Watermelon season is in full swing and the 4th of July is FAST approaching! Beach time, pool time, picnic time, are you ready?
Buy a few glass containers, cut up a whole watermelon and evenly distribute the pieces so you can take this tasty treat with you anywhere, work included!
Watermelon is soooo good for us… why wouldn’t we chow down during summer when it’s at its freshest, tastiest and cheapest????
So my guess is that we’ve all assumed watermelon is healthy because it’s a fruit and contains a lot of water, right? But have you guys ever stopped to wonder what makes watermelon so good for us other than its sweet, refreshing taste?
Well, recently I did! I’m now always on the hunt to bring my readers the newest, juiciest information on everything in my blog from fashion and recycling to fitness and food.
So back to our watermelon. Let’s start with this: watermelon is the most consumed melon in the US. A fun “factoid”… watermelon is a cousin to squash, cucumbers and pumpkins.
Let’s get in to the important facts that might surprise us all.
Ten Surprising Facts About Watermelon You May Not Know
- Watermelon has more lycopene than raw tomatoes making it a far more concentrated source. Why is lycopene so important? Well, lycopene’s antioxidant activity has been shown to reduce stroke occurrence by more than 19%! It’s also been studied as potentially having anti cancer activity due to the lycopene’s antioxidant properties.
- Watermelon is BOTH a fruit and a vegetable! Funny like an avocado, huh? Well, it’s a sweet, seed producing plant with a rind (outer covering) that is completely edible which leads me to our next surprise.
- Watermelon is super rich in anti-inflammatory substances. Oh YAY because my puffy face can always use more anti-inflammatory foods! Lycopene and cucurbitacin E both help to reduce pain and inflammation caused by an enzyme which most aspirins and ibuprofens work to curb!
- Watermelon rinds and their seeds are COMPLETELY EDIBLE. The rind contains even more of the I-citrulline than the inside does. Rinds also contain a very healthy, blood building chlorophyll. The seeds are also super healthy. Black watermelon seeds are edible and contain iron, protein, fiber and zinc. You can blend the rind and seeds up for a nutritious, healthy snack.
- Watermelon juice has an amino acid called I-citruline that appears to protect us against muscle pain and soreness! For all my fitness fanatics this is great news, right? You better race to the store and stock up LOL. But juice drinkers beware. Careful of the sugar content in drinking all that juice. Eating the melon may be an even better and just as beneficial option.
- Watermelon is very low calorie at about 45 calories per cup.
- Watermelons contain the amino acid L-argine which has been thought to help with erectile dysfunction! Often referred to as “Nature’s Viagra” (don’t worry I had no clue about this one either), it helps by relaxing blood vessels including those supplying blood to a man’s penis.
- Watermelon contains a lot of vitamins we can all use more of: Vitamin C, B6, A, Potassium and Magnesium. Bananas aren’t my favorite so I’ll take some watermelon instead, any day!
- Watermelons can be yellow! Check out my recipe for a super healthy, yellow watermelon snack. Last week when I offered my neighbors yellow watermelon, they were shocked at the taste thinking it was pineapple. They loved it! Now I am sure studies will be coming out soon to show how the unique properties of yellow watermelon are also healthy for us.
- How do you pick the sweetest, ripest, juiciest watermelon? I know I sound crazy but it works for me EVERY time! You have to knock on it and listen. If your knocking brings about a hollow sound or echo, it’s the perfect melon to bring home and immediately devour! TRUST ME. One of those quirky things I totally hear ya.
SO. Have I convinced you guys yet that you totally need to start eating watermelon? I certainly convinced myself! How cool is it that watermelon is such a delicious snack that now boasts all of these amazing health benefits? Plus, being both a vegetable and a fruit, watermelon is easily paired with anything from avocados and mint to cilantro and almonds. What a multifaceted fruit!
Come on guys… adding a bit of watermelon into your mode de vie should be easy as 1-2-3!
Need a recipe? Click here.
Who’s going to test my brilliant “knocking on the melon” theory? I can’t wait to hear what you find :).
xx Shanna