asia and South Asia 
• Wild limes probably originated in Indonesian or the nearby mainland of Asia 
• Limes were spread around the world through migration and trade
• The Persian lime is the most common variety of lime in the US. 
• The Key lime (or Mexican lime) is a also common variety in the US
• British sailors were given a daily allowance of citrus, such as lemon or lime during the 19th century to prevent scurvy 
• Lime is a key ingredient in certain pickles and chutneys in Indian cuisine. South Indian cuisine is heavily based on lime; having either lemon pickle or lime pickle is considered essential for Hindu festivals
• Lime juice is used to make limeade, and as an ingredient in many cocktails such as gimlets, margaritas, and in gin and tonics. Limeade is a beverage similar to lemonade, but a slightly different flavor
• Lime juice can be concentrated, dried, frozen, or canned
• Dried limes are used as a flavoring in Persian cuisine and Iraqi cuisine, and in Middle Eastern baharat (a spice mixture)
• Lime oil, found in the peel, is used as essential oil for diffusers for aromatherapy, cleaning, perfumes, or drinking

• Mexican - lime soup, ceviche, guacamole, and garnish for tacos, margaritas
• Middle Eastern - dried lime in baharat, limonana (lime beverage)
• Persian - dried lime in soups and stews
• Iraqi - baharat (spice blend)
• Thai - tom kha gai (chicken soup) and green papaya salad
• Vietnamese - pho
• Indian - pickles and chutney
• American - Key lime pie, gin and tonic

Store limes in the refrigerator in a drawer if you don’t plan on using them right away and on the counter if you plan to use them within the week of buying them.

• Persian lime: (a hybrid of key lime and lemon) is the most widely produced lime in the world and Mexico is the largest producer
• Key lime or Mexican lime: smaller than Persian with thin skin and juicy
• Kaffir lime (the fruit and the leaves), or makrut lime
  • Used in Southeast Asian cuisine
  • One of the three most commonly produced limes worldwide
  • One of the earliest citrus fruits introduced to humans
• Sweet lime: less tart than the Persian lime and commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean region
• Mandarin lime ( or Rangpur lime) is lemon–mandarin orange hybrid and is commonly used to make marmalade
• Australian finger limes: look like fingers and have small pieces inside that look like caviar, sometimes called citrus caviar and used in champagne or over oysters
• Philippine lime: (a kumquat and mandarin hybrid)
• Limequat (lime and kumquat hybrid)

• Consuming lemons or limes in moderation is generally safe. 
• Lime juice may cause pain on an open wound like a cut on your lip or on your fingers
• Phytophotodermatitis (aka margarita photodermatitis): when someone’s skin is exposed to lime peel or lime juice followed by exposure to sunlight. It can cause blisters and itchy skin. Bartenders can get it when making a lot of citrus drinks.
• The acidity from limes may make heartburn or digestive issues worse in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Citric fruits can erode tooth enamel and cause cavities over time if consumed in large volumes
• If using cleaning products with citrus, wear gloves to protect the skin