Limes

Also indexed as: Bearss Limes, Key Limes, Persian Limes

Limes are a popular ingredient in the cuisines of Latin America, Thailand, India, Africa, and the West Indies.

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Lime trees come from the geographic region that encompasses India and Malaysia and were brought back to Europe by returning crusaders in the 13th century. The trees are evergreens, averaging about 13 feet (about 396cm) high, bearing flowers with delicate, white, fragrant blooms, and small, tart green fruit about the size of small lemons.

Varieties

Although limes can be either sweet or sour, the sour varieties are the ones generally available in North America. Among the varieties commonly found at the market are the California seedless, called Bearss; the acidic Persian variety, grown in Florida; and the small round Key lime, an acidic variety that grows in Mexico and Florida.

Buying and storing tips

Limes should be rather firm, with uniformly colored skin. As they ripen their green color pales and becomes yellow. Avoid fruit that is hard or that shows brown or white spots, characteristics indicating age and mold. While genuinely glossy skin is better, this can be hard to determine, as the fruit is often waxed for appearance. More perishable than lemons, limes will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and will keep at room temperature for up to one week.

Availability

Limes are available year-round, peaking from June to September.

Preparation, uses, and tips

Limes can be used in almost every dish where lemons are called for, including soups, sauces, vinaigrettes, cakes and other desserts, sorbet, and as an addition to drinks, such as margaritas. Seviche, the raw seafood dish from Peru, uses lime juice as a marinade. Limes are a popular ingredient in the cuisines of Latin America, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as India, Africa, and the West Indies. Try using the discarded rind of juiced limes to clean copper-bottomed pots and pans.

Nutritional Highlights

Lime, 1 fruit (2-inch [5cm] diameter)
Calories: 20
Protein: 0.45g
Carbohydrate: 7.0g
Total Fat: 0.13g
Fiber: 1.88g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (19.5mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.

Health benefits and concerns

Allergies and sensitivities (food and chemical)

A low-allergen diet, also known as an elimination diet, is often recommended to people with suspected food allergies in order to find out if avoiding common allergen foods gives relief from symptoms. This diet eliminates foods and food additives considered to be common allergens, including citrus fruits. Some popular books offer guidance to people who want to attempt this type of diet. Most elimination diets are quite restrictive and increase the likelihood of nutritional deficiencies. A successful elimination diet is usually followed by reintroduction of eliminated foods one at a time, to see which ones are truly allergens for the individual person and therefore need to be eliminated indefinitely. Strict avoidance of allergenic foods for a period of time (usually months or years) sometimes results in the foods no longer causing allergic reactions. Restrictive elimination diets and food reintroduction should be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional.

Hives

Allergy to foods and food additives is a common cause of hives, especially in chronic cases. Citrus fruits are among those foods most commonly reported to trigger hives. Numerous clinical studies demonstrate that diets that are free of foods that commonly trigger allergic reactions typically produce significant reductions in symptoms in 50–75% of people with chronic hives. People with hives should investigate the possibility that food allergies are causing their problem by consulting with a doctor.

Kidney stones

Citric acid is found in citrus fruits and may also protect against kidney stone formation. Lemons are the best food source commonly available. One preliminary trial found that drinking 2 liters (approximately 2 quarts) of lemonade per day improved the quality of the urine in ways that are associated with stone prevention. Lemonade was far more effective than orange juice. The lemonade was made by mixing 4 oz lemon juice with enough water to make 2 liters. The smallest amount of sweetener possible should be added to make the taste acceptable. Further study is necessary, however, to determine if lemonade can prevent recurrence of kidney stones.

Health benefits and concerns for fruit
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other fruit. Read about health benefits and concerns for fruit for a full description.

The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.