5. IT’S MOSTLY WATER
Being mostly water (91%), eating watermelon on a hot day is a delicious day to stay properly hydrated and prevent dehydration. However, note that eating a watermelon is not a substitute for drinking fresh water.
6. SOME WATERMELON ARE YELLOW
Crimson sweet is the most popular type, but the yellow crimson has a sweeter flavor. While most studies are focused on the first, the latter is likely to come with its own set of benefits.
LYCOPENE: WATERMELON’S NUTRITIONAL CLAIM TO FAME
Lycopene`s antioxidant activity has been shown to be more potent than that of beta-carotene and other carotenoids. In one particular study, after managing other stroke risk factors like diabetes and older age, it has been found that subjects with the highest lycopene levels were 55% less likely to have a stroke.
According to a 2014 meta-analysis, lycopene lowered stroke risk by over 19%. In addition to decreasing stroke risk, it has been also found to have anti-cancer activity, probably thanks to its powerful antioxidant properties.
A 2014 meta-analysis involving 10 studies has found that lycopene may lower the risk of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women.
WATERMELON EXTRACT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE
According to one study,
“Watermelon supplementation reduced aortic BP [blood pressure] and myocardial oxygen demand during CPT [cold pressor test] and the magnitude of the cold-induced increase in wave reflection in obese adults with hypertension. Watermelon may provide cardioprotection by attenuating cold-induced aortic hemodynamic responses.”
WATERMELON FOR INFLAMMATION, SEXUAL HEALTH, AND MORE
L-arginine has the ability to relax the blood vessels, which in turn helps with erectile dysfunction. This is why watermelon is often called the “Nature`s Viagra.” As a matter of fact, supplementing with citrulline has been shown to improve erection hardness in those with erectile dysfunction.
Watermelon also contains anti-inflammatory substances, such as as cucurbitacin E, or tripterpenoid, which reduces the activity of cyclooxygenase , the pain and inflammation-causing enzyme. Despite its low calorie value, watermelon also contains nutrients in which many Americans are lacking, such as
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT WATERMELON
Tricks for picking a ripe watermelon include:
- Should be heavy for its size
- The thump test ripe watermelon is said to have a hollow bass sound)
- Smooth rind with a dull top
Sources:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/21/watermelon-nutrition.aspx