If you find water to be bland or boring, jazz it up with a few limes. Here are the health benefits of lime water for weight loss, your skin, and your overall health.
The human body is about 60% water, so it comes as no surprise that water is important to your health. Water flushes toxins from the body, prevents dehydration, and keeps you energized.
In general, it’s essential to drink about 9 cups of fluid a day for women and 13 cups for men, daily.
If you don’t like plain water and prefer juices and teas, keep in mind that water is still ideal because these beverages are often sweetened and contain more sugar and calories.
Squeezing a little lime juice into your water can make it more tolerable.
Lime, a type of citrus fruit, is an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body by preventing or stopping damage caused by free radicals, or chemicals that harm cells.
Limes are also a
- potassium
- vitamins A, B, C, and D
- calcium
- magnesium
Whether you’re looking to improve your health or maintain your weight, here are a few benefits of adding a splash of lime to your water.
Several skin care products claim to promote healthier, younger-looking skin. But you can also improve the smoothness and appearance of your skin from the inside out.
Limes contain vitamin C and flavonoids, the antioxidants that strengthen collagen. Drinking lime water may hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. Vitamin C and flavonoids are also found in some topical skin care products.
It’s not recommended that you apply lime juice directly to your skin, as sun exposure after application can cause phytophotodermatitis, or a painful sunburn.
The flavonoids in limes stimulate the secretion of digestive juices, and so drinking lime water may help improve digestion.
If you experience constipation, the citric acid in limes may help clear the excretory system and stimulate bowel activity.
However, if you manage frequent heartburn or acid reflux, it’s generally recommended to steer clear of citrus juices.
The vitamin C and antioxidants in limes can help strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off infections such as the cold and flu virus. It may also shorten the duration of an illness.
Limes don’t directly aid weight loss, but they may help you drink more low calorie fluid.
One lime has almost a third of your recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin C. In animal studies, vitamin C has been shown to contribute to weight loss, but robust studies in humans are needed.
Regular physical activity and portion control are also important in weight management. So, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week, and make half of each meal fruits and vegetables.
To get your day off to a good start and rev your metabolism, drink a glass of lime water in the morning, or suck on a lime wedge before meals.
As an excellent source of vitamin C, limes can be helpful for people living with diabetes.
Limes don’t regulate blood sugar, but they do have a low glycemic index and can be added to a blood-sugar-friendly diet.
Limes are a good source of magnesium and potassium, which promote heart health.
Potassium can naturally lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation, which reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Research is also ongoing on
The antioxidant properties in limes promote healthy cell growth and may improve the function of your immune system.
Drinking lime water
Arthritis, gout, and other joint problems are primarily caused by inflammation.
Vitamin C can help reduce the level of inflammation in your body, so adding lime juice to water may reduce symptoms of mild arthritis and similar conditions that cause joint pain and stiffness.
Limes can also help reduce uric acid levels. Uric acid is a waste product the body produces when breaking down foods that contain purines, like meat, liver, mushrooms, and dried beans. High levels of uric acid can cause gout.
Lime water is simple to prepare. You only need to pick up a few limes from the grocery store.
Wash fresh limes thoroughly to remove pesticides, dirt, and wax. After filling a glass with water, squeeze juice from a half to a whole lime. For the best results, drink lime water without sugar or other additives.