What’s even worse?  It’s actually quite good for you!  Unlike ice cream, popsicles and other cold sweet treats, you don’t have to worry about eating this sweet treat because there are a ton of health benefits in this food that outweigh the cons… if any at all.  Lucky me…

A common misconception is that watermelon is just sugar-water.  But the truth is that this fruit is packed with essential nutrients.  When you eat watermelon, you’re getting a host of goodies like antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, all which help you achieve optimal health.  Yay me again…

Well, I digress from my self-pity and give you even more health benefits YOU can get from eating watermelons…

• Watermelon is low in calories, so you can eat plenty of it without worrying about weight gain.  One cup of watermelon only has 43 calories in it, which makes it a great snack option when you’re on a diet. It is packed with nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, thiamin, folate, betaine, zinc, and lycopene.

• Lycopene may be a compound that is helpful to prevent heart disease, and watermelon contains more lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable.  So, eating watermelon could help you to protect your heart.  Lycopene is the antioxidant that gives the fruit its red or pink color, and tomatoes are often associated as the best source of Lycopene.  But, watermelon contains a higher concentration of lycopene than tomatoes.

• Watermelon is a good source of vitamin C, which has been shown to be beneficial in preventing asthma.  Researchers found that people who consumed higher amounts of vitamin C were less likely to be diagnosed with asthma.

• The anti-inflammatory benefits of watermelon may help with many types of health problems.  Watermelon contains a nutrient called Choline, and this nutrient is beneficial for the maintenance of cellular membrane structures.  Choline also helps with muscle movement, reducing chronic inflammation, and improving sleep patterns. Other anti-inflammatory nutrients within watermelon include: magnesium, vitamin A, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

• The antioxidants in watermelon can help fight free radical activity within the body, which means that watermelon could be beneficial for cancer prevention as well. Improved digestion is a possibility when you are eating watermelon, mainly due to the fiber content and the water.  When you are eating watermelon, the fiber helps to move food through the intestinal tract, promoting regularity with bowel movements.

• The American Journal of Hypertension published a study which showed that when people used watermelon extract, they could successfully lower blood pressure levels. The reason for the lower blood pressure levels is likely because of the citrulline within the watermelon, which is then converted over to L-arginine in your body.  It is a chain reaction, because L-arginine is a precursor to nitric acid, which helps to maintain open and relaxed blood vessels to optimize blood flow.

• L-arginine within watermelon might also help with erectile dysfunction because of the improvement in blood flow.  Sometimes, watermelon is referred to as “nature’s Viagra” because of the health benefits that can be achieved.

• Hydration is important, especially during the hot summer months.  Watermelon has a high water content, and it also contains important electrolytes which help to prevent dehydration.

• After exercise, it is possible to speed up recovery and decrease muscle soreness by eating watermelon.  The high levels of electrolytes, along with L-citrulline, can help with post-workout recovery.  Some athletes like to juice watermelon to use as a pre- and post-workout drink.

• The vitamin A, vitamin C, and water content in watermelon is beneficial to promote healthy skin and hair.  Researchers have found that vitamin C can help to build and maintain collagen, which is a substance that is beneficial for structure in hair and skin.  Additionally, the water content is good to flush out toxins and prevent skin blemishes.

The main health benefit of watermelon is the highly concentrated lycopene (anti-oxidant) content, which is thought to be even more potent than other carotenoids, including beta-carotene.  These antioxidants are beneficial for overall health, because they significantly reduce the free radical activity within your body. Doctors have suggested that these antioxidants can help to reduce serious health conditions, including stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

In addition, the lycopene in watermelon is very stable, and you can still gain the health benefits even after the watermelon has been cut and stored in the fridge for two days.

How to Buy a Good Watermelon

It’s always a disappointment to cut into a watermelon and find that it isn’t ripe or the flavor is lacking.  There are a few things that you can look for at the grocery store, to make sure you are selecting a good watermelon.

When buying watermelon, look for a melon that is:

• Symmetrical

• Heavy

• Firm

• Pale and yellow spotted on the bottom (this is an indication the melon is ripe)

Watch for bruising or soft spots, because those could be an indication that the watermelon might be overripe. Once you’ve selected your watermelon, take your juicy treat home and enjoy!  Who says you have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy?

P.S.  If you don’t like watermelon (like myself) you can make watermelon/limeade drink and still get many of the benefits.  Here’s a simple recipe:

• The flesh of one large watermelon, cubed, seeds removed

• 1/4 - 1/2 cup lime juice

• stevia (optional)

• salt

Put watermelon cubes in a blender and blend until smooth.  Strain it through cheesecloth set over a large pot. Squeeze all of the juice out.
Add lime juice, add stevia if you like it sweet and a little salt to balance the sourness.
Refrigerate until cold.