Watermelon is an incredibly beneficial food that doesn't get a lot of publicity. This underrated healthy fruit is a great source of several vitamins and antioxidants. These important ingredients provide many of the powerful benefits of watermelon. It is available year round, but tastes best when it is in season, during the summer months.
One of the greatest benefits of watermelon is the antioxidants it provides. Antioxidants prevent cell damage from oxidization of the cells, as well as neutralizing and removing free radicals in the body. Vitamins A and C, both powerful antioxidants, are found in watermelon. A single serving of watermelon has 24% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, and 10% of vitamin A. These vitamins help to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks, ease asthma symptoms, reduce the swelling associated with arthritis, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Lycopene, a carotenoid commonly found in tomatoes and mangoes, is another antioxidant found in watermelon. Lycopene has been found to be useful in preventing cancers like colorectal, breast, and lung cancer. The list of cancers that may be partially prevented by lycopene is continuously growing as more research is done. When combined with green tea, watermelon can help prevent prostate cancer.
Another of the many benefits of watermelon is that it is full of B vitamins, specifically B6, B1, magnesium and potassium. These nutrients are necessary for the body to convert calories into energy. Watermelon can also help to prevent vision loss due to macular degeneration. Three servings of fruit a day can reduce a person's risk factor for this condition.
Watermelon also has very high amounts of citrulline, an animo acid that is used by bodies to make another animo acid, arginine. Arginine is instrumental in removing ammonia from the body. It also is used by the cells in veins to produce nitric acid, which relaxes the veins and lowers blood pressure. Nitric acid, one of the main ingredients in Viagra®, is also useful in treating erectile dysfunction. Argenine also helps to improve the insulin sensitivity of people with type II diabetes.
Watermelon is a healthy snack that is high in nutrients and low in calories. A cup of watermelon has only 48 calories, due to the incredibly high percentage of water it contains. This water content helps to give watermelon its crunchy and unique texture. The benefits of watermelon make this delicious fruit an excellent choice for smoothies, home-made sherbet, and eating fresh on the rind. Even the seeds are full of important nutrients, and are full of protein and fiber. In some parts of the world, watermelon seeds are even dried and eaten as snacks. Enjoy watermelon and do your health a favor.
