The lime is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia and found in tropical climates throughout the world. The Key lime is the most common commercially distributed variety and it is cultivated primarily in Mexico and the Caribbean islands. The larger size Persian lime is also available in the United States. The juice from a lime is often added to culinary dishes to provide tart flavor. Lime juice provides nutritional benefits in addition to its culinary value.
Vitamin C
The juice from one lime, or about 1.5 oz., provides 13 mg of vitamin C, or 22 percent of the 60 mg daily value. Vitamin C is essential for skin, tissue and organ health. It aids in the creation of collagen which is the structural component in skin tissue, and protects healthy cells from the potentially damaging effects of free radical metabolic waste byproducts.
Additional Nutrients
Lime juice contains some vitamins and minerals in small amounts including 51 mg of potassium, or 1.5 percent of the 3,500 mg of the daily value; 0.02 mg of Vitamin B-6, or 1 percent of the 2 mg daily value; and 22 IU of vitamin A, about 0.5 percent of the 5,000 IU daily value. Potassium regulates the heartbeat; vitamin B-6 produces serotonin, a brain chemical that reduces stress; and vitamin A supports the health of the retina for normal vision.
Calories
The juice in one lime only has 11 calories, or 0.6 percent of a standard 2,000-calorie diet. The typical Western diet often includes ingredients that provide flavor but also increase the calorie content of a meal such as butter and sour cream. Lime juice is an ingredient often used in Asian and Middle Eastern cooking where fresh fruits and spices are often added to foods to increase satiety.
Water
Lime juice is 91 percent water. The body's daily fluid requirement can be attained by consuming foods as well as water. According to The Mayo Clinic website people can meet their daily water requirements by following the "8 x 8 rule" -- eight glasses of 8 oz. of water daily. This recommendation does not include the fruits, vegetables, cooked grains and meats that contribute water to the body's daily fluid needs.
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