The lime — a citrus tree is from India. This is the closest relative of a popular lemon. The rich taste and aroma this green citrus brings a variety an ordinary food allowance. We suggest you to learn how the lime is applied and what useful properties and contraindications it has.
Caloric content and chemical composition
The lime has rather low caloric content. The maintenance of kilocalories in 100 grams of fruit makes only 17 units.
This citrus fairly deserved a rank of the champion on concentration of vitamin C: in 100 grams of a fruit — 29 mg of this connection. In addition to it, is a part of a lime lemon and apple acids. Also there is nicotinic acid, vitamin K, tocopherol and Retinolum. In a citrus it is concentrated practically all vitamins of group B where such substances as a pyridoxine, Riboflavinum, thiamine, folic acid, pantothenic and other enter.
From mineral connections it is possible to emit potassium, copper, manganese, zinc, magnesium, sodium, iron], calcium, selenium and phosphorus.
Congestion of fats (0.2 g) and carbohydrates (7.74 g) in a lime minimum that is filled with a reserve of food fibers and organic acids. Content of proteins — 0.7 g, water — 88.26 g, ashes — 0.30 g. The general concentration of sugars is 1.7 g, celluloses — 2.8 g, starch — N/@.
The set of essential oils thanks to which we feel characteristic aroma of this fruit is found in a dried peel of a fruit.
Read also about the choice, the correct use and options of application of citrus fruit of a pomelo.
Than it is useful to an organism
In particular, the usefulness of a green citrus for an organism is also explained by the rich chemical composition concentration of minerals and vitamins. So, to what this citrus fruit under the name a lime is so useful:
- increases immunity of an organism to effect of hazardous substances and pathogenic microorganisms;
- brings radionuclides, heavy metals and toxic elements out of an organism;
- improves blood circulation;
- softly expands and cleans vessels;
- updates fabrics at the cellular level;
- significantly improves work of digestive system, enhances appetite;
- cleans intestines and helps at weight loss;
- saves from a bad smell from a mouth;
- slows down skin aging processes;
- stimulates nervous cells of a brain;
- improves memory;
- supports and improves sight, reduces risk of development of ophthalmologic illnesses;
- it is useful at bleeding of gums, is prevention of stomatitis;
- increases arterial blood pressure;
- helps at acute respiratory diseases, a tonsillitis, flu;
- resists to disturbing states and in general controls psychoemotional health;
- gives forces and energy for all day.
Application
Fruits and leaves of a lime tree found broad application in cookery, traditional medicine and cosmetology. How it is correct to use a lime, and the speech will go further.
In cookery
Thanks to unique aroma and characteristic sourness, the lime became a popular component in the majority of dishes of the Asian and Arab countries.
This fruit is very harmonious in combination with meat. Difficult usvoyaemy grades of meat and also chicken and fish are perfectly pickled in fresh juice of a lime and in its segments. After roasting, meat turns out very soft. Not to achieve similar effect of a lemon or any other citrus.
For the purpose of aromatization of desserts and various cocktails apply juice, a thin skin and oil of a citrus. Juice of a green citrus is a part of many juicy gas stations and sauces. In cookery also use leaves and dried fruits of a lime tree. From them great spices turn out. Preparation of the majority of spices of Iran does not do without dried leaves and fruits of this tree. In India these fruit often salt and pickle whole. The thin skin is also used as decoration of dishes and drinks.
Whether you know? The largest producer of a lime is Mexico.
In cosmetology
Besides cookery, the lime is used in production of cosmetics. The fragrant lime became irreplaceable ingredient of elite perfumery long ago.
This citrus and all its derivatives (a concentrate, oil of a green thin skin and other) are used for production of various cosmetics. This product interested cosmetologists with a high content of vitamin C and also citrus flavonoids. These connections protect skin cells from an oxidizing stress, add shine, reduce sweating and protect an outer layer of skin from infection with infections. Natural fruit acids as a part of a citrus — good means for clarification, scrubbing, a peeling and also skin bleaching. Ukhodovy hair preparations with addition of such acids are effective against dandruff.
Procedures of the weakening bathtubs with citrus juice practice. The product has the rejuvenating and disinfecting effect, prevents early withering of skin.
In medicine
Part of a lime tree is not used in official medicine, however they are appreciated in traditional medicine of the majority of the Asian countries. Folk healers recommend to use a lime against many illnesses. For example, the use of this product for elimination of primary symptoms of nausea. At a varicosity compresses from a citrus are useful. And thanks to vitamin C, it is possible to minimize flu consequences. Athletes often accept ascorbic acid that helps to cut by half cases of development of acute respiratory diseases during a winter season.
Antioksidantna, being a part of limes, help with treatment of the peptic ulcers and other problems connected with digestive system. Besides, antioxidant protect from problems with sight, and protect flavonoids from eye infections. Many citrus flavonoids help with prevention of oncological diseases. Also they stop growth of pathogenic bacteria, serve as prevention of serious illnesses. They are capable to avert even development of cholera.
Citrus fruit is added to a diet of the miners forced to work in extremely polluted environment.
Whether you know? In the 19th century (during war) among the British seamen the flash of a scurvy (the illness caused by essential shortage in vitamin C organism) was observed. As the lemon then was very expensive, the lime was chosen as alternative natural means of therapy of this illness. For prevention of seamen obliged to use one sour fruit a day. The efficiency of fruits of a lime tree in treatment of a scurvy was as a result found.
As it is correct to choose upon purchase
In the modern market it is possible to meet two types of a lime — Florida and Persian. These are quite large copies which do not have stones.
At the ripened citrus an elastic and smooth surface. The shade of a thin skin has to be yellowish-greenish. The thin skin has to be painted uniformly over. The ripe citrus has to have a juicy and gentle pulp, and taste — bitterish. It is better to refuse acquisition of green citruses if:
- you found specks of any color on a thin skin;
- fruits have mechanical damages;
- there are initial signs of withering, drying or rotting;
- fruit soft to the touch (it means that inside the fruit is spoiled).
It is important! If you feel that the aroma of a citrus gives dampness, decay or a mold, it is not recommended to get such product categorically. Even in the absence of external signs of damage, foreign smells indicate the beginning of process of internal rotting.
As eat a lime
Meeting a lime on counters of shops, many have a question what eat this unusual citrus fruit with. First of all, it is fine additive to various desserts and drinks. Pulp and a dried peel are often used for preparation of various pastries: pies, cakes, cakes. It is enough to remember the lime pie adored by many. In known Mojito cocktail the lime serves as one of basic components. The dried fruit is applied in preparation of Sprite drink popular worldwide. On sale it is quite often possible to meet lime teas.
Addition of juice of a fresh citrus to meat and fish dishes gives to dishes pleasant sourness and characteristic aroma. In fresh salads the lime is combined with apple, pear, an apricot and a peach.
Important! In the course of heat treatment, fruit loses the useful properties. Therefore nutritionists advise to use this citrus only fresh.
How to store in house conditions
If it is correct to store a lime — it will not lose the useful qualities. You keep containers with fruit only in the cool dry room. The period of storage of a green citrus in such conditions makes about three weeks.
If fruits are in the room of room temperature, them to freshen remains for the term of no more than one week. You should not get this product in a large number. If you do not manage to use fruits within 20 days, their peel will dry up, will coarsen and will become covered by specks. Such fruit is not suitable for the use, it needs only to be thrown out.
It is possible to keep a lime by a freezing method. For this purpose squeeze out juice of a fruit, and grate a thin skin. Pour juice on molds for ice, and lay out a grated dried peel in bags and you store in the freezer.
Contraindications and harm
The green citrus has harmful effect at the increased acidity of a stomach as stimulates active production of gastric juice. It is not necessary to use this fruit to people with stomach ulcer, gastritis and pancreatitis. In view of existence in a citrus of acids, fruit harmful influences tooth enamel. Taking it into consideration, after the use of a citrus it is recommended to rinse a mouth carefully.
Contraindications to application of a green citrus concern also people with individual intolerance of this fruit. If the product causes an allergy, refuse its use.
That's all recommendations which will help you to use a lime only with advantage for an organism.