When you’re making your grocery list for the week, Spanish limes probably don’t feature. Well that should change ASAP! Spanish limes (or quenepa) are a South American fruit that can be eaten on its own, be made into jam or even into a beer. They are about the size of an olive, have a hard external skin, but once opened they are extremely soft with an almost jelly-like consistency.
Within the fruit itself is a multitude of vitamins and minerals that benefit almost every system in your body from circulation to digestion. This article runs through ten health benefits this little fruit gives you and why you should add an additional item to your grocery list this week.
-
Aids digestion
With a high fiber content, the Spanish lime helps the digestive process. High-fiber foods increase the number of nutrients your body is able to absorb and regulates the rate of digestion to prevent constipation and diarrhea.
-
Improves your urinary system
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for the body’s urinary system. Studies have shown that an increase in vitamin A reduces the risk of urinary infections by over two-thirds. Spanish limes are packed full of vitamin A and are recommended for anyone who suffers regularly with bladder infections.
-
Regulates hormones
Spanish limes also contain phosphorous which is a crucial nutrient for balancing the number of hormones in your body, leading to improved reproductive health. Phosphorous regulates both the creation and the distribution of hormones to ensure that no system is overloaded or depleted of them.
-
Builds up your immune system
The phosphorous present in Spanish limes is also proven to boost your immune system to fight off infections and illness.
A study by the University of Hohenheim found that supplementing the diet of pigs (which have a very similar digestive tract as humans) with phosphorous boosted their immune system and lowered the number of illnesses they contracted.
-
Helps you sleep
Another critical nutrient found in Spanish limes is tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential chemical for sleep as your brain needs it to first convert it into serotonin before turning it into the sleep hormone melatonin.
Most foods with a high amount of tryptophan are carbohydrates, which is why after a heavy carb meal you’ll often feel tired. Spanish limes are one of the few fruits to have a high level of tryptophan which makes it a fantastic and healthy late night snack.
-
Stops cold sores
Cold sores are painful and can put a huge dent in your self-confidence. Spanish limes contain the chemical lysine which has been proven to reduce the severity and regularity of cold sores.
-
Encourages growth
For children and adolescents lysine is also a critical chemical in order to promote growth. Although the effects are still being researched, early signs show that lysine encourages the distribution of growth hormones around the body.
-
Lowers your blood pressure
As with most fruits, Spanish limes are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants have been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol. By adding Spanish limes to your diet you could be lowering the possibility of future heart disease.
-
Helps with weight loss
Containing just 56 calories per serving, Spanish limes are a fantastic sweet snack when you’re looking to lose weight. They have no fat content and are full of healthy natural sugars.
-
Strengthens bones
Spanish limes also have a higher level of calcium than most fruits. The calcium in them strengthens your bones and teeth, without the high fat content in milk.
Spanish limes haven’t found their way into common usage as of yet but adding them to your diet has clear and scientifically quantifiable health benefits. So get ahead of the curve and add them to your shopping list immediately, your body will thank you!
Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17532826
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/generic-genip-spanish-lime-quenepas-2512661
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26004147
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/food-and-sleep
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/calcium-fact-sheet
http://www.healthandlovepage.com/health-benefits-of-spanish-lime-quenepa/