Lime water, made from fresh lime juice, is hydrating and refreshing, easy to make with just two ingredients in 5 minutes. It is a popular morning drink for its support of digestion, immunity and even eye protection. Drink warm or cold.
Lime water, like lemon water, is a great way to hydrate as well as take in nutritional benefits including potassium, vitamin C, and iron. My recipe has a tang from a surprising addition, lemon juice. Lemon juice is actually sweeter than lime, and adding some to lime water provides a nice balance.
Drink it in the morning to support digestion or boost immunity, or any time of day for a refreshing energizer. Like my other detox waters, such as lemon water, dragon fruit water, my fruit sparkling water, my strawberry and lemon water, lime water is a wonderful light hydrating drink.
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What is Lime Water?
Lime water is water with lime juice in it. I use ratio of 1 part lime juice and 3 parts water. You can make it by adding homemade lime juice , or use organic bottled lime juice, or squeeze juice from fresh limes. Lime water is delicious in water because it has a fresh after taste. Adding a small amount of lemon juice adds a sweet tang. Lemons are actually sweeter than limes.
Lime is often in lemon's shadow, but it carries as much nutritional weight. Limes are rich in nutrients vital to support and protection of the human body including potassium, vitamin C, and iron. Plus, it's loaded with antioxidants and compounds that help several areas of the body stay healthier.
Six Benefits of Lime Water
1. Boosts digestion by providing stimulating flavonoids, magnesium and potassium all of which help break down food and move it along through your system. [source]
2. Strengthens your immune system because of high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants. Lime water can even help bring down a fever thanks to high vitamin C levels which naturally lower body temperature. [source]
3. Provides antioxidants which supports glowing skin, supports main organs and fights off disease.[source]
4. Supports weight loss by stimulating the metabolism.[source]
5. Helps regulate blood sugar. Limes have a low glycemic index thus regulate how your body absorbs sugar into the bloodstream. [source]
6. Cleans your gut with detoxing anti-viral and antiseptic components. [source]
Lime Water Ingredients
Lime Juice - You can use bottled. I suggest an organic brand with only limes as an ingredient. Or you can make fresh homemade lime juice according to my recipe.
Fresh limes - buy at least 8 limes to make a pitcher of lime water. Make sure they are not rock hard, and not to dark a green for best flavor.
Water - water can be any temperature.
Lemon juice - Add only a little to add a slight sweet citrus tang to your lime juice.
Make A Glass
1. Wash and cut 2 limes in half. Cut a single thin slice off one, and pop the slices into a glass.
2. Squeeze all halves into that glass to collect the juice. This will give you about 3 tablespoon of juice. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
3. Add 1 cup of water, stir and drink. The water can be chilled or warm.
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Make a Pitcher
Using fresh limes or lime juice, do the following:
1. Into a pitcher add the juice from 8 limes (quarter and squeeze) or 1 cup of homemade or bottled lime juice.
2. Add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice.
3. Fill the pitcher with cold water - mine holds about 6 cups cold water, and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
How to Store
Lime water can be refrigerated for about 2 days before losing flavor and nutrients.
You can also freeze lime water in an ice cube tray. Then, the night before, pop a single ice cube in a refrigerated glass and it melts overnight. Over the next few days, I use that to make the drink over a few days.
Expert Tips
How to Juice Limes
1.Microwave them for 10 seconds each before slicing and squeezing.
2. Roll them on the counter using the heel of your hand to break the inside fibers.
Both methods will increase the amount of juice you get from each lime. You should get about 1 cup of juice from 8 limes.
Variations
Lavender - add a drop or two of culinary lavender extract to the pitcher.
Cherry - add 2 teaspoon of cherry juice to a glass of lime water, and 3 tablespoon to a pitcher.
Pineapple - add 2 teaspoon of pineapple juice to a glass of lime water, and 3 tablespoon to a pitcher.
Add zest. Grate some lime zest into your pitcher or glass of lime water for extra lime essence. Don't add the white part though, that is called the pith and is very bitter in flavor.
FAQS
Lime helps your digestion starting with your first sip. Citrus oils call up digestive saliva which sends a message to your digestive system to speed up. When the lime water is warm, this process is faster and more urgent.
Drink lime juice in the morning to reverse constipation. Microwave a glass of lime water in a microwave-safe glass for 45 seconds.
No, it is best to drink lime water in the morning. Your digestive system likes to shut down for the night, so the drink is wasted.
Yes, but with a straw to protect your tooth enamel.
Both fruits are nutritionally valuable. Limes help the body absorb more calcium [source] which is great for bones, and more vitamin A which supports skin, but lemons are stronger at boosting the immune system. Try my ginger shot recipe made with lemon juice for an immune-boosting shot.
Drinking lemon water or lime water both assist with weight loss. The citric acids in both drinks speed up your metabolism to burn calories and store less fat.
More Detox Drinks
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📖 Recipe
Lime Water Recipe
Ingredients
For A Single Serving
- 3 tablespoon lime juice, homemade or bottled or 2 limes squeezed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup water
For A Pitcher
- 1 cup lime juice or 8 limes squeezed
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 6 cups water
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Instructions
For a Single Serve
- Add 2 tablespoon of lime juice either homemade or bottled, or from 2 fresh limes, and add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to a glass.3 tablespoon lime juice, homemade or bottled, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Then add 1 cup of water.
For a Pitcher
- Add 1 cup of lime juice either homemade or bottled, or from 8 fresh limes, and add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to a glass.1 cup lime juice, 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- Then add 6 cups of water.6 cups water
How to drink
- To drink warm, microwave a microwave-safe cup or glass for 1 minute before adding lime juice.
- To drink cold, refrigerate or add ice. Chilled will taste less sweet than warm.
Ethan says
Clever to add lemon juice. It makes a difference. Thank you!