7 Serious Side Effects Of Lime Juice

7 Serious Side Effects Of Lime Juice

There is no doubt lime juice is one of the best drinks coming from the laps of nature. It is tasty and quenches one’s thirst in a jiffy. But however beneficial it might be, it too has a number side effects that might cause health hazards. What are those side effects of lime juice? Read on to know!

Side Effects Of Lime Juice

1. GERD

GERD, also known as ‘gastroesphageal reflux disorder’, is a digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscle between the oesophagus and stomach.

GERD is triggered by spicy or acidic foods. And lemon juice is one amongst them. Lemon juice can actually irritate the oesophageal lining thereby exacerbating GERD. (1)
           

                    About Symptoms? 

The symptoms of GERD include nausea, heartburn and vomiting.

2. Tooth Decay

Natural bacteria flourish in our mouths and form plaque. When we don’t freely wash our mouth, or we ignore to wash our mouth after drinking or eating something, plaque accumulates and creates cavities in our teeth. Even consumption of something that can be harmful to the enamel can cause tooth decay.

                      How it works? 

We know lime juice has high citric acid content. This can lead to the decay of the tooth enamel. The high acidic content in lime juice can dissolve the enamel. When this decay progresses into the dentin, you might start experiencing sensitivity and pain.

                    About Symptoms

Other consequences of consuming lime juice (especially canned) in excessive quantities include loss of dental tissue, stained teeth and in some extreme cases, even cavities. 

 3. Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers, also known as peptic ulcers are extremely painful sores that are found in the stomach lining or small intestine. Stomach ulcers happen when the thick mucus lining inside the stomach gets thinned.

The citric acid in lime only encourages the ulcers within the stomach. This causes them to aggravate and worsen. The increased acid (citric acid + acid produced in your stomach) can irritate the stomach lining and stop the ulcers from healing properly.

                      About  Symptoms

Symptoms of stomach ulcers include terrible pain within the stomach, bloating, vomiting and unexpected weight loss.

4. Pregnancy 

Pregnancy is an important and yet delicate time for any woman. Since excessive consumption of lime juice can affect the stomach, this might directly impact the baby inside the mother’s womb.

Even the chances of contracting food-borne illnesses increase during pregnancy. Drinking unpasteurized lime juice might be harmful and can even directly affect your baby.

                       How it works ?

Your immune system is considerably weak during pregnancy. Due to this deficiency, you are more prone to heartburn and food-borne illnesses (like salmonella and E.Coli) during the time of your pregnancy.

                     About Symptoms

Too much of lime juice consumption during pregnancy can lead to stomach cramps, indigestion and even diarrhea.

5. Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is a disorder which disables the body from absorbing iron. This results in the build up of iron salts and their deposition on the tissues leading to complications. The vitamin C in lime juice, also called the ascorbic acid, affects the absorption of iron in the body.

                         How it works 

Excessive consumption of vitamin C can increase the amount of iron you absorb from your food. But the downside is it also hinders the body from absorbing iron. This results in the accumulation of iron inside the body.

                     About Symptoms? 

Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, joint pain and heart failure. This is a serious side effect of lime juice as it can lead to death at times.

7. Might Affect Kidneys

Though lime juice helps treat kidney stones and is good for healthy kidneys, people suffering from kidney ailments should not consume lime juice as it might cause renal damage.

                           How it works 

Citrus fruits generally contain high potassium levels. This might be bad for those suffering from kidney disease. The diseased kidneys wouldn’t be able to maintain the electrolyte balance. This leads to abnormal levels of potassium, sodium and phosphorous.

                      About Symptoms?

The symptoms include abnormal heart rhythm, weakness and slow heart rate.

Now that you have learnt what the side effects of lime juice on human body are, this doesn’t mean you should totally stay away from it.

Drink lime juice; but in moderation and with necessary precautions so that you can put these lime juice side effects at bay!