8 Reasons To Add Lime Juice To Your Water
Limes are a great addition to many cocktails, a star
ingredient in marinades and dressings, and do wonders to add a burst of
freshness to many meals. Many seafood dishes, taco platters, soups and desserts
would simply not be complete without the addition of the mighty lime. However,
have you considered simply squeezing a fresh, organic lime into a glass of
water?
If not, perhaps it’s time you gave this some thought! There
are many benefits to drinking lime water every day. The following are just
seven of the many.
1. Limes have powerful antimicrobial properties
Have you ever noticed that many household cleaners have
lemon or lime extracts added in? It’s not just for the fresh scent — these
fruits have amazing antimicrobial properties. Limes contain flavonoid
antioxidants known as flavonol glycosides. These antioxidants have been found
to help protect against deadly bacteria such as cholera.
Furthermore, in a 2004 study published in the African
Journal of Biotechnology, lime juice was found to inhibit Salmonella bacteria
even when other extracts, including garlic and ginger (which are also powerful
antimicrobials), fell short.
2. Limes help to lower inflammation
Thanks to its vitamins and minerals, lime juice can reduce
inflammation.
Limes have amazing antioxidant properties, thanks to the
presence of vitamin C, flavonoids, compounds known as limonoids and volatile
essential oils. All of these antioxidants can help to lower inflammation
throughout your body, and keeping inflammation under control is essential to
good health. Drinking lime juice in water regularly is a great way to prevent
chronic inflammation from taking root.
3. Limes may help protect against — and even destroy —
cancer
A number of studies have found that the limonoids in citrus
fruits can assist in fighting various cancers, including breast, colon, skin,
lung and stomach cancers. Research has also found that these compounds are
absorbable by the human body — a very important discovery.
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and
Food Chemistry found that compounds extracted from lime juice were successful
in inducing apoptosis (cell death) in cancerous human pancreatic cells. On the
mechanisms by which the lime juice compounds were able to destroy the cancer
cells, the study authors wrote:
“The results of the present study clearly indicate that
antioxidant activity is proportionate to the content of flavonoids and
proliferation inhibition ability is proportionate to the content of both
flavonoids and limonoids.”
4. Limes may help power up your metabolism
There are compounds in citrus fruits that may help to speed
up your metabolism. This is because the citric acid that limes, lemons and
other citrus fruits contain may contribute to better metabolic function.
Drinking a glass of lime water before you start your day, or before you
exercise, may help to kick your metabolism into higher gear.
5. Lime water may help you lose weight
A 2013 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research
tested the effects of a polyphenol antioxidant extract from citrus fruits on
weight loss in overweight individuals who were otherwise healthy. After the
twelve week study, the authors concluded:
“These results indicated that Sinetrol-XPur [a dry extract
of citrus polyphenols] supplementation is a viable option for reducing
abdominal fat, waist and hip circumference, and body weight and for improving
inflammatory, glycemic and oxidative status in healthy overweight individuals.”
Of course, you’ll still need to eat healthily and exercise.
But, adding lime water to your day may just help you reach your weight loss
goals!
6. Limes boost the immune system
The vitamin C content in lime juice aids the immune system.
Limes are rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant vitamin
known to boost immunity. If you drink a squeeze of fresh lime juice in water
every day, you’ll be setting your immune system up for optimal function. If
your immune system is a well-oiled machine, you’ll be more likely to avoid
those nasty bugs once cold and flu season hits. You will also be helping to
protect yourself from other illness and infections.
Vitamin C also aids in the production of some
neurotransmitters, thus making it essential to brain health. For this reason,
if you include foods high in vitamin C in your diet, you may find yourself
feeling better and enjoying better mental health, as well.
7. Lime water may help you look and feel younger
Vitamin C is known to be a very important vitamin for skin
health. After all, vitamin C is needed for your body to produce collagen, which
is the foundation of our skin, tissues and bones. Drinking lime water can, as
discussed, help to lower inflammation all throughout your body, and this includes
your skin. Many inflammatory skin conditions, including acne and eczema, may be
improved by more vitamin C in your diet.
When your skin is healthy and your body produces collagen
optimally, you’ll naturally look more radiant and your skin will be smoother.
This can make you look, and feel, great.
8. Lime water is delicious
Lime juice in water is refreshing and helps the digestive
system.
Last but not least, lime water tastes amazing! I find that
drinking water with a squeeze of lime adds to the “refreshment factor.” Plus,
it makes my digestive system feel better. You can drink lime water first thing
in the morning, before meals or after meals… whatever works best for you! If
you do this, you’ll be doing your body, your mind and your taste buds a great
favor.
Just remember, always choose organic limes and squeeze the
juice yourself. Those lime-shaped plastic bottles are not a good substitute.
It’s always best to stick with the real thing. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment