Summary:
A complete protein is a protein source that "contains adequate proportions of the nine essential amino acids" that our body can not produce on its own.
Relatively low in protein, a single tablespoon of lime juice contains 0.1 grams of protein, or about 0% of recommended daily values. [1]
To get the adequate amount of protein with lime juice alone, you will need 787 tablespoons of lime juice (11900 grams) for an average female, or 945 tablespoons of lime juice for males. [4] That's over 2980 calories, and a lot of lime juice! Pairing lime juice with a richer protein source is a good idea.
Full nutritional profile for lime juice
USDA Source: Lime juice, raw
Macronutrients in 1 tbsp (15.125g) of lime juice:
% of RDV | Amount | ||
Calories |
|
0.2% | 4 kCal |
Carbohydrates |
|
0% | - |
Total fat |
|
0% | 0 grams |
Protein |
|
0.1% | 0.1 grams |
Proportionally, lime juice does contain abundant amounts of 0 out of the nine essential amino acids. However, lime juice is a little short on histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.[1]
To have adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids with lime juice alone, you will have to eat 2975 tablespoons of lime juice (45000 grams) for an average person. [2]
That's about 278% more lime juice to compensate for the lack of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, compared to the protein requirement alone.
The amount of each essential amino acid in 1 tbsp (15.125g) of lime juice:
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [1] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
0.1% | 0.064g | |
Histidine |
|
0% | 0g | |
Isoleucine |
|
0% | 0g | |
Leucine |
|
0.1% | 0.002g | |
Lysine |
|
0.1% | 0.002g | |
Methionine |
|
0% | 0g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
0.1% | 0.002g | |
Threonine |
|
0% | 0g | |
Tryptophan |
|
0.1% | 0g | |
Valine |
|
0.2% | 0.002g |
Low in protein, carrot is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 2 carrots (141g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.9:1 of carrot to lime juice will be complete.
Full nutritional profile for carrots
USDA Source: Carrots, raw
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [5] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
3.9% | 1.9g | |
Histidine |
|
9.4% | 0.06g | |
Isoleucine |
|
13% | 0.11g | |
Leucine |
|
8.9% | 0.17g | |
Lysine |
|
9.7% | 0.17g | |
Methionine |
|
3.6% | 0.03g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
6.9% | 0.1g | |
Threonine |
|
30.3% | 0.27g | |
Tryptophan |
|
7.7% | 0.02g | |
Valine |
|
10.5% | 0.11g |
Hedge mustard seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 1.3 tablespoons of hedge mustard seeds (6g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:4 for lime juice to hedge mustard seed by weight.
Full nutritional profile for hedge mustard seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sisymbrium sp. seeds, whole, dried
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [6] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
2.8% | 1.4g | |
Histidine |
|
3.7% | 0.02g | |
Isoleucine |
|
5% | 0.04g | |
Leucine |
|
5.3% | 0.1g | |
Lysine |
|
4.3% | 0.07g | |
Methionine |
|
2.6% | 0.02g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
3.5% | 0.05g | |
Threonine |
|
5.1% | 0.05g | |
Tryptophan |
|
7.5% | 0.02g | |
Valine |
|
5.6% | 0.06g |
A reasonable source of supplementary protein, pumpkin seed is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 1.5 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds (6g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:4 for lime juice to pumpkin seed by weight.
Full nutritional profile for pumpkin seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, pumpkin and squash seeds, whole, roasted, without salt
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [7] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
3.5% | 1.7g | |
Histidine |
|
5.4% | 0.03g | |
Isoleucine |
|
7% | 0.06g | |
Leucine |
|
6.3% | 0.12g | |
Lysine |
|
6.3% | 0.11g | |
Methionine |
|
3.3% | 0.03g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
4.8% | 0.07g | |
Threonine |
|
4.9% | 0.04g | |
Tryptophan |
|
8.7% | 0.02g | |
Valine |
|
9.8% | 0.11g |
Chia seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 0.2 ounce of chia seeds (5g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:4 for lime juice to chia seed by weight.
Full nutritional profile for chia seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, chia seeds, dried
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [8] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
3% | 1.5g | |
Histidine |
|
5% | 0.03g | |
Isoleucine |
|
5.3% | 0.05g | |
Leucine |
|
5.1% | 0.1g | |
Lysine |
|
4.4% | 0.08g | |
Methionine |
|
4% | 0.03g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
4.7% | 0.07g | |
Threonine |
|
4.5% | 0.04g | |
Tryptophan |
|
10.1% | 0.03g | |
Valine |
|
6.2% | 0.07g |
A reasonable source of supplementary protein, lotus seed is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 1.1 cups of lotus seeds (36g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.24 to 1:24 for lime juice to lotus seed by weight.
Full nutritional profile for lotus seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, lotus seeds, dried
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [9] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
12.4% | 6.2g | |
Histidine |
|
25% | 0.16g | |
Isoleucine |
|
32.3% | 0.28g | |
Leucine |
|
24.4% | 0.46g | |
Lysine |
|
22.1% | 0.38g | |
Methionine |
|
11.5% | 0.1g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
19.7% | 0.29g | |
Threonine |
|
30.2% | 0.27g | |
Tryptophan |
|
31.7% | 0.08g | |
Valine |
|
34.6% | 0.37g |
Spirulina is a great source of protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 0.4 tablespoon of spirulina (3g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.02 to 1:2.1 for lime juice to spirulina by weight.
Full nutritional profile for spirulina
USDA Source: Seaweed, spirulina, dried
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [10] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
4.9% | 2.4g | |
Histidine |
|
5.9% | 0.04g | |
Isoleucine |
|
12% | 0.1g | |
Leucine |
|
9.5% | 0.18g | |
Lysine |
|
7% | 0.12g | |
Methionine |
|
4.5% | 0.04g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
7% | 0.1g | |
Threonine |
|
10.7% | 0.1g | |
Tryptophan |
|
12.4% | 0.03g | |
Valine |
|
11.7% | 0.13g |
A reasonable source of supplementary protein, crimini mushroom is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 5 tablespoons of lime juice (76g) and 1.4 cups of crimini mushroom (122g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 1.6:1 of crimini mushroom to lime juice will be complete.
Full nutritional profile for crimini mushroom
USDA Source: Mushrooms, brown, italian, or crimini, raw
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [11] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
6.7% | 3.4g | |
Histidine |
|
13.2% | 0.08g | |
Isoleucine |
|
14.2% | 0.12g | |
Leucine |
|
10.5% | 0.2g | |
Lysine |
|
18.7% | 0.32g | |
Methionine |
|
7% | 0.06g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
8.5% | 0.13g | |
Threonine |
|
15.5% | 0.14g | |
Tryptophan |
|
26.8% | 0.07g | |
Valine |
|
13.8% | 0.15g |
Dijon mustard is a great source of protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 1.8 tablespoons of dijon mustard (11g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.07 to 1:7 for lime juice to dijon mustard by weight.
Full nutritional profile for dijon mustard
USDA Source: Spices, mustard seed, ground
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [12] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
7% | 3.5g | |
Histidine |
|
15.9% | 0.1g | |
Isoleucine |
|
15.6% | 0.13g | |
Leucine |
|
13.5% | 0.25g | |
Lysine |
|
13.3% | 0.23g | |
Methionine |
|
6.6% | 0.06g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
9.8% | 0.15g | |
Threonine |
|
10.6% | 0.1g | |
Tryptophan |
|
12% | 0.03g | |
Valine |
|
17% | 0.18g |
A reasonable source of supplementary protein, spinach is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 3.4 cups of spinach (101g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.7:1 of spinach to lime juice will be complete.
Full nutritional profile for spinach
USDA Source: Spinach, raw
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [13] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
7% | 3.5g | |
Histidine |
|
10.7% | 0.07g | |
Isoleucine |
|
17.6% | 0.15g | |
Leucine |
|
13.2% | 0.25g | |
Lysine |
|
11.7% | 0.2g | |
Methionine |
|
6.6% | 0.06g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
9.8% | 0.15g | |
Threonine |
|
14% | 0.13g | |
Tryptophan |
|
16.2% | 0.04g | |
Valine |
|
16.6% | 0.18g |
Pistachio is a great source of protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 2.5 tablespoons of pistachio (19g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.13 to 1:13 for lime juice to pistachio by weight.
Full nutritional profile for pistachio
USDA Source: Nuts, pistachio nuts, dry roasted, without salt added
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [14] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
9.3% | 4.6g | |
Histidine |
|
16.6% | 0.1g | |
Isoleucine |
|
21.5% | 0.19g | |
Leucine |
|
18.2% | 0.34g | |
Lysine |
|
14.7% | 0.25g | |
Methionine |
|
8.6% | 0.07g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
15.7% | 0.23g | |
Threonine |
|
15.4% | 0.14g | |
Tryptophan |
|
20.3% | 0.05g | |
Valine |
|
24.5% | 0.26g |
A reasonable source of supplementary protein, cashew is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 0.4 ounce of cashews (10g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.07 to 1:7 for lime juice to cashew by weight.
Full nutritional profile for cashews
USDA Source: Nuts, cashew nuts, raw
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [15] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
5% | 2.5g | |
Histidine |
|
7.8% | 0.05g | |
Isoleucine |
|
9.7% | 0.08g | |
Leucine |
|
9.2% | 0.17g | |
Lysine |
|
6.9% | 0.12g | |
Methionine |
|
4.6% | 0.04g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
7.6% | 0.11g | |
Threonine |
|
8.1% | 0.07g | |
Tryptophan |
|
12.4% | 0.03g | |
Valine |
|
11.8% | 0.13g |
Sour cream is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 1.5 tablespoons of sour cream (18g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.12 to 1:12 for lime juice to sour cream by weight.
Full nutritional profile for sour cream
USDA Source: Cream, sour, cultured
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [16] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
2.2% | 1.1g | |
Histidine |
|
3.2% | 0.02g | |
Isoleucine |
|
3.9% | 0.03g | |
Leucine |
|
4.4% | 0.08g | |
Lysine |
|
4.4% | 0.07g | |
Methionine |
|
2% | 0.02g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
3.1% | 0.05g | |
Threonine |
|
3.3% | 0.03g | |
Tryptophan |
|
4.1% | 0.01g | |
Valine |
|
4.9% | 0.05g |
Low in protein, mayonnaise is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 0.3 cup of mayonnaise (57g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.37 to 1:37 for lime juice to mayonnaise by weight.
Full nutritional profile for mayonnaise
USDA Source: Salad dressing, mayonnaise, regular
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [17] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
2.4% | 1.2g | |
Histidine |
|
2.8% | 0.02g | |
Isoleucine |
|
4.6% | 0.04g | |
Leucine |
|
4.1% | 0.08g | |
Lysine |
|
3.8% | 0.06g | |
Methionine |
|
2.7% | 0.02g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
3.3% | 0.05g | |
Threonine |
|
3.8% | 0.03g | |
Tryptophan |
|
4.9% | 0.01g | |
Valine |
|
5.4% | 0.06g |
Whipping cream is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, complementing the profile of lime juice.
For example, 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 0.4 cup of whipping cream (25g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.17 to 1:17 for lime juice to whipping cream by weight.
Full nutritional profile for whipping cream
USDA Source: Cream, whipped, cream topping, pressurized
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [18] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
2.9% | 1.4g | |
Histidine |
|
3.9% | 0.02g | |
Isoleucine |
|
6% | 0.05g | |
Leucine |
|
5.4% | 0.1g | |
Lysine |
|
5.1% | 0.09g | |
Methionine |
|
2.7% | 0.02g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
3.7% | 0.06g | |
Threonine |
|
4.3% | 0.04g | |
Tryptophan |
|
5.5% | 0.01g | |
Valine |
|
6.5% | 0.07g |
Low in protein, unsalted butter is high in histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which is complementary to lime juice.
A ratio of 10 tablespoons of lime juice (151g) and 6.9 tablespoons of unsalted butter (98g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.6:1 of unsalted butter to lime juice will be complete.
Full nutritional profile for unsalted butter
USDA Source: Butter, without salt
Amino Acid | % of RDV [2] | Amount [19] |
Complete / Adequate |
|
Protein |
|
2.9% | 1.5g | |
Histidine |
|
4% | 0.03g | |
Isoleucine |
|
6.1% | 0.05g | |
Leucine |
|
5.6% | 0.11g | |
Lysine |
|
5.2% | 0.09g | |
Methionine |
|
2.7% | 0.02g | |
Phenylalanine |
|
3.8% | 0.06g | |
Threonine |
|
4.5% | 0.04g | |
Tryptophan |
|
5.7% | 0.01g | |
Valine |
|
6.7% | 0.07g |