Is it Safe to Drink Lime Juice During Pregnancy?

The decisions that pregnant women make affect not only them but their growing children also. They maintain two lives — or more — and need to be careful during this phase. One of the best things they can do for themselves and their growing children is to consume healthy foods and drinks. Fruits should be a vital part of their diet at this time because they are a rich source of vital vitamins and minerals. But as important as fruits are, not all fruits are safe for them. In this article, we’re discussing one of those fruits that form an integral part of a pregnancy diet. How healthy is like juice for Pregnant women? Keep reading to find out.

Pregnant women are often dehydrated, and fruit juices are healthy fluids that can keep them hydrated, as well as enrich them with loads of essential nutrients. Lime, like most citrus fruits, is a great source of vitamin C. How healthy is it for pregnant women? You’ll find out soon.

8 Benefits of Lime Juice During Pregnancy

Rich Source of Vitamin C

It is common to find pregnant women often suffer vitamin C deficiency. Citrus fruits like limes are rich sources of vitamin C. Regular consumption of lime juice will enrich them with sufficient quantities of vitamin C.

Cures Constipation and Indigestion

Constipation and indigestion are inseparable parts of pregnancy. Lime juice is a liver stimulant that controls irritable bowel movement and prevents diarrhea and constipation. Pregnant women who consume lime juice often experience easy bowel movements, reduced risk of indigestion, and healthy levels of hydration.

Great Antioxidant

The vitamin C content in lime is a potent antioxidant. This makes lime juice serve as a reliable cleanser to eliminate toxins and free radicals from the body. This way, the juice protects pregnant women from various infections.

Rich in Potassium

Lime juice contains high amounts of potassium that builds the bones of babies and enhances the development of their brain and nerve cells.

Combats High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is never pleasant, particularly when you are pregnant. Chronic high blood pressure can result in preeclampsia, a severe condition that can make a woman get delivered of her baby prematurely. Lime juice lowers blood pressure and keeps mother and babies’ health safe. To put your blood pressure in check during pregnancy, squeeze half a lime into a cup of water and add two tablespoons of cream of tartar to the solution. Drink the solution once a day every three days to help normalize blood pressure.

Treats Swollen Feet

Edema is neither cool nor healthy — everyone who has suffered it can tell you that. This condition is quite common among pregnant women. Lime juice can help you deal with edema. Drink a teaspoon of lime juice with a glass of lukewarm water to reduce edema during pregnancy.

Eases Labour

Many women dread labor pain, and that’s not surprising. Drinking lime juice mixed with honey can make childbirth much easier. Pregnant women who consume this concoction from their fifth month until delivery enjoy the result better.

Treats Other Diseases

Regular consumption of lime juice during pregnancy prevents various pregnancy-related conditions such as heartburn and bloating. The juice is rich in calcium and magnesium, making it great for treating conditions like cold, scurvy, asthma, and fever. It also enhances the proper absorption of iron and prevents anemia during pregnancy

Side Effects of Lime

As great as lime is, it’s not devoid of side effects. Let’s take a look at them.

Joint Discomfort

One of the reasons people suffer joint discomfort is an excess of uric acid that builds up in their bodies. Excessive amounts of this waste product cause terrible pains and inflammation. To avoid joint discomfort, take lime juice in moderate quantities.

Tooth Decay

Excess consumption of lime can add immensely to the bacteria population in the mouth. If care isn’t taken, it could result in cavities in the teeth. Lime also has high acidic content that can affect the enamel.

Stomach Ulcers

The citric acid in lime makes it unsafe for people who suffer stomach ulcers. It irritates the stomach lining and hinders ulcers from healing.

Some Interesting Lime Facts

• Lime is a hybrid citrus fruit.
• There are various species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes: the Persian lime, kaffir lime, key lime, and desert lime.
• Some studies claim that wild limes first grew in Indonesia or Southeast Asia.
• Arab traders took limes to Egypt and Northern Africa around the 10th century.
• Limes got introduced to the western Mediterranean countries by returning Crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries.
• Christopher Columbus took some citrus seeds, perhaps including limes too, to the West Indies on his second voyage in 1493.
• The lime tree rarely grows beyond 5 meters (16 feet) high.
• If not pruned, the lime tree becomes shrub-like. 
• The leaves of the lime tree are ovate, 2.5–9 cm long, glossy, light, or dark green colored.
• Its flowers are white and about 2.5 cm in diameter.
• Its flowers and fruit appear throughout the year, however, they are most abundant from May to September in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The lime fruit is usually about 3–6 centimeters in diameter, oval, or nearly globular in shape, with a thin peel that is greenish-yellow when the fruit is ripe.
• The pulp is juicy, tender, and yellowish-green in color.
• Raw limes are 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, and less than 1% each of fat and protein.
• Limes have more sugars and acids than lemons do.
• Mixing freshly squeezed lime juice evaporated cane juice, and plain or sparkling water can make limeade.
• Lime is a popular ingredient in Vietnamese, Mexican, and Thai dishes.
• Lime soup is a popular traditional dish from the Mexican state of Yucatan.
• Lime pickles are an essential part of Indian cuisine. They could be eaten alone as a snack.
• Key lime gives the unique flavoring to the American dessert, key lime pie.
• Desert lime is used for making marmalade in Australia.
• Lime extracts and lime essential oils are commonly used in perfumes, cleaning products, and aromatherapy.
• Limes are available throughout the year, although they are usually in greater supply from mid-spring through mid-fall.
• Limes are safe at room temperature where they stay fresh for up to a week.
• You can also keep lime in the refrigerator, wrapped in a loosely sealed plastic bag for about 10-14 days.
• India is the top producer of limes, followed by Mexico and China.
• To prevent scurvy during the 19th century, British sailors got a daily allowance of lemon before it got changed to lime.
• The use of citrus for health purposes initially a closely guarded military secret, as scurvy was a common condition of various national navies.
• British sailors got the nickname, “Limey” because of their frequent consumption of limes.

Now that you Know…

There you have it! Lime juice is super beneficial to pregnant women and is trusted to keep them and their expected babies safe. Just be sure to consume it in moderation to avoid the complications that may come with taking it excessively. If you notice ant side effects or allergies from taking lime juice, discontinue its use and see your doctor immediately. Your health, at this time, is highly important.