Eat Me: Seven superb health benefits of lime

Lime, a member of the citrus family, has a long list of health benefits.

It can be used to make juice, added to tea, used to give fish a zingy flavour, or eaten as it is.

Here are seven superb health benefits of lime.

Treats arthritis

One of the many causes of arthritis is excess build-up of uric acid in the body.

The citric acid found in lime is a solvent in which uric acid can dissolve.

Treats peptic ulcer

Lime contains special compounds called flavonoids which have antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, antibiotic, and detoxifying properties.

The flavonoids and the alkaline reaction collectively stimulate the healing process of peptic and oral ulcers.

Respiratory disorders

The flavonoid-rich oil that is extracted from lime is used in anti-congestive medicines such as balms, vaporizers, and inhalers due to the presence of kaempferol.

Just scratching the peel of a lime and inhaling it gives immediate relief from congestion and nausea. Vitamin C in lime also prevents the trigger of asthma caused by air pollution.

Relieves constipation

The ample amount of acid present in lime helps clean the excretory system.

The roughage in lime is also helpful in easing constipation.

Lowers stroke risk

Vitamin C in lime juice and lime peel lowers ischemic stroke risks, especially for women.

It also helps slow down the progression of coronary heart diseases like atherosclerosis by decreasing fatty streaks in arteries.

Prevents bleeding gums

Vitamin C and flavonoids in lime inhibit microbial growth, which helps prevent gum bleeding.

Prevents kidney stone

The citric acid in fresh or concentrated lime juice helps remove and prevent kidney stones by increasing urinary citrate and urine volume.

Research showed that consuming lemonade for nearly four years decrease kidney stone formation from an average of one stone per year down to just 0.13 per year.