Watermelon is one of the fruits that many people look forward to in the summer months. Delicious, juicy, hydrating and refreshing, it’s also packed with health giving nutrients.
The health benefits of watermelon include hydration and energy production, healthy eyesight, heart disease prevention and cancer prevention. Watermelon diet is also very effective for weight loss.
Watermelon Nutrition
Watermelon is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C and contains a reasonable dose of B vitamins and the minerals potassium, phosphorous and magnesium.
The reddish colour of watermelon is due to its lycopene content, which is responsible for many of its health benefits.
Watermelon for Energy
Watermelon has a high glycemic index, making it a good fruit for a quick energy boost, as in with hypoglycemia or in sports and exercise.
A glass of watermelon juice is an excellent and healthy way to replace both fluids and glucose lost during exercise. It is also rich in B vitamins, the energy production vitamins.
Watermelon Fruit for Healthy Eyesight
Carotenoids in watermelon help promote good vision and are particularly good for boosting night vision. Beta-carotene has the potential to be converted to vitamin A, which helps with the production of rhodopsin, the night vision pigment in the retina of the eye.
Beta-carotene can also help prevent cataracts and delay macular degenration.
Watermelon and Heart Disease Prevention.
Lycopene in watermelon may help reduce heart disease risk through its ability to lower LDL or bed cholesterol. Vitamin C also helps protect the blood vessels against damage.
The high potassium content of watermelon makes it useful in reducing high blood pressure, a contributing factor to heart disease.
Watermelon and Cancer Prevention
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radical damage and therefore cancer formation. Lycopene has been extensively researched as an anti-cancer agent and has applications in colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancer prevention.
Energy Production.
Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Our food ranking system also qualified watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1, magnesium, and potassium.
Part of this high ranking was due to the higher nutrient richness of watermelon. Because this food has a higher water content and lower calorie content than many other fruits (a whole cup of watermelon contains only 48 calories), it delivers more nutrients per calorie-an outstanding health benefit!
