Watermelon Health Benefits

Nothing tastes as good as a slice of watermelon on a hot summer day. The sweet and watery flesh of the watermelon can quench your thirst, as a considerable part of this fruit consists of water. But apart from its thirst quenching quality, watermelon is very rich in nutrients and offers numerous health benefits as well. The nutritional value and health benefits of watermelon is not limited to its juicy flesh, but even the seeds and the rind are very rich in vitamins and minerals. Roasted watermelon seeds are used as snacks, whereas the rind is pickled or stir fried by some people. Scroll down to know more about watermelon health properties.

Watermelon Nutritional Value

As mentioned earlier, watermelon contains a good amount of water, which makes it very low in calories. This fruit is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C. Small amounts of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, folate, niacin, etc. are also found in watermelon. It is very rich in potassium and also contains minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous in traces. Watermelon is also free of fats and cholesterol. Apart from the vitamins and minerals, there are many components in this fruit which are also responsible for the health benefits of watermelon. It is rich in antioxidants called carotenoids, like lycopene, phytofluene, phytoene, beta-carotene, lutein, and neurosporene. Watermelon seeds contain a good quantity of protein and oil. Around 35% of watermelon seed is protein and 50% is oil, along with 5% of dietary fiber. These seeds also contain minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, etc. This was, in short, a little about the nutritional facts about watermelon. The following is some information about watermelon health effects, or the benefits of watermelon on human health.

Watermelon Health Benefits

The health benefits of watermelon are mainly based on its nutritional value and presence of other components, like carotenoids. These nutrients offer various health benefits, which include preventing and fighting various diseases. Let us take a look at some of the important watermelon health facts.

Prevents Heart Attack and Stroke
Watermelon are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A (mainly in the form of beta carotene) and carotenoid lycopene. Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals in the body. Free radicals are the primary causes of heart attacks and strokes. Vitamin C and beta carotene fight free radicals and reduce the risk of diseases, like, heart attack, stroke, etc. Antioxidants also reduce cholesterol, which apart from causing heart related problems, can worsen other diseases too. Read more on heart attacks.

Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Watermelon is rich is antioxidants, called carotenoids, especially lycopene. Studies show that lycopene is beneficial in preventing some forms of cancer, like, breast cancer, prostrate cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancers. Lycopene is an antioxidant, which can protect the genetic material of white blood cells and also prevents oxygen damage in cells and other structures, which has been found to be linked to the occurrence of cancer in humans.

Boosts Energy Production
We all know that B vitamins are essential for energy production in the body. Watermelon, being rich in B vitamins, can provide you with important B vitamins like Vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6. Apart from that it prevents dehydration, due to the high water content. Read more on vitamin B.
Apart from the above said watermelon health benefits, this fruit is beneficial in preventing macular degeneration, which is one of the main causes for the loss of vision in elderly persons. Watermelon contains a good amount of an amino acid called citrulline, which is used by the human body to produce another amino acid called arginine. It has been found that arginine can prevent erectile dysfunction, lower blood pressure, and improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Above all, it can help you to lose weight. As it is high in water content and low in fat and calories, this fruit can fill your stomach, but is non fattening. These watermelon health benefits make it a perfect fruit for human consumption. Use fresh watermelon to reap the health benefits offered by this fruit. Prefer watermelons kept at room temperature to those kept in the refrigerator, as the former has more nutrients than the latter.