The origins of Sweet Lime ‘Mosambi’ is difficult to pin BUT its health benefits, dietary and culinary role in the Indian milieu is well researched and documented.
Sweet lime, also known as Mosambi in Hindi is a small, green, round-shaped citrus fruit that turns yellow on ripening. Mosambi is sweet. The skin is thick and the internal edible flesh in yellowish. In the centre, there are few tiny oblong inedible seeds.
Sweet lime is low fat and low calorie fruit. It contains smaller amounts of iron, copper, phosphorus, and calcium.Sweet lime also contains small quantities of flavonoids and other phenolics, carotenoids, and limonoids.
# Prevents Scurvy1. Scurvy is a condition that results due to the deficiency of Vitamin C as sweet lime is a rich source of Vitamin C, its consumption prevents scurvy.
2. Sweet lime arrests the bleeding of gums which is a symptom of scurvy.
# Boosts Immunity1. The vitamin C content of sweet lime helps in boosting immunity. The antioxidants present in sweet lime helps in decreasing inflammation, accelerating resistance to infections, and regulating the immune system.
2. Flavonoids and limonin present in sweet lime possess antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and detoxifying properties. It aids in fighting against infections, treating wounds and ulcers, enhancing blood circulation, and boosting the immune system.
# Aids in Digestion1. Mosambi contains a high source of flavonoids which enhances the secretion of digestive juices, acids, and bile thus, promoting digestion.
2. Consumption of mosambi juice helps in keeping several digestive complaints such as indigestion, irregular bowel movements, etc at bay.
3. Mosambi helps in releasing the saliva through the salivary glands thus, assisting in quick digestion.
4. The fibre content of sweet lime helps in regulating normal digestion and maintaining the health of the bowels. Sweet lime aids in flushing harmful toxins which lead to constipation.
# Promotes Bone Health1. The vitamin C content of sweet lime aids in reducing swelling and inflammation of the bones thus, preventing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It also helps promote bone health.
2. It also enhances the absorption of calcium thus, stimulating the cells to build bone and promote bone health.
# Other possible Benefits…Sweet lime produces several health benefits, apart from the health benefits mentioned above, it also produces few more such as treats dehydration, improves vision, attenuates urinary disorder and gout, detoxifies the body, treats common cold, reduces muscle cramps, boosts energy, promotes healthy skin, removes blemishes, cures acne, strengthens hair, beats hunger pangs, burns fat faster, flushes out toxins, relieves constipation.