5 Health Benefits of Limes

Having lived with a family who encorporated quite a few limes into their regular cooking and having a love for Mexico (we've already been there twice), Hubs and I have grown quite fond of limes.

When an article came out the other day about the health benefits of limes, I was excited to read about how good for you they really are.

                                                     

The lime is the sweeter cousin of the lemon with a distinctive flavour reminiscent of the Caribbean.

1. Limes are good for women's health. They contain calcium and folate. One fresh lime contains 22 milligrams of calcium and over 5 micrograms of folate.

2. Lime peels can combat aging skin. The peels of citrus fruits contain an inhibitor of melanin production.    

3. Limes are anti-carcinogenic. The limonoid compounds in limes have been shown to prevent cancers of the colon, stomach and blood. Scientists have observed that antioxidant limonoids also cause cancer cell death. Lime limonoids also stay active longer in your bloodstream, mopping more free radicals than green tea or dark chocolate.     

4. Lime juice can help prevent formation of kidney stones. Lime juice contains more citric acid than orange or grapefruit juice. Citric acid is a natural inhibitor of kidney stones made of crystallized calcium. Go for fresh lime juice squeezed into water, as opposed to commercial limeades, for maximal benefits.  

5. Limes may lower cholesterol. The primary flavonoid found in the limes, known as hesperidin, has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in animals fed a high cholesterol diet.