6 Supercool Health Benefits of YUM-Yum Watermelon

Health benefits in watermelon–really? Yeah really–watermelon rocks!

“So you mean eating watermelon can actually boost my health? How? It’s so tasty that I never even thought of it as healthy…”

Funny, since that’s a question I’ve been asked more than once. The answer?

Well sure, watermelon can be great for us–you bet! And here’s how:

 

1.) You’ll love this: watermelon is filled with the powerhouse antioxidant lycopene—yesss! You’ve probably heard of this health-booster in tomatoes–but guess what? There’s loads more lycopene in watermelon.

Here’s the kicker: not only does lycopene pigment give watermelon its lovely color (bonus!), it helps lower any damaging oxidative stress in your body. Yaay for that, since too much of that stress can trigger cancers, diabetes, heart disease and more. How’s that for one kick ass health benefit? 

 

2.) Watermelon also has this awesome amino acid called L-citrulline, which helps to protect against muscle pain–NICE. And, watermelon rind, yep, the munchy crunchy rind (no joke) is of course edible –and LOADED with health perks. Like what? That rind has even more of that kickass amino acid (L-citrulline) than the melon flesh itself. So let’s get to crunchin. 

 

 

Watermelon helps our kidneys and heart? How?

3.) Once that supercool citrulline gets itself into you, it converts to arginine in your kidneys. So what’s the biggie about good ole arginine hanging out in your kidneys? Arginine’s a pretty key amino acid for helping you maintain nice heart and immune system health—I’d say that’s a winner! Plus, arginine also helps to pull ammonia and other icky toxins from your system.

So, next time you chew on watermelon, it’s no crime to keep going past the melon, rind and all…

 

How’s watermelon for easing inflammation?

4.) I love easing down inflammation–come on, who wouldn’t? And that priceless lycopene in watermelon helps to reduce free radicals–those nutjob atoms that like to bounce throughout our system, destroying our healthy cells.

5.) What else in watermelon calms inflammation? It’s called cucurbitacin E. What the heck is that? That’s a phytonutrient that helps to lower those pain and inflammation meters in our body–cool stuff!  

 

 

Should watermelon be ripe? If so, why?

6.) One thing–be sure that your watermelon is reasonably ripe. Not mushy (unless you dig it that way) but ripe. Why? Well, if your watermelon’s not ripe, and you cut it up when it’s still pretty white inside, then uh-oh. Yikes.

What’s wrong? Well, if it’s NOT ripe, then all of these amazing vitamins, minerals and amino acids–forget it.  Meaning in non-ripe watermelon, those nutrients are hardly there. A near no-show. Zip.

So again, please–be sure your watermelon is reasonably ripe before you dive in for all of that healing nutrition!