Limes are the fruit of the Citrus aurantifolia tree, which is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Lime fruit have long been valued for cosmetic and medicinal applications. They are also valued for culinary purposes as a preservative and flavoring, as well as for their nutritional value.
Identification
The lime is a small citrus fruit that is oval or round with a diameter of 1 to 2 inches. It has a green, textured skin that contains a pale green pulp encased in eight to 10 segments. According to Food.com, the pulp of each lime holds 3 teaspoons of lime juice, an acidic, sour-tasting liquid that is typically extracted for use in beverages and foods. While it is available throughout the year, the lime is in the peak of its season from May through October, according to the George Mateljan Foundation.
Caloric Profile
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, the total amount of energy derived from one lime fruit is 20 calories. The freshly squeezed juice of one lime provides 11 calories. The fruit contains 13g of fat, and has 0g of cholesterol.
Nutrients
The total amount of carbohydrates in a lime is 7.06g, with 1.13 sugars. It contains 1.9g of dietary fiber, which provides about 8 percent of the daily recommended value, based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Dietary fiber helps facilitate digestion and may prevent constipation. Limes contain 0.4g of protein.
Significance
Limes are a particularly good source of vitamin C, according to the George Mateljan Foundation. Each lime provides 19.5mg of this essential vitamin, which is about 32 percent of the recommended daily value. According to the National Cancer Institute, vitamin C is a potent natural antioxidant, a compound that helps to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules that form naturally in the body from the process of metabolism, and their activity is believed to cause age-related health conditions like heart disease and cancer.
Vitamins and Minerals
Limes also contain other vitamins and minerals, according to the USDA. These include 1mcg of vitamin A, which supplies about 1 percent daily value for the vitamin. Each lime fruit contains 22mg of calcium, 0.4mg of iron and 68mg of potassium, supplying 2 percent of the daily value for each of these three nutrients.
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