You lovewatermelon , especially as a refreshing treat to stick the summer heat , but is it any dear for you ? After all , watermelon ’s little more than water system and boodle , right ?
That ’s what most multitude believe , but in recent years , research worker have observe the surprising wellness welfare of watermelon . Turns out , sweet , juicy watermelon is actually pack with phytochemicals and nutrients your body take for healthy exploitation . Watermelon has more lycopene than any other fruit or veggie , even love apple — 20 mg . per 2 - cupful serving . Lycopene is an significant works compound that destroys harmful compounds ( loose root ) which can damage cells .
Watermelon is also an idealistic food for thought if you want to suffer a few pounds or keep a healthy weight . Citrullus vulgaris has only40 Calorie per cup and 0 grams of fatness . Since it is 92 percentage water and incorporate 0.6 grams of fiber , one cup of watermelon will satisfy you up and reduce cravings for something scented .
Watermelon Nutritional Information Per Serving (280 grams)
Heart Health
Watermelon contains the amino acid , citrulline , which has been shown to increase blood menstruum and cardiovascular mathematical function . Lycopene also appears to play a role in heart wellness . If you have high blood atmospheric pressure or have a family chronicle of high descent pressure , you may desire to increase your intake of watermelon vine . High blood pressure is often called the “ understood killer , ” because it has no symptoms , yet is a major cause of stroke .
Nutritionists have find that altering diet cansignificantly downhearted blood pressureand keep it at a healthy level . Diets low in red nitty-gritty , sugar and cholesterol , and high-pitched in fruit , vegetables , whole grains , and nuts and seeds seem to back up healthy blood insistence . Watermelon go absolutely into this healthy , whole - foods diet . Because watermelon increases circulation , it is also recommended for anyone suffer tingle or spiritlessness in association with diabetes or gamy blood pressure .
Cancer
What if you could quash your peril of cancer by 20 percentage or more ? One report , Food , Nutrition , and the Prevention of Cancer : a Global Perspectivereviewed over 4,500 research studies and came to one significant ratiocination : hoi polloi who feed 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily have a 20 per centum ( or more ) reducing in their jeopardy of genus Cancer .
Watermelon , in picky , is a good bet for reducing your risk of cancer . Free radical are link to the maturation of sure malignant neoplastic disease and we cognise that the phytochemicals in watermelon scavenge and destroy those free stem .
Vitamin C
Watermelon is alsorich in vitamin blow with 12.5 magnesium per 1 cup serve . Vitamin C promotes wounding healing and supercharge the immune system . It also help oneself the consistence use iron to build cherry pedigree cells .
Selecting Watermelon
To get the most nutrition from watermelon , it ’s of import to take fully ripened fruits , which contain the high amounts of lycopene . block pound Citrullus vulgaris to watch ripeness . Instead , look at the Citrullus vulgaris . The rind should be dark immature and dense , rather than shiny . Turn the Citrullus vulgaris over . The “ soil ” spot , or place where the watermelon rested on the soil , should be xanthous . A clean spot indicate that the watermelon is not ripe .
clean the watermelon up . It should palpate laboured for its size of it . In fact , one way to pick a effective watermelon is by picking up several of similar size and choosing the laborious one .
Lycopene subject remains fairly unchanging in watermelon , even after it ’s snub . In fact , alimental tone remains gamey even after 7 days of cutting and storing in the refrigerator . However , calibre and gustatory sensation diminish so it ’s near to eat on Citrullus vulgaris within 2 to 3 day of cut it .
Store uncut watermelon in a cool , juiceless blank space , such as a basement . Once you cut a watermelon , stack away it in a covered container in the icebox .
Using Watermelon
The most popular way to deplete watermelon is simply to munch on a pertly skip fade , with the succus drip down your chin . But watermelon has many more uses . bedevil it in a smoothy for a refreshing , fat taste or strain it with yogurt and freeze it as yield pops . Make Citrullus vulgaris into sorbet or add it to green salads . Citrullus vulgaris even couple well with grill dishes , such as grilled prawn or chicken . However you slice it , watermelon is a certain stakes for nerveless , refreshing sustenance .
To learn more about calories, nutrition information and the health benefits of watermelon, visit the following sites:
By Julie ChristensenWhen she ’s not writing about horticulture , intellectual nourishment and canning , Julie Christensen enjoy pass time in her garden , which includes perennial , vegetables and yield tree . She ’s written century of horticulture articles for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several e - books .
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