Nothing goes down smoother during the sweltering summer months than an ice cold beer or three. And some brews just taste better with a fresh lime wedge. Looking at you, Corona and Tecate. You could be on the beach on a well-deserved holiday, at a trendy rooftop opening with mates - enjoying ping pong-blackjack (not a game yet, but give Millennials time) or just watching your fave TV show in the evening.
The fact that some beers just taste better with a lime is a science we've graciously accepted. A disturbing new warning from Slate is pretty unequivocal: you need to be pretty careful when you're cutting and then squeezing that lime into your favorite brew.
It's hard to see how putting a lime in your beer could be anything but great. Unfortunately, there's a condition called phytophotodermatitis, also known as "lime disease." That's confusing because ticks can give you "lyme disease," but that's a totally different thing. One's pirates and the other is... Well, let me explain.
The damage from "lime disease" is worse than from the more well-known illness in the short term. As the video tells us, it's a simple equation: lime juice on the skin plus sunlight could equal anything - from a condition similar to a second-degree sunburn, up to massively gross blisters.
The more complex explanation is that the lime undergoes a chemical reaction the moment it's in direct ultraviolet light, and your skin is all the worse for that. Think scientific superhero origins movie experiment gone wrong; only, drinking the mutated lime doesn't give you any powers.
It's not a problem limited to tossing back easy-drinking Mexican lagers either - an alternate name for phytophotodermatitis is "Margarita photodermatitis". Bet you're regretting all those dollar margaritas from Applebee's, aren't you?
The lesson is probably the same as it is with drinking in general: Everything in moderation. Also maybe don't cut and use your lime in the sun. Slate's video should be just gross enough to help you remember that.
If you still want to have limes in a more healthy setup, take a look at how former Glee star Lea Michele consumes her citrus. Her fridge is really is goals; bowls of berries ready to be picked at will, plenty of citruses ready to be infused into water, greens to keep her full, dairy and dairy alternatives to give her healthy.
Don't forget fats and eggs, for that ever important protein. I really wish I get invited for dinner soon.
There's a method to this sparkling, color-blocked organization. In a caption to accompany her Instagram story, the actor and singer said: "I always keep tons of healthy fruits and vegetables in my refrigerator that are all organic. I find that the healthier foods I have at home the nutritious snacks I have on hand at all times."
She continues: "Rather than snacking on bad things it helps me to stack on good things all the time. YUM!" When a snack-attack strikes, she'll have no choice but to reach for something like a fistful of cherries or a ripe, juicy orange. Much better for you than a slice of pizza or cheesecake.
It is definitely working as the star is in tip-top shape, and her bikini snaps from beaches around the world would make it onto anyone's fitness vision board. You don't get more inspiration than this.
Lest you start thinking Lea Michele is just not like us, she has admitted to some cheat day cravings in the past. "My vice is cheese, 100-percent, and pizza," she revealed in an interview with E!. "I was just in New York City a couple weeks ago, and I definitely late-night had like four slices of pizza. The best!"
Even better, apparently, when it's chased with limes and Brussel sprouts. The key, as always, is balance. If you're not fond of Brussel sprouts with your pizza, have a handful of spinach. This is only effective if you don't eat the entire box. Here's hoping Lea has inspired you, and obliterated your fear of sunburnt limes.
