The Health Benefits of Key Lime
Key lime is a citrus fruit which grow on trees that is originally native to Southeast Asia. Key Lime, also sometimes called the West Indian Lime, Bartender’s Lime, Omani Lime or Mexican Lime, has a unique propensity for adding a tart, bitter element to balance out all manner of recipes. Key limes are actually yellow when ripe, though they tend to be picked green commercially, hence the acidity. Key limes are a smaller, rounder version of lime. They have more seeds, a stronger scent and a more intense flavour in comparison to other limes. All limes have similar health benefits.
Limes have similar health benefits as lemons as mentioned before, both powerhouses of flavour and nutrition. They provide an excellent source of vitamin C which has historically made limes of great use when it comes to scurvy. Limes contain bioflavonoid which can act as natural antihistamines helping to relieve allergy symptoms. Limes contain limonin, a compound that helps prevent cancer, specifically of the mouth, colon, stomach, lung, skin, and breast.
Some people apply its oil directly to the skin to kill germs, treat nausea, and as a stimulant. Key lime is a good source of potassium, an element needed by every cell in the body. Potassium is important for regulating the heart rhythm and helps to relax blood vessels and reduce the risk of hypertension.
A diet low in potassium and high in sodium is a key factor in the development of hypertension for some people. Key lime is also beneficial for weight loss, just squeeze its juice in water and drink daily can help with this process. The Key lime is more difficult to find outside of Florida and California markets, and may be available only seasonally and in gourmet markets. However, many large grocery chains now carry bottled key lime juice in the canned fruit aisle near bottled lemon juice.