Evidence-based·Last reviewed June 1, 2026·How we grade evidence

Lime

Botanical

A culinary citrus food. Per 100 g, lime provides ~32% DV vitamin C; the juice of one lime adds ~14% DV. Two honest safety points: (1) lime peel/juice + sun exposure can cause phytophotodermatitis ('margarita dermatitis') — a blistering hyperpigmented burn from psoralens activated by UV. (2) Limes do contain CYP3A4-inhibiting furanocoumarins, but at lower concentration than grapefruit, and clinical drug-interaction risk for typical culinary use is far smaller — limes are NOT on the FDA's high-risk grapefruit list.

Quick decision guide

May help most

Anyone using lime as a flavoring, vitamin C source, or in drinks. Watch sun exposure and rinse hands after handling.

Common dosing range

Juice of 1–2 limes/day in cooking or drinks (~13–26 mg vitamin C, minimal calories). Wash hands after squeezing if going outdoors.

When to expect effects

Nutritional benefits continuous with intake. Phytophotodermatitis reactions appear 24–72 hours after combined lime + UV exposure.

Watch out for

Rinse hands after squeezing limes if you'll be in sunlight (especially while drinking outdoors). Acidic juice can erode dental enamel — sip with water and don't brush teeth for 30 minutes after.

Evidence snapshot

Vitamin C as a culinary citrusStrong

Phytophotodermatitis (peel/juice + sun)Strong

Dental erosion (acidic, with heavy use)Moderate

CYP3A4 drug interactions (vs grapefruit)Low

What is it

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia, the Key/Mexican lime, or Citrus latifolia, the Persian lime) is a small citrus fruit used in food, drinks, and traditional medicine as a source of vitamin C, citric acid, and flavonoids.

Is it worth it for you?

Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.

Worth considering if…

You enjoy lime in cooking and drinks — it's a calorie-free flavor enhancer with modest vitamin C

You want a lower-cost citrus alternative for marinades, dressings, and seafood

You're hosting outdoor parties and want to be the host who reminds people to rinse hands after lime garnishes

You alternate it with lemon, orange, or grapefruit for citrus variety

Probably skip if…

You'll spend hours in direct sun shortly after handling lime juice or peel without rinsing your hands — risk of phytophotodermatitis

You drink large amounts of acidic lime water daily and notice tooth sensitivity — switch to less-acidic beverages and use a straw

You're using a high-dose lime extract supplement to get vitamin C — buy a vitamin C supplement instead, much cheaper per mg

Evidence at a glance

Goal	Effect	Best fit	Time
Vitamin C from a culinary citrus Strong Evidence	~14% DV vitamin C per lime; ~32% DV per 100 g whole fruit	Adults using lime as a regular flavoring or beverage component	Vitamin C status improves within days of adequate intake
Historical scurvy prevention (the 'Limey' story) Good Evidence	Reverses scurvy at very low vitamin C intake; not relevant in modern Western diets	None in the modern context outside extreme dietary restriction	Days to weeks
Flavor enhancement reducing salt/sugar intake (food-pattern benefit) Limited Evidence	Indirect — supports reduced salt/sugar adherence in dietary patterns	People trying to reduce sodium or added sugar	Continuous with use as part of a diet pattern

Vitamin C from a culinary citrus

Strong Evidence

Effect: ~14% DV vitamin C per lime; ~32% DV per 100 g whole fruit
Best fit: Adults using lime as a regular flavoring or beverage component
Time: Vitamin C status improves within days of adequate intake

Historical scurvy prevention (the 'Limey' story)

Good Evidence

Effect: Reverses scurvy at very low vitamin C intake; not relevant in modern Western diets
Best fit: None in the modern context outside extreme dietary restriction
Time: Days to weeks

Flavor enhancement reducing salt/sugar intake (food-pattern benefit)

Limited Evidence

Effect: Indirect — supports reduced salt/sugar adherence in dietary patterns
Best fit: People trying to reduce sodium or added sugar
Time: Continuous with use as part of a diet pattern

Evidence for 3 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Vitamin C from a culinary citrus

Strong Evidence

Per USDA, 100 g of raw lime provides ~29 mg vitamin C (32% DV). The juice of one medium lime (~67 g) gives ~13 mg vitamin C and ~10 kcal, fitting easily into drinks, marinades, and dressings. Lime is lower in vitamin C per gram than orange or lemon, but it's used in larger functional volumes (whole juices, marinades) which adds up.

Effect size

~14% DV vitamin C per lime; ~32% DV per 100 g whole fruit

Time to effect

Vitamin C status improves within days of adequate intake

Best fit

Adults using lime as a regular flavoring or beverage component

Less likely

Anyone hoping lime alone covers RDA — you'd need ~5 limes/day

Bottom line: A useful supplemental vitamin C source. Not a primary one — lean on whole oranges, kiwi, peppers, or strawberries for bigger doses.

SourceUSDA FoodData Central — Limes, raw (FDC ID 169108)NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin C — Health Professional Fact Sheet

Historical scurvy prevention (the 'Limey' story)

Corrects deficiency

Good Evidence

British sailors in the 18th century were given lime/lemon juice rations against scurvy — earning them the nickname 'Limeys'. The intervention worked because vitamin C prevents and reverses scurvy. Historically interesting; today vitamin C status is easy to maintain through any varied diet.

Effect size

Reverses scurvy at very low vitamin C intake; not relevant in modern Western diets

Time to effect

Days to weeks

Best fit

None in the modern context outside extreme dietary restriction

Less likely

Anyone in a normal modern diet — scurvy is rare

Bottom line: Historical curiosity. Eat varied citrus and vegetables and you don't need to think about this.

SourceNIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin C — Health Professional Fact Sheet

Flavor enhancement reducing salt/sugar intake (food-pattern benefit)

Supplement benefit

Limited Evidence

Acidic flavorings (lime, lemon, vinegar) can reduce perceived blandness in low-sodium and low-sugar cooking. The Heart Association and DASH-pattern guidance both recommend citrus zest and juice as substitutes for salt and sweeteners. Effect is on dietary pattern, not a property of lime itself.

Effect size

Indirect — supports reduced salt/sugar adherence in dietary patterns

Time to effect

Continuous with use as part of a diet pattern

Best fit

People trying to reduce sodium or added sugar

Less likely

People expecting direct cardiovascular benefit from lime alone

Bottom line: A useful kitchen tool for lower-sodium and lower-sugar cooking. The benefit is the dietary pattern, not the lime itself.

SourceNIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin C — Health Professional Fact Sheet

How it works

Lime juice contains vitamin C (about 30 mg per 100 g, less than lemon), citric acid (5 to 7 percent of juice), and citrus flavonoids including hesperidin, naringenin, and limonin. Citric acid raises urinary citrate, which inhibits the formation of calcium kidney stones, and acidifies the urine. The peel contains more concentrated essential oils (notably limonene) and furanocoumarins (bergapten, oxypeucedanin) in some varieties. Furanocoumarins can sensitize skin to UV light (phytophotodermatitis) and interfere with drug metabolism. Lime peel and zest are used in some supplements for digestive support and the polyphenol content. Lime juice is widely used in kidney stone prevention regimens alongside lemon juice.

How to take it

1. Typical dose

• Juice of 1–2 limes per day (~13–26 mg vitamin C, ~10–20 kcal) • Zest as a calorie-free flavoring • In drinks, marinades, dressings, and seafood preparation

2. Higher studied dose

Not applicable — lime is a culinary ingredient, not dosed therapeutically.

3. Timing

Anytime. If using lime outdoors, rinse hands afterward before extended sun exposure.

4. With food

Either; the acidity pairs well with proteins, fats, and vegetables.

5. Split dosing

Not applicable.

6. How long to try

Lifelong as a dietary ingredient.

What to track

Skin reactions on hands or face 24–72 hours after handling lime + sun exposure

Tooth sensitivity with heavy lime-water or cocktail drinking — use a straw, rinse with water, don't brush within 30 minutes

Any new prescription — pharmacist can confirm if heavy lime intake is OK (much lower risk than grapefruit but not zero)

Bottom line: Use freely in cooking. Rinse hands before outdoor sun. Watch dental enamel with heavy daily lime-water habits.

5 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Fresh whole limes (Persian/Tahiti)

Best for cooking

The standard supermarket lime. Larger, juicier, seedless. Yields ~2 tablespoons juice per fruit. Use juice and zest both.

Maximum freshness; peel zest adds psoralens (rinse skin after extended outdoor handling).

Fresh Key/Mexican limes

More aromatic

Smaller, thinner-skinned, more aromatic. Higher furanocoumarin content per gram. Classic for Key lime pie.

Slightly higher psoralen concentration than Persian limes — same outdoor-handling precautions.

Bottled 100% lime juice

Convenient

Pasteurized lime juice — less aromatic than fresh, similar vitamin C if recently bottled. Good kitchen backup.

Vitamin C declines with shelf life; psoralen content reduced by processing.

Frozen lime juice or cubes

Year-round

Freeze portioned lime juice in ice cube trays. Retains most flavor and vitamin C; convenient for drinks and recipes.

Freezing preserves vitamin C and flavor; minimal psoralen change.

Lime extract / oil capsules (supplements)

Skip

Marketed as concentrated antioxidants or anti-aging. No clinical evidence supports advantage over whole fruit or a regular vitamin C supplement.

Marketing claims exceed evidence; use whole lime or buy ascorbic acid.

Safety

Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.

Common side effects

acidic taste / mouth irritation in large amountsdental enamel erosion with chronic acidic-beverage exposureGERD aggravation in susceptible people

Serious risks

PHYTOPHOTODERMATITIS ('margarita dermatitis') — psoralens in lime juice and peel (bergapten, 5-MOP, 8-MOP) photosensitize skin when activated by UVA. Reaction is a stinging burn → blistering → weeks of hyperpigmentation in the splash distribution, appearing 24–72 hours after exposure. Classic settings: bartenders, outdoor cocktail parties, kids squeezing limes at picnics. Prevention: rinse skin thoroughly after lime contact and BEFORE sun exposure. Treatment: cool compresses, topical steroids for severe cases; hyperpigmentation can last months.
SourceHankinson et al., 2014 — PMC — Journal of Emergency Medicine McGovern & Barkley, 2000 — PMC — Cutis / Archives of Family Medicine
DENTAL EROSION — frequent acidic-beverage exposure (lime water, lime cocktails, lime soda) demineralizes enamel. Risk is dose- and frequency-dependent. Use a straw, sip rather than swish, rinse with plain water, and wait 30 minutes before brushing.
DRUG INTERACTION RISK (CYP3A4) IS LOWER THAN GRAPEFRUIT but not zero — lime contains furanocoumarins at lower concentration. The FDA's high-risk CYP3A4-interaction list focuses on grapefruit (and Seville oranges, pomelos, tangelos). For typical culinary lime use, the interaction is negligible; if you're on critical-narrow-margin drugs (tacrolimus, simvastatin, felodipine) AND consuming concentrated lime juice in large quantities, ask your pharmacist.
SourceBailey et al., 2013 — CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

Who should avoid it

People with citrus allergy or oral allergy syndrome (rare but possible).
People with severe GERD who notice symptom flare with acidic foods.
People with dental enamel loss or sensitivity — limit acidic beverages or use straws.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Lime as a food is safe in pregnancy and is a useful source of vitamin C and folate. Wash thoroughly to limit pesticide residue from the peel. No specific pregnancy concerns above general dietary recommendations.

SourceUSDA FoodData Central — Limes, raw (FDC ID 169108)

Bottom line: Very safe as food. The two real-world risks are skin photosensitization (rinse after handling outdoors) and dental erosion (use straws for heavy lime-water habits).

Interactions

PUVA / oral psoralen photochemotherapyModerate

Patients on prescribed PUVA therapy should not add dietary furanocoumarin sources unsupervised — compounded photosensitization risk.

SourceMcGovern & Barkley, 2000 — PMC — Cutis / Archives of Family Medicine

CYP3A4-metabolized medications (general)Minor

Lime contains furanocoumarins at lower concentration than grapefruit. Typical culinary use carries minimal drug-interaction risk. Heavy lime-juice intake combined with high-risk narrow-margin drugs (tacrolimus, simvastatin, felodipine) should be checked with a pharmacist. Not on the FDA's grapefruit-equivalent high-risk list.

SourceBailey et al., 2013 — CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

Food sources

Food	Amount	%DV
Lime, raw — vitamin C	100 g (~1.5 limes, 29 mg)	32%
Lime juice, fresh — vitamin C	1 lime juiced (~30 g, 9 mg)	10%
Lime juice, fresh — vitamin C	1 cup (62 g, 56 mg)	62%
Lime zest, fresh	1 tsp (2 g, ~1 mg vitamin C)	1%
Lime, raw — fiber	100 g (2.8 g)	10%
Lime, raw — folate	100 g (8 mcg)	2%

Lime, raw — vitamin C

Amount: 100 g (~1.5 limes, 29 mg)
%DV: 32%

Lime juice, fresh — vitamin C

Amount: 1 lime juiced (~30 g, 9 mg)
%DV: 10%

Lime juice, fresh — vitamin C

Amount: 1 cup (62 g, 56 mg)
%DV: 62%

Lime zest, fresh

Amount: 1 tsp (2 g, ~1 mg vitamin C)
%DV: 1%

Lime, raw — fiber

Amount: 100 g (2.8 g)
%DV: 10%

Lime, raw — folate

Amount: 100 g (8 mcg)
%DV: 2%

Choosing a product

What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.

Look for…

Fresh whole limes (Persian/Tahiti for everyday cooking, Key/Mexican for dessert)

Bottled 100% lime juice (no added sugar, no preservatives beyond citric acid) as a backup

Organic if you'll zest the peel often

Frozen lime juice cubes for portion control

Zest from washed limes for flavor without juice

Be skeptical of…

'Alkaline water with lime detox' — lime juice is acidic, not alkaline; the 'alkalizing diet' claim is biochemically wrong

Lime extract or 'lime peel polyphenol' supplements for fat loss or anti-aging — no convincing clinical evidence

'Lime water boosts metabolism' claims — small effect at best, almost certainly from drinking water rather than from lime

Concentrated cordials or 'lime juice drinks' high in added sugar marketed as 'health drinks' — read the label

Frequently asked questions

Does lime juice interact with my medications like grapefruit does?⌄

Lime has similar furanocoumarins as grapefruit but at lower concentrations. The interaction risk is less, but exists for the same drugs. Ask your pharmacist.

Will lime juice help my kidney stones?⌄

For calcium oxalate stones (the most common type), lime and lemon juice can help by raising urinary citrate. Continue medical evaluation and stay well-hydrated.

References by claim

Vitamin C from a culinary citrus

USDA FoodData Central — Limes, raw (FDC ID 169108) (2024) link

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin C — Health Professional Fact Sheet (2021) link

Safety

Hankinson et al., 2014 — PMC — Journal of Emergency Medicine (2014) link

McGovern & Barkley, 2000 — PMC — Cutis / Archives of Family Medicine (2000) link

Bailey et al., 2013 — CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (2013) link

Other references

Lime on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Track Lime with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

Coming to App Store

Evidence-based·Last reviewed Jun 1, 2026·Evidence current as of Jun 1, 2026·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.