College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Lime Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Lime: Coconut, Turmeric & Tomato Sambar Soup

Limes are strongly sour, thus encouraging secretions in the digestive tract and salivary glands. These secretions improve taste, digestion, and regular elimination (functioning as a mild laxative)

Limes and Cleansing

Lime's sour taste increases the flow of bile which aids fat digestion, reduces liver and gall bladder congestion and detoxifies the blood. Since bile contains many toxic by products from normal liver function, draining bile from the liver has a cooling and purifying effect on the blood. Lime cool and cleanse the skin because they help you sweat.

Lung Tonic

Limes cause fluid buildup in the lungs and blood plasma. The fluid buildup helps expectoration of thick, Kapha mucous. They also assist dry Vata especially when dehydration causes Dry Stomach Syndrome in autumn months.

Reduce Acidity

Limes are acidic in taste yet alkaline in effect. Limes nourish deficient blood plasma and helps rebuild fluids. It's high vitamin C content nourishes the blood. Like lemons, they reduce acidity in the stomach. They also reduces uric acid and output of urinary calcium which helps to prevent kidney stones.

Brighten Your Smile

Unlike lemons, limes are a mild anti-inflammatory. This juicy and mouth-watering fruit also has an astringent effect on capillary beds. Gently massage inflamed and bleeding gums with lime juice to soothe capillaries and reduce bleeding. Limes help prevent tartar buildup, which is known to be a cause of bleeding gums. Limes also contain natural bleaching agents to help brighten your smile. Lime may be used as a antibacterial gargle for sore throats.

Cooking Lime

Lime adds flavor to cold drinks, and sherbets. It is a common ingredient in Mexican, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisine. In Latino food it may be used as a garnish or to pickle fish in ceviche. It is often used in chutneys and pickles in India while Persian and Iraqi food features dried or black limes. Lime zest may be used to accent or freshen any meal.

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Is Lime Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Lime' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 whole

MEAL: SNACK-DESSERT

EAT IN: SUMMER

Metabolic Nature of Lime

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	SOUR ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic. LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Moves Energy: Downward DOWNWARD Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles. SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS , Outward OUTWARD Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating. SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS Affinity: Bowel Poop Elimination
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Lime Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition. Digestion: Quenches Thirst QUENCHES-THIRST An herb or substance that relieves thirst. SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS , Sialogogue STRONG SIALOGOGUE A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents. SEE ALL 'SIALOGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS , Appetizer APPETIZER Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat. SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS , Digestive DIGESTIVE Herbs that encourage healthy digestion. SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS Bowel Health: General Laxative GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives. SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Stool Softener STOOL-SOFTENER Softens hard and difficult to eliminate stool. Stool softeners are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Examples include warm milk with ghee. SEE ALL 'STOOL-SOFTENER' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: Internal Detoxicant INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system. SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS Mind, Stress & Sleep: Wakes You Up WAKES-YOU-UP Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy. SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS , Improves Focus IMPROVES-FOCUS Reduces scattered thoughts. Creates a steady mind. Includes herbs that relax (for Vata) and herbs that stimulate (for Kapha). SEE ALL 'IMPROVES-FOCUS' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Refreshing REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized. SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Diaphoretic DIAPHORETIC An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin. SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS , Emollient EMOLLIENT Soothes & softens the skin. Often a topical demulcent or oil. SEE ALL 'EMOLLIENT' FOODS / HERBS Respiratory-Health: Expectorant EXPECTORANT Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract. SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS Immune System: Flushes Membranes FLUSHES-MEMBRANES Herbs in this category stimulate mucus membranes to release fluids, flushing them out. SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-MEMBRANES' FOODS / HERBS Heart & Circulation: Alterative ALTERATIVE Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter. SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Refrigerant REFRIGERANT An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions. SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS Liver & Gallbladder: Cholagogue STRONG CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines. SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS Constituents: Rutin STRONG RUTIN Rutin is a flavonoid with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Commonly used to treat conditions such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure. SEE ALL 'RUTIN' FOODS / HERBS , Aromatase Inhibitor AROMATASE-INHIBITOR Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen. SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS , Flavonoids FLAVONOIDS Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect. SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS , Polyphenols POLYPHENOLS Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types. SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Lime

Lemon

Lemon has these Actions in Common

Flushes-membranes, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Wakes-you-up, Cholagogue, Emollient, General-laxative, Quenches-thirst, Sialogogue, Alterative, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Improves-focus, Refreshing, Stool-softener, Appetizer, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Flushes-membranes, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Emollient, General-laxative, Sialogogue, Cholagogue, Expectorant, Improves-focus

LEARN MORE

Red Wine Vinegar

Red Wine Vinegar has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Expectorant, Improves-focus, Diaphoretic, Flushes-membranes, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Emollient, General-laxative, Sialogogue

LEARN MORE

White Vinegar

White Vinegar has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Emollient, General-laxative, Sialogogue, Cholagogue, Expectorant, Improves-focus, Diaphoretic, Flushes-membranes, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Strawberries

Strawberries has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Improves-focus, Sialogogue, Digestive, Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, General-laxative, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Acai

Acai has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, General-laxative, Refreshing, Alterative, Improves-focus, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Tamarind

Tamarind has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Improves-focus, Expectorant, Sialogogue, Diaphoretic, General-laxative, Stool-softener

LEARN MORE

Grapefruit

Grapefruit has these Actions in Common

Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, Expectorant, Refreshing, Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Expectorant, Wakes-you-up, Diaphoretic, Flushes-membranes

LEARN MORE

Salt (Mineral Salt)

Salt (Mineral Salt) has these Actions in Common

Flushes-membranes, Sialogogue, Cholagogue, General-laxative, Stool-softener, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Lime

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Quenches-thirst, Refreshing, Refrigerant, Alterative, Sialogogue, Digestive, Stool-softener, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Improves-focus

LEARN MORE

Haritaki

Haritaki has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Expectorant, Flushes-membranes, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue, Alterative, Stool-softener, Appetizer

LEARN MORE

Triphala

Triphala has these Actions in Common

Sialogogue, Stool-softener, Alterative, Digestive, Flushes-membranes, General-laxative, Improves-focus, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Breathing Exercises

Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Digestive, Expectorant, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Digestive, Expectorant

LEARN MORE

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Yellow Dock

Yellow Dock has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Cholagogue, Digestive, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

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External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Digestive, General-laxative

LEARN MORE

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Sialogogue, Appetizer, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Expectorant

LEARN MORE

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

Digestive, Expectorant, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Stool-softener, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Mugwort

Mugwort has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Appetizer, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Digestive

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Impact of Lime

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.