What are the Benefits of Watermelon?

Is watermelon good for you? What health benefits does watermelon have? The following sections will give details about some interesting watermelon facts.

It will also talk about the various important benefits of watermelon and exactly how much melon you can eat in a day without suffering any unpleasant side effects.

What is Watermelon?

Watermelon is a juicy fruit which has pink flesh on the inside and green rind on the outside. It is a refreshing treat, especially on hot summer days.

Read: Health Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice Drink

Here are some interesting watermelon facts for you:

Place of Origin: Africa

Varieties of watermelon: seedless, seeded, light green rind, light green rind with stripes, dark green rind, round and oval shape. There are actually 1200 varieties of watermelon.

Watermelon water content: More than 90%, probably that is the reason it is called “water”melon

Edible part: The whole fruit, from the seeds to its rind. You can eat the fleshy pink part raw. The seeds can be roasted and eaten. The watermelon rind can be stir-fried or pickled.

In fact, each and every part of watermelon is equally nutritious. Here is a chart that shows the nutritional value of watermelon.

Watermelon Nutrition Chart

With so many nutrients in it, what is watermelon good for actually? Here is a close look at the various nutritional benefits of watermelon.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Watermelon

1. Helps Prevent Diseases

Do you know from where watermelon gets its pink color? Well, the red or pink color of watermelon is due to an antioxidant named lycopene.

Lycopene is known to help prevent diseases like hypertension, cancer and diabetes.

Other fruits and vegetables that are rich in lycopene are tomatoes, guavas and papayas. But among all, watermelon is the richest source of this very important carotenoid.

A seedless, bright pink color watermelon will have more lycopene than a seeded or orange colored watermelon.

2. Watermelon Benefits for Skin

Watermelon has 4 important nutrients that help in the growth, development and protection of skin.

Vitamin A helps in the growth of all types of tissues which includes skin tissue.

Vitamin C helps provide structure.

The water in the watermelon helps keep the skin hydrated and radiant. It also helps to purge the body of any harmful toxins thereby giving a glow to the skin.

Lycopene in the watermelon also provides sun protection thereby protecting the skin from sunburns or sunspots.

Also See: 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Eating Carrots

3. Watermelon Helps Prevent Inflammation

Watermelon contains citrulline which is an amino acid that helps fight inflammation and pain. This is especially helpful for athletes who experience muscle soreness after workout sessions.

So next time you head to the gym take some tasty and cool watermelon juice along with you.

4. Watermelon Benefits for Eyes

Watermelon actually contains beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A by the body. This Vitamin A helps to keep the eyes healthy. Vitamin A also helps fight infections and boosts the immunity.

5. Watermelon Helps to Keep Hydrated

Everybody knows the importance of water in the body. Nearly two third of human body is water. Without enough water body will not function properly.

Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches and in extreme cases increased heart rate, low blood pressure and even unconsciousness.

And, do you know what percent of watermelon is water? It is 92% to be exact. Hence, snacking on watermelon or drinking watermelon juice can help your body recover from dehydration fast.

Must See: What are the Possible Health Benefits of Eating Cucumber?

6. Watermelon Helps in Digestion

Watermelon is easy to digest and can be eaten even if you are suffering from colitis. It also helps relieve the symptoms of constipation due to its high water content.

Watermelon does not contain much fiber. It contains certain short chain carbohydrates that can cause digestive problems in people who suffer from fructose malabsorption.

7. Watermelon Helps in Weight Loss

Is watermelon good for weight loss? Yes, definitely! Watermelon is fat free, sodium free, and cholesterol free. And, there are just 47 calories in a cup of watermelon.

Watermelon can be an excellent snack for people who are on diet. It is not only a rich source of vitamins, minerals and water but, snacking on it can also make you feel full without feeling guilty!

8. High Protein Content in the Seeds

There are numerous benefits of watermelon seeds too, so if you accidentlly swallow some don’t worry. They will give you beautiful hair and skin and keep your cholesterol level in check.

The preparation method of seeds is important. In order to get the full protein benefit from the seeds, soak them and let them sprout. 1 cup of sprouted and dried seeds contains 10 grams of protein.

Read: 10 High Protein Veg Foods Having More Protein Than an Egg

9. Helps the System Produce Antibodies

The vitamin C and B6 found in watermelon helps to boost the immune system. Vitamin B6 helps the body produce antibodies that help to fight many diseases.

Vitamin C safeguards the body from numerous infections.

10. Watermelon Decreases Mental Fog

Watermelon contains potassium which is an important mineral needed for proper development of the body. It keeps good fluid balance in the body and even helps generate nerve impulses.

Inadequate levels of potassium in the body can lead to mental confusion.

As you can see, there are numerous benefits of eating watermelon. But, like any food, too much watermelon in your diet can actually harm you.

Is Too Much Watermelon Bad for You?

One of the benefits of watermelon is that it helps reduce weight. This has prompted people to go on watermelon diet. In this diet people subsist only on watermelon. They drink watermelon water, eat watermelon seeds and eat the pink, fleshy part of watermelon.

But eating too much watermelon has its side effects. It can cause diarrhea, stomach ache and bloating.

Taken in moderation (1-2 cups per day), watermelon is a perfectly safe fruit that you can enjoy in any season.

Pregnant women and people who have sensitive stomach should avoid eating watermelon in excess.

Check Out: Top 10 Vegetarian Foods For Vegans That Are High In Iron

Wrapping it up – Watermelon Benefits

So, is watermelon healthy? Yes, it is definitely healthy when taken in moderate quantities. There are numerous benefits of watermelon juice, watermelon seeds and even of watermelon rind.

In order to gain full benefits of watermelon always choose a fully ripe and mature watermelon that is firm and heavy. It should be symmetrical in shape and there should not be any bruises or spots on it.

Use watermelon to make smoothies, salads, juices or just cut it and enjoy! Wash it properly before cutting and remember to use a clean knife.