Ahh, Watermelon! Think of a fruit that tastes somewhere between a cucumber and sweet grapes and you have it!  If you’ve ever had a slice off  watermelon on a hot summers day, you’ll know very few things more refreshing. Not only is this juicy ball of goodness tasty, it’s also highly beneficial to your health.

 

1. Crunchy Power House: Watermelon Nutrition

Watermelons are a powerhouse of nutrients. Within the average watermelon you will get a significant amount of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein, and a very large amount of potassium. Furthermore, they contain vitamin A, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, and a wide variety of carotenoids and phytonutrients, including lycopene! These contribute to their major impact on health; we will explore some more details of those benefits below.

 

2.Watermelon and Kidney Disorders

Watermelons benefits don’t just stop at the nutritional values,  contain a great deal of potassium, which is very helpful in cleaning or washing out the toxic deposits in the kidneys. It is also helpful in reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood, thereby reducing the chances of kidney damage and the formation of renal calculi in that organ. Due to this, and its immense water content, watermelons are a natural diuretic, inducing frequent urinating, which again is helpful for cleaning of the kidneys. And the anti oxidants present in watermelon ensure the maintenance and the good health of kidneys.

 

3. Watermelon and Skin

As a added bonus the antioxidants in watermelon also reduce signs of wrinkles and age spots on the skin. The other bonuses about watermelon and skin are:

Hydrates the skin: Watermelon keeps the body and skin hydrated since it’s 91% water. Dehydration can lead to a dry and dull face. So, include watermelon in your diet to keep refreshed and rejuvenated.

Reduces oil from skin: Watermelon is a rich source of Vitamin A. This Vitamin decreases the size of skin pores while minimizing excessive oil secretion from the sebaceous glands.

Helps acne: Massaging the skin with watermelon juice every day is a natural remedy to therapy acne. If you are prone to acne and pimples, use watermelon to benefit your skin.

These are couple of skin and beauty benefits of watermelon. You can easily get the fruit this time of the year. So, include it in your diet and skin regime. You can simply dab a cotton ball in watermelon juice extract and apply it on the face after cleansing it. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash with cold water. If you desire to make a face cream using watermelon juice, just add honey or yogurt to it and apply it on the face and neck.

 

4. Prevents Heat Stroke: 

If you have high blood pressure or high body temperature watermelon is very effective in reducing
both. In fact many people in tropical regions eat watermelon every day to protect themselves from heat stroke. In India, it is quite usual to find this fruit being sold almost every street in the summer season. The high water content contained in watermelon also stimulates the release of sweat, which in turn cools your body on a hot day.

 

5. Reduces Body Fat

Not only is there very few calories in watermelon, it no cholesterol or fat, all of which help weight loss. A compound called citrulline in watermelon also assists weight loss, metabolism and increases energy production. So bypass that fatty dessert and have a slice of watermelon instead!

 

6. High Blood Pressure

The significant amount of potassium and magnesium in watermelons is very beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Potassium is a vasodilator, meaning that it releases the tension of blood vessels and arteries, thereby stimulating increased blood flow and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. Carotenoids within the fruit also prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping to reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis.

 

7. Prevents Cancer 

Over the years watermelon has gained increasing publicity, this is mainly due to its remarkable amounts of lycopene a carotenoid phytonutrient. It has been discovered that these compounds are linked to cancer prevention. As the years go by and the studies continue to bring in consistent results, lycopene has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of prostate, breast, colon, lung, and endometrial cancer. All in all, between the antioxidant potential of vitamin C and the impact of lycopene, watermelon is a great anti-cancer fruit!

 

8. Watermelon And Diabetes:

Although sweet in taste, a wedge will give you very few calories, since ninety nine percent of its total weight is composed of water and roughage. Moreover, the various vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium help in proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus lowering the blood sugar level. Arginine, another component found in watermelons, is very effective at enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetic patients can also have curries, steaks, and salads made from water melon rinds, which are even lower in sugar.

 

9. Heart Care

Lypocene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon, improves cardiac functions. Beta carotene, known for its remarkable antioxidant and anti-aging properties, also keeps you young at heart and prevents age-related cardiac problems. The roughage in water melon and its very low energy, along with help from vitamin-C, carotenoids and potassium (potassium cuts the risk of a heart attack), helps to reduce cholesterol and keep your heart safe from a variety of dangerous conditions.

 

10. You Can Eat the Seeds and Bark

Most people throw the watermelon rind, but try to put it in a blender with a little lemon juice and make a healthy refreshing drink. 6 The crust not only contains lots of chlorophyll which promotes health and quality of blood, but also contains more of the amino acid citrulline pink meat.

Citrulline is converted to arginine in the kidneys, and this amino acid is not only important for heart health and maintaining your immune system, but has also shown an incredible therapeutic value in more than 100 health conditions.

While many people prefer seedless varieties of watermelon, black watermelon seeds are edible and actually quite healthy. Containing iron, zinc, protein and fiber. (In case you were wondering, seedless watermelons are not genetically modified, since they are the result of hybridization.

11. Watermelon Juice Can Alleviate Muscle Soreness

If you have an exhaust fan, try juicing a third of a fresh watermelon and drink it before your next workout. This contains a little more than one gram of L-citrulline, an amino acid that appears to protect against muscle pain.

One study found that men who drank unpasteurized watermelon juice before your workout reduced muscle soreness 24 hours later compared with those taking a placebo.

However, be very careful about taking watermelon juice because it contains a significant amount of fructose. It may be better to eat the whole fruit, or opt for these other tips to prevent muscle soreness.

 

Conclusion

What doesn’t this sweet watery treat not do? The lycopene repairs damaged tissues and the seed are rich in beneficial fats and proteins. It contains phytonutrients which have very good effects on the health and proper functioning of internal organs, eyes, and the secretion system. You can even use those rinds in curries, pickles, and chutneys. Pick up one today and get creative and healthy.

 

 

Further reading: Fascinating Goji Berry Facts That Can Help Your Health

Further reading: 6 Effective Home Remedies for Weight Loss