Watermelon is one of the most appreciated fruits of the warm season, being available only during the summer. It is extremely refreshing to eat watermelon and it has an extraordinary taste, becoming a very iconic fruit when the weather outside is hot.
There are also quite a few health benefits of eating watermelon, besides just quenching your thirst with the watery sweet pulp of this fruit.
If you want to know more about the health benefits of eating watermelon and how this habit can improve your overall state of health all you need to do is read the following lines.
Top 12 Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon & Nutritional Facts
1. Benefits of Watermelon Seed
Many people think about the sweet fleshy pulp of the watermelon, completely disregarding the fruit’s seeds.
Well, instead of spitting them out, you could collect them, dry them, and roast them.
Why should you do this? Watermelon seeds are packed with proteins, vitamin B, minerals, and healthy fats.
Your body will definitely benefit from all of these, so use this new approach when it comes to watermelon seeds.
2. Watermelon as Viagra
This one of the health benefits of watermelon for men. You most certainly did not know that watermelon can act like Viagra.
This is due to its arginine content, which is the precursor of nitric oxide, the same substance that relaxes blood vessels and promotes an erection in the case of Viagra and may even increase libido according to the research carried out at Texas A&M University.
Thus, if you are a man and you wish to improve your performances in the bedroom, you can do this by eating the pulp of this fruit, enjoying one of the most interesting health benefits of eating watermelon, without the unwanted side-effects of drugs.
3. It Keeps Your Skin Healthy and Young
what are the benefits of watermelon for skin? Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants out there, keeping your skin safe from premature aging caused by exposure to UVs and other external factors.
Luckily, watermelon is a great source of vitamin C, so a constant consumption of watermelon will make sure that your body was sufficient vitamin C intake to healthy and glowing skin.
This is one of the health benefits of eating watermelon that is connected to beauty and well-being.
4. Watermelon for Weight Loss
Everybody wishes to lose weight in the summer and we all know that proper water consumption is one of the best ways to make sure that you achieve the desired weight loss.
Well, if you are tired of drinking plain water, you can always snack on watermelon.
The best part is that you can eat all the watermelon you want because this fruit is packed with water and has a very low amount of calories.
In other words, you will feel full while losing weight when indulging in this fruit.
Watermelon Detox Smoothies for Weight loss and Belly Fat
Ingredients
- 3 Cups of Watermelon chunks ( use watermelon slicer)
- 1 Cup Green Grapes/strawberries
- 1-2 tbsp of limes juice, peeled & deseeded
- Pinch of cayenne or ginger
- 1/4 cup water or you can sub it for raw coconut water- my favorite.
Directions
- Blend all ingredients together, you can leave the watermelon seeds in.
- I like to scoop out about 2-3 cups of watermelon,
- Then add in the berries and other ingredients and blend together first before adding water.
- Serve chilled, and enjoy the summer melon. My friends love it!
Are you sore after exercise? Well no problem, because watermelon will boost energy and relieves all the muscle soreness, claimed American Chemical Society. So drink it and love it!
5.Watermelon for Diabetes
The health benefits of eating watermelon in the case of people suffering from diabetes are quite a few.
To start with, eating moderate amounts of watermelon will curb your appetite for something sweet and will give you a full stomach sensation.
It also helps by reducing blood sugar levels, due to potassium and magnesium content.
And arginine, another component of watermelon pulp, improves insulin sensitivity in the case of type-2 diabetes.
6. Benefits Eating Watermelon Rind
Because the watermelon is the cousin of the cucumber, you should know that you can eat the entire fruit, not just its pulp or seeds.
Even the green rind is edible and contains citrulline, besides various other vitamins, which have antioxidant properties and converts to arginine, which is good for your heart, immune system, and circulatory system.
You can eat it as it is, sautés it, adds it chopped in vegetable stews, and even pickle it.
7. Watermelon Keeps you well Hydrated
When the temperatures outside are scorching, we should do everything we can to stay well hydrated in order to fight the negative effects of heat.
So besides drinking water, one of the health benefits of eating watermelon is that it will keep your body very well hydrated and ready to face the summer.
8. Watermelon Reduces Heat Strokes Risk
We can’t control the weather and there are days when the thermometers turn red due to the high temperatures outside.
But, even so, we can’t postpone everything and just stop.
We need to do things, but we also have to stay safe from heat strokes.
They are very dangerous, putting in danger not just your well-being, but also your life.
By eating watermelon, which is made out of water in a proportion of almost 92%, you ensure a great water intake and keep your body away from suffering from heat strokes.
Watermelon Feta Salad Diet
Recipes
- 4 cups seedless fresh organic watermelon, cut in a cube ( use watermelon slicer)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup crumbled feta or cubed
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 1/2 sliced lime
- 2 cups fresh cucumber, sliced into half-moons
- Pinch of sea salt
Directions
- Put all the salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Whisk the olive or honey, salt, and lime together in a small bowl.
- Pour the mixture over the salad and toss.
- Add more olive or honey and lime to taste.
- Served fresh and cold or you can cover it and store in the fridge for later.
9. Heart Disease Risks are Reduced
Eating watermelon may keep heart diseases at bay, due to the lycopene content of this fruit, which is known for lowering bad cholesterol, the underlying cause of the majority of heart conditions.
If you eat watermelon and get the lycopene found in its composition, you will enjoy a 30 to 405 decrease in the risk of suffering from heart diseases.
Also, let us not forget about arginine and citrulline, two other components that promote blood flow and keep your arteries healthy, also keeping heart issues far away from you.
10. It is Great for Your Eyesight
Vitamin A and beta-carotene, two nutrients that are essential for great eyesight, are both present in watermelons.
Also, do know that the regular consumption of watermelon will prevent macular degeneration, which is the degeneration of eyesight due to an increase in age.
So, as you age, your eyes will become weaker and affect the way you see. Eating watermelon will postpone this as much as possible.
11. Keeps your Kidney Healthy and Working Great
The kidneys are responsible for washing out toxins from our body.
While it is extremely helpful to drink plenty of water, to make sure they work right, eating watermelon, which contains the much-needed potassium, will make sure they work great.
Besides removing any toxic deposits that may have been stored in our kidneys in time, watermelon reduces the content of uric acid in our blood, which means lower risks of developing kidney conditions.
12. It Fights Against Cancer
The lycopene found in watermelon does more than just to protect your heart.
It also protects and prevents, and even fights against colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.
There are scientific studies that show the fact that watermelon consumption considerably reduced the chances of developing cancer, in comparison with individuals that do not consume watermelon at all.