The Indian market is full of carbonated drinks, one of the most popular of which is Limca.
Limca is a lemon and lime carbonated drink that originated in India and was first introduced in 1977. It is manufactured by Coca-Cola.
It has a synthetic lemon and lime flavoring, which is less indulgent and more refreshing. In fact, in India, it is used by most of the population as a gas reliever.
However, one question that is often asked is whether or not Limca is healthy for you. Or how Limca is different from other carbonated drinks.
In this post, I will be analyzing the nutrition and ingredients of Limca to find out if Limca is good for health.
Let’s start with the nutritional value.
Also read: Is Breezer Good For Health? All You Need To Know
Nutritional value of Limca
A 100ml serving of Limca provides
- Calories: 44
- Carbohydrates: 11.1g
- Sugar: 10.7g
- Fat: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 5.5mg
Ingredients in Limca
- Carbonated water
- Sugar
- Acidity regulators (330, 331)
- Stabilizers (414, 471)
- Preservative (211)
- Natural & artificial flavors
Limca and carbonated water
Like any other beverage, Limca contains carbonated water as its main ingredient.
Carbonated water is water that has been pressurized with carbon dioxide gas. This makes the water bubbly and gives it a slightly acidic taste. It is sometimes also referred to as sparkling water and is safe for consumption.
Carbonated water is known for good digestion and relieving constipation.
Limca and sugar
Like other cold drinks, Limca contains a high level of sugar – 10.7g per 100ml.
The added sugar makes Limca bad for your health, particularly if it is consumed regularly or in large quantities.
Even if you drink a single 250ml bottle of Limca, you consume 26g of sugar – more than the recommended daily amount.
Frequent or daily consumption of Limca will lead to an excess of sugar in your diet, which increases the risk of many health problems such as weight gain, obesity, and diabetes.
So if you are on a diet or going through diabetes or obesity, avoid Limca.
Limca and preservative
Preservatives are used in food to increase its shelf life.
Limca contains preservative 211, or sodium benzoate, a man-made preservative.
Although more research is needed, there are some health concerns associated with this preservative.
Sodium benzoate tends to convert into a carcinogen called benzene when mixed with vitamin C. That means the presence of sodium benzoate and synthetic lemon (might be a source of vitamin C) in Limca could be cause for concern. However, there is no label of vitamin C in the nutritional information.
Additionally, some animal studies have shown that sodium benzoate increases inflammation. So if you already have any inflammatory disease, Limca might not be the healthy choice.
Furthermore, some studies have linked sodium benzoate to ADHD in children.
Though the level of benzene in beverages is low, which doesn’t pose any health risk, what if someone drinks these beverages daily?
Limca and flavors
The refreshing flavor you get after drinking Limca is not from the lemon but from the natural and artificial flavors.
However, Limca has not disclosed what these flavors are.
Limca and additives
Limca contains many other additives that may be confusing, such as acidity regulators(330,331) and stabilizers(414,471).
Acidity regulators control the PH levels and maintain the desired taste, while stabilizers are often used to preserve their texture, flavor, and appearance.
When it comes to health, both acidity regulators and stabilizers present in Limca are safe.
Is limca better than other carbonated drinks?
The sugar and calorie content of the Limca is almost the same compared to other carbonated drinks. The thing that separates Limca from other drinks is that it contains no caffeine or added color.
Here is the comparison table of Limca to other carbonates drinks in the market.
| Drinks | Calories | Sugar | Color | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limca | 44 | 10.7g | No | No |
| Thums-up | 42 | 10.4g | Yes | Yes |
| Coco-cola | 44 | 10.6g | Yes | Yes |
| Sprite | 49 | 11.7g | No | No |
Final words: Is limca good for health?
While Limca is better than its counterparts due to no caffeine and added color, it does pose some health risks.
The high sugar content of Limca can result in weight gain, obesity, and other health issues. Additionally, the use of preservatives 211 is a significant health concern(even if it’s in a safe amount).
If you drink Limca regularly or more frequently, it is crucial to be aware of these risks.
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Meanwhile, here are a few other posts that might be helpful for you:
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FAQs about Limca
No, you cannot drink Limca or any other carbonated or processed drinks during fasting as they come with ingredients that can break your fast.
No, Limca does not contain caffeine.
It’s generally considered ok to drink soda during pregnancy. But drinking Limca during pregnancy is not good as it comes with a lot of sugar and artificial flavors.
Limca comes with too much sugar, which can cause spikes in your blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is not good for diabetics.
No Limca is acidic, and drinking it in Acid reflux can worsen the situation.
