Watermelon is a fruit, botanically classified as a berry, belonging to the genus Citrullus in the family Cucurbitaceae. Watermelons are usually dioecious plants with male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are arranged in a branched arching to pendulous inflorescence, with many small flowers forming a spiral around the stem. The fruit can be eaten fresh or fermented for juice or vinegar. Moreover, the health benefits in watermelon that you should know.Â
Watermelons are grown for their fruit, which can be eaten raw or cooked. Watermelon is a member of the berry family, along with strawberries and raspberries. The skin of a watermelon is dry and hard, but when ripe, it becomes soft and sweet.
10 Health Benefits of Watermelon
Watermelon is a perfect summer fruit. It’s delicious, nutritious, and healthy.
#1 Watermelon Prevents Cancer
The perfect health benefit of watermelon is that it is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. It also contains lycopene, an antioxidant that may help prevent cancer. Watermelon contains lycopene which is a red pigment that gives watermelon its distinctive crimson color. Lycopene is thought to help prevent heart disease and colon cancer.
#2 Watermelon Helps in Weight Loss
Another health benefit of watermelon is that it contains approximately 38 percent water and offers just 1 gram of carbohydrates per cup. This makes it a low-carbohydrate fruit that can help you stay full and satisfied after eating less food. Watermelons also contain smaller amounts of fat than most other fruits (just 0.5 grams per cup), making them a healthy choice for weight loss diets.
#2 Watermelon Boosts Energy
One cup of watermelon provides 19 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C, which helps boost energy levels by raising neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin (Harding). Vitamin C also plays an important role in forming collagen, which is essential for tissue repair and wound healing (Harding). Watermelon also contains beta-carotene—an antioxidant that may reduce cancer risk by reducing inflammation and protecting DNA from damage (McGovern).
#3 Watermelon is High in Fiber
Fiber is a good way to lower your heart disease, cancer, and diabetes risk. The dietitian at Living Healthy Today says that even though you may not feel full after eating a watermelon slice, it can help you stay satisfied longer because of its low sugar content.
#4 Watermelon Lowers Blood Pressure
A diet rich in potassium regularly raises your blood pressure level. But researchers found that people who ate 4 1/2 cups of chopped watermelon each day had lower blood pressure than those who ate less fruit or none, even if they didn’t change their diets. Watermelon contains more potassium than bananas, oranges, or apples (about 3,000 mg per cup) but less than broccoli (4,800 mg). So eat up!
#5 Watermelon Keeps you Hydrated
One of the popularly known health benefits of watermelon is that it has a high water content, which makes it an excellent source of hydration. Watermelon is one of the best fruits to keep you hydrated during the hot summer days when you feel dehydrated and thirsty.
#6 Watermelon Reduces Dental Problems
Watermelon contains rind, which may contain very small amounts of benzene on its surface after roasting or boiling. Benzene may cause dental problems such as tooth decay and gum diseases. So, it is advised not to eat watermelon if you have sensitive teeth or gums.
#7 Watermelon Decreases Severity of Asthma
Eating some amount of watermelon daily can help reduce asthma severity by reducing inflammation in your body and improving your breathing ability.
#8 Watermelon is Good for Nerve Function
Watermelon contains an antioxidant called lycopene that protects against free radical damage, which may help prevent nerve cell damage and memory loss.
#9 Watermelon Helps in Blood Sugar ManagementÂ
The fruit itself is high in fructose, but eating it does not raise blood sugar levels. The reason for this is that watermelon contains fiber that slows down the digestion of fructose. This makes you feel full longer and stops your blood sugar from rising too fast.Â
#10 Watermelon Fights Inflammation
Research shows that lycopene found in watermelons can help fight inflammation by decreasing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the bad kind). Oxidation is a major cause of inflammation.
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