Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon And Delicious Recipes!
The Fresh Juicy Fruit With Numerous Health Benefits:
Watermelon Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, watermelon is related to other fruits like cucumber, pumpkin, squash, and cantaloupe. It’s no surprise at all that the watermelon is so-called, given its amazing 92% water composition which makes it extremely juicy and refreshing especially in hot weather. Interestingly, every part of the watermelon is nutrient-rich from the thick greenish outer rind to the red or pink inner flesh. amazing health
Furthermore, the watermelon is a very rich source of important nutrients ranging from vitamins and minerals to important antioxidants, hence the numerous health benefits that this amazing fruit offers.
Moreover, researchers have revealed that watermelon is more nutritious when it becomes fully ripe. For instance, the lycopene content of a watermelon becomes richer and more concentrated as the flesh turns from white-pink to pink and finally to red.
The sweet and juicy watermelon has lots of nutritional benefits, It Is:
- Fat-free. Watermelon has zero fats and low in calories! Perfect finger food to lose weight.
- Cholesterol free.
- A good source of Vitamins A, and C.
- High in Lycopene content.
- Has a very low sodium content.
How Many Calories in Watermelon?
There are not many calories in watermelon and they are fat-free so they can be incorporated into your daily meal plan without any repercussion. Watermelon make-up is 92% water and 8% sugar. In one cup (diced), or 154 grams, there are 46 calories in watermelon. In 1 large slice, there are 92 calories in watermelon.
The best way to pick a nice, juicy, ripe watermelon that will cure your craving is to pick one that has a dull yellow spot on the bottom where it touched the ground, a dull rind, glossy appearance, and a hollow sound when you thump it with your finger.
There are hundreds of different types of watermelon developed by farmers and cultivars. You will notice the taste, texture and color vary from type to type. Despite the different groups, the number of calories in watermelon will stay relatively close to the same.
Here’re 13 Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon:
Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts:
Watermelons are the king of summer fruits. They are full of water, which helps keep your body hydrated in the summer heat. They are rich in vitamins A, B, and C, carbohydrates, potassium, and antioxidants. Watermelons contain amino acids that aid in healthy blood flow to the heart.
Lycopene and vitamin A are excellent sources found in watermelon that aid with keeping the eyes healthy, preventing macular degeneration and other eye problems. Being rich in B vitamins, watermelon is a good food to eat to help boost your energy level.
Because of,
the high concentration of vitamin C, this fruit can aid in fighting illnesses. The most interesting nutritional fact about watermelon is that it is said to boost the nitric oxide levels in men, which helps to relax blood vessels, making watermelon comparable to Viagra!
Watermelon might sound nothing more but just FRUITS that can be found almost anywhere and everywhere! Many enjoy eating because of the sweetness and juiciness. But, how many know the wonder brings by watermelon? Below are 13 benefits of watermelon:
Consequently, a ripe watermelon offers more benefits as follows:
1. Improves Cardiovascular Health:
Watermelon gives a boost to the functioning of your heart:
- The National Watermelon Promotion Board reported that watermelon has a higher lycopene content than any other fruit or vegetable.
- Lycopene-rich diets are cardioprotective. Similarly, potassium which is present in good amounts in watermelons also offers significant protection against cardiovascular disease by dilating the blood vessels and lowering the blood pressure.
- Furthermore, a study that was published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that watermelon extracts reduced blood pressure in some obese adults with hypertension.
2. Good For Your Skin:
Watermelon is a fruit that has proved highly beneficial for the skin.
- Apart from keeping the skin well hydrated, it is also rich in vitamin A, an important nutrient for sebum production which keeps the hair and skin supple and moisturized.
- In addition, Vitamin C is needed in the formation of collagen which is necessary to maintain the structure and integrity of the skin.
3. Protects Against Diabetes:
Being a tasty, high-fiber, and low-calorie fruit, watermelon is a fruit of choice for diabetic individuals.
- The L-citrulline content is converted to arginine which has been shown to enhance the function of the sugar-lowering hormone, insulin.
- In the same vein, potassium and magnesium found in watermelons also promote the effect of insulin in the body and thus help to keep blood sugar within safe limits in people with diabetes.
4. Reduces Cancer Risk:
Watermelon has been shown to offer some protection against cancers:
- Free radical formation contributes to DNA mutations that result in cancer.
- Fortunately, watermelon has a rich content of antioxidants like vitamins C and A which help to mop up free radicals.
- More still, watermelon and tomatoes are evidently your best sources of lycopene which has been linked to a reduced risk of cancers of the prostate, breast, colon, and lungs.
5. Good Hydration:
Watermelon is 92% water hence in hot weather, it can be particularly refreshing as it helps to replenish the insensible water loss from your skin, thereby protecting you from dehydration and heatstroke.
6. Helps Against Impotence:
- Research has shown that when sufficient quantities of watermelon are consumed, it can provide a Viagra-like effect in treating erectile dysfunction.
- It contains arginine which can be converted to Nitric Oxide (NO), a compound that helps to dilate the blood vessels of the penis and thereby enhance erection.
7. Reduces Risk of Kidney Disorders:
- Good hydration provided by watermelon helps to flush the kidneys regularly and keeps them functioning optimally.
- In addition, by reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood, watermelons reduce the incidence of calculus (stone) formation in the kidneys.
- Furthermore, since watermelon is rich in antioxidants, the likelihood of free-radical damage to the kidneys is less in individuals who consume watermelon.
8. Reduces Muscle Soreness: amazing health
This is especially good news for athletes who often experience muscle pain after indulging in strenuous exercises. Research has attributed this muscle-relaxing effect to the L-citrulline content of watermelons.
9. Good For Flu:
Long thought the realm of oranges, high Vitamin C is also one of the benefits of watermelon. This has the effect of boosting the immune system and slowing the body’s aging processes down.
10. Helps You Lose Weight Faster:
- When one of the health benefits is that watermelon 100% fat-free, it’s hard not to get excited.
- This means you can eat as much as you want and you will not get fat.
- Heck, you won’t even put any weight on.
- So not only is this bright red fruit tasty and delicious, you can have a watermelon feast and you never have to worry about the waistline.
11. Packed to bursting with antioxidants:
Watermelon has been blessed by the fruit god with lycopene. It’s a super-powerful antioxidant that makes watermelon red. Tomato and other red fruits and vegetables are also loaded with lycopene, however recent studies show watermelon to have the highest content of them all.
12. Rich in Fiber:
Watermelon Rich in fiber, The fiber can assist in losing weight, avoiding constipation, preventing diabetes, and also heart attack.
13. Rich in Water:
- Watermelon has a very dense amount of water that helps rehydrate the human body!
- Those who do not like to drink plain water can always opt for watermelon to keep hydrated.
Side Effects Of Eating too much Watermelon:
What goes wrong with consuming it in large quantities?
Eating watermelon in large quantities can actually cause harm to your body. Like most melons, most of us can’t digest it. It can provide us with diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, gas, and burping. The fruit contains sorbitol that is a sugar compound that is known to encourage loose stools and gas issues. Another common cause of such issues is the lycopene content, which is a pigmented antioxidant that gives the watermelon its bright color.
Watermelon is high in fructose,
A naturally occurring sugar that is often incompletely absorbed by our GI system, leading to gas. Fructose malabsorption is a condition in which the body doesn’t digest fructose well, which in turn causes it to become fermented in the colon, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. This can lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhea, among other things.
If you are a diabetic,
Chances are loading up on too much watermelon may increase blood sugar levels. It may be a healthy fruit, but it has a high glycemic index (72). Always consult with your doctor as to how much you can consume.
People who consume alcohol regularly,
Should avoid having large quantities of watermelon as the high level of lycopene may react with alcohol. Furthermore, it can cause liver inflammation. Excessive oxidative stress on the liver can be harmful.
- Water intoxication or over-hydrating is a condition when your body has excess water in it. Which leads to loss of sodium content.
- Consuming a large quantity of watermelon may increase the level of water in our bodies. If the excess water is not excreted, it can lead to an increase in the volume of the blood, further causing swelling in the legs, exhaustion, weak kidneys. And it can lead to loss of sodium levels in the body.
Watermelon is known to be a great source of potassium that is a vital nutrient playing numerous roles in keeping the body healthy. It helps maintain electrolyte function., keeps our heart healthy, and makes our bones and muscles stronger.
However,
- Too much potassium can lead to cardiovascular problems like irregular heartbeat, weak pulse rate, and other factors.
Consuming 100 grams which are around 30 calories is the recommended amount. Given that it is mostly water, it is easy to consume even 500 grams, which means you just ate 150 calories. It is easy to consume too much since it isn’t filling. It also contains six grams of sugar.
Healthy Watermelon Beverage Recipes:
Watermelon contains a high concentrate of Lycopene, a natural antioxidant that may help to reduce the risk of bladder, cervix, lung, and skin cancers.
Adding it to your diet is really easy. Use it as a snack, an appetizer, or incorporate Watermelon into your summertime beverages. Since Watermelon is fat-free and low in calories, it makes it an ideal food for those who are watching their weight. During the Summertime, you would like to make cold beverages using Watermelon.
Here are a few of the family’s favorite beverage recipes:
1. Melon Punch:
Ingredients:
- 6 c. watermelon juice.
- 2 c. pineapple juice.
- 1 (12 oz) can be frozen in a raspberry flavored juice.
- 1 (6 oz) can be frozen orange juice concentrate.
- 1/4 c. lemon juice.
Preparation:
- In a large bowl, blend all of the above ingredients.
- Chill for 2 hours.
- Makes 14 (3/4 cup) servings.
2. Watermelon Smoothie:
Ingredients:
- 2 c. seeded watermelon chunks.
- 1 c. crushed or cracked ice.
- 1/2 c. plain yogurt.
- 1 to 2 tbsp. sugar.
- 1/2 tsp. ginger.
1/8 tsp. almond extract.
Preparation:
- Whip ingredients together in the blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
- Makes 2-3 servings.
3. Delicious Frappe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 large watermelon.
- 36 ozs. Ginger Ale.
- 1 (12 ounces) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed.
- Lime & Lemon Slices (fresh & sliced).
Preparation:
- Remove seeds and rinds from watermelon.
- Cut melon into chunks.
- Combine melon, limeade, and ginger ale in a blender.
- Freeze for several hours.
- Thaw partially to serve.
- Spoon into tall glasses and garnish with lime or lemon slices.
- Makes 1 gallon.
4. Melon Guava Smoothie:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup watermelons.
- 1 cup guava juice or guava nectar.
- 1-2 cup ice.
Preparation:
- Mix the above ingredients together in your blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve in chilled glasses.
Conclusion:
When you make a good and healthy grocery list in the middle of those warm summer months remember to include watermelon on it. There are so many things that you can do with a watermelon other than your usual fruit salad bowl.
From Sandwiches And Salads to Smoothies and Yes-even Salsa,
Watermelon is a versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed in many recipes. Your first step to being a happy person is to feel good, and eating good foods that MAKE you happy while you’re eating them is essential to getting your maximum potential out of every day! amazing health
Why WOULDN’T you like to tap your maximum potential every single day of your life? Be successful! FEEL great! And it all starts with enjoying some of nature’s power foods.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
SourcesBurkman R, Schlesselman JJ, Zieman M. Safety concerns and health benefits associated with oral contraception. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004; 190(4 Suppl):S5–22.[PubMed Abstract] Bassuk SS, Manson JE. Oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy: relative and attributable risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other health outcomes. Annals of Epidemiology 2015; 25(3):193-200[PubMed Abstract].
Eat Healthily. Live Healthily!
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