Nutritional value and health benefits of watermelon

Watermelon is definitely one of the coolest fruits available. This delicious fruit makes for a refreshing treat during summer. A typical watermelon can be described as a fruit belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family which also includes plants like cantaloupe, squash and pumpkin growing on vines. It is believed to have originated in Southern African countries and is now widely grown in tropical regions. Externally, the fruit resembles a large melon featuring smooth, deep green or yellow colored thick skin with light green or grey vertical stripes. The inner flesh is juicy and red, pink or yellow in color with small black, edible seeds embedded in the middle of the flesh. It has a mild, sweet taste which resembles that of light sugar syrup. In fact, as evident from its name, it comprises of nearly 91% water and 9% sugar.

Widely consumed as a fruit, some people often consider watermelon as a vegetable. This is because it is related to the squash and pumpkin family and grown in a manner similar to a vegetable crop. In fact, in China it used as a vegetable where it is stir fried, stewed or made into a pickle. Basically, it is the ripened ovary of a seed plant and its contents botanically make it a fruit. There are several varieties of watermelon which vary in shape, size and color of the flesh.

Health benefits of watermelon

Watermelon is not only an excellent thirst quencher but also an effective ingredient to provide your body with the antioxidant, lycopene and Vitamin A as well as other nutrients. No doubt, it is associated with several health benefits as given below.

1. Heart health: The American Heart Association has certified watermelon as a heart healthy food. This benefit can be attributed to the presence of significant amounts of potassium which is an important component of cells and body fluids that control heart rate and blood pressure. In this way, it offers protection against stroke and coronary heart disease.
2. Anti-cancer properties: Watermelon is one of the best dietary sources of lycopene among fresh fruits and vegetables. Lycopene, being a powerful antioxidant, can neutralize oxygen radicals even better than beta-carotene and Vitamin E. It has been found to be beneficial in preventing breast, prostate and endometrial cancers as well as lung and colon cancer.
3. Normalizes high blood pressure: Certain studies have shown that watermelon extract supplements are effective in normalizing high blood pressure in obese and middle-aged people. The fair amount of potassium in watermelon helps in alleviating hypertension and even stroke.
4. Natural viagra: This fruit has been hailed as a “Natural Viagra” when it comes to improving circulation and relaxing blood circulation. This can be attributed to arginine which boosts nitric oxide, thus relaxing the blood vessels to treat and prevent erectile dysfunction. Consumption of this fruit can really have a positive effect on the libido, thus making it a good pre-romantic appetizer.
5. Weight loss: In spite of being sweet and filling, this big green fruit is low in calories and contains almost no fat or cholesterol. Moreover, it contains high levels of a compound called citrulline which is converted into the essential amino acid, arginine inside the body. High levels of arginine reduce the rate at which the body stores fat and improve cardiovascular functioning. Improvement in arginine concentrations in the blood after consuming watermelon leads to improved weight loss. One can undoubtedly consider watermelon for weight loss benefit.

Nutritional value of watermelon