HealthXtra-Lime
Lime is a rounded citrus fruit similar to a lemon but greener, smaller and with a distinctive acid flavour. The fruit remains some people’s favourite. Whether eaten as a fruit, used in various dishes like pap, custard or consumed as juice, this fruit is something almost everyone enjoys.
There are several varieties of lime to choose from, with colours ranging from medium green to yellow. On ripening, limes turn yellow in colour. It is consumed throughout the world in the form of sorbet, beverages, refreshing cocktails, pickles, jams, jellies, snacks, candies, sugar boiled confections and in cooking.
Nevertheless, the first fruit that comes to mind in terms of medicinal use is the reliable lime. This sour citrus fruit can do what many advanced medicines cannot. Lime, bearing the scientific name Citrus Aurantifolia, has been used for ages in the treatment of various ailments. Some of the areas where it can be used include:
Scurvy: Lime is very recognised as a cure for scurvy, the disease that is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. Since the cause is deficiency of vitamin C, the remedy is none other than vitamin C and lime is full of this essential vitamin.
Constipation: Primarily, the ample amount of acids present in lime helps clear the excretory system by washing and cleaning off the tracts. The roughage in lime is also helpful in easing constipation but the most beneficial element is the high acidity.
Diabetes: According to the American Diabetes Association, ADA, limes and other citrus fruits are considered a diabetes super food for a number of reasons. Mainly, the high levels of soluble fibre found in lime make it an ideal dietary aid to help regulate the body’s absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, reducing the occurrence of blood sugar spikes that can be a serious risk to diabetic patients.
Heart Disease: That same soluble fibre, which can help diabetics maintain their blood sugar levels, can also lower blood pressure and eliminate the presence of cholesterol. Furthermore, soluble fibre can cut down on inflammation of the blood vessels, which is a known preventative measure against heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
Eye Care: Lime’s antioxidant properties protect eyes from aging and macular degeneration. On top of that, flavonoids help protect them from infections.
Fever: If someone is suffering from a fever, limes and lime juice can be of great importance. Citrus fruits in general have fever-reducing qualities, and if the fever is very high, the patient’s diet should be restricted to lime juice and water.
Cholera: Although it has disappeared in many parts of the world, cholera is still a dangerous and deadly disease in some places, and luckily, limes and other citrus fruits can help defend the body against this often-fatal condition. The lime juice, when added to potentially infected water, proved to be a very effective disinfectant, and even when consumed regularly after someone has been exposed to cholera-infected water, fatalities are reduced.
Urinary Disorders: The high potassium content of limes is very effective in removal of the toxic substances and the precipitates, which get deposited in kidneys and the urinary bladder. The disinfectant properties of limes also help cure infections in the urinary system.
WhatsApp us