Watermelon Nutrition

Watermelon Facts

The watermelon is an extremely juicy fruit that is grown in the tropics and sub-tropics. People love it for its sweet juiciness and its wonderful texture. It is a vine that creeps on the ground bearing huge juicy fruits.

There are many varieties of watermelon. They come in various sizes and colors. Some are just a few pounds while others can be giants of 50 pounds or more. Some are round while others are oblong. Today, we even have square watermelons. The color of the flesh can vary greatly, from the usually red and pink to yellow, orange, brown or even white. It is indeed an interesting fruit!

Watermelon Nutrition and Health Benefits

The watermelon tastes great as it is. What's more it is nutritious and possesses numerous benefits.

The watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C. It is also a good source of vitamin A, in the form of beta-carotene. Both vitamin A and C are powerful antioxidants which protect the body from free radicals. They are the culprits for a long list of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

It also contains some amounts of vitamin E, K and K. and the B family namely thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxamine (B6), folate (B9) and choline.

The watermelon comes packed with minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. It also contain traces of sodium, selenium, iron, zinc and copper. For a detailed watermelon nutrition profile and the calories in a watermelon, click here.

Pink and red watermelons come packed with lycopene, a phytonutrient that is another potent antioxidant. Studies have shown it may reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have also shown that lycopene has cancer preventing properties, especially against prostate cancer.

Other phytonutrients found in the watermelon are beta cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are exceptionally good for the eyes.

The watermelon is mainly water. In fact 92% of it is water. That's why it is such a good thirst quencher, especially on a hot day.

The watermelon has diuretic effect and is good for those who have bladder problems.

The watermelon is traditionally used to cleanse the body of toxins. To do this efficiently, juicing the watermelon is the best option as it enters the blood stream faster. Watermelon has an alkaline nature once it's digested in the body. This helps the body to neutralize the acidity of the blood which is caused by consuming certain foods such as meat and refined foods.

How To Enjoy Watermelon

As with other fruits, taking fresh watermelon (no cooking) is always the way to go.

Juicing it is also good. Chilling the fruit before juicing it makes the juice utterly refreshing!

Have it in a fruit salad with your other favorite fruits.

The rind is also edible. In fact, it has more nutrients than the flesh. One common way of preparing it is to pickle it. Another way of using the rind is to juice it together with the flesh.

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