13 Healthy Reasons To Eat Watermelon Every Day
June 21, 2014
Watermelons are the perfect summer food. They are delicious, low in calories, nutrient dense and super hydrating. Making watermelons part of your daily diet is not only a delicious thing to do but will give you tons of benefits for overall health. These benefits range for improving your heart health to boosting your brain and reviving your immune system. When I previously wrote mainly about the cleansing properties of watermelon in my previous article how to use watermelon as a medicine, I’ve discovered since many more reasons to eat watermelon.
Read on and discover 13 amazing reasons why you should eat watermelons every day.
1. Healthy heart
Eating large amounts of watermelon improves your cardiac functions. Watermelons contain high levels of a remarkable antioxidant called lycopene (hence its red color). Lycopene keeps your heart young and avoids damage done by free radicals. Next to lycopene, watermelons contain high levels of potassium which cut back the risk of a heart attack, help to reduce cholesterol, improve blood flow, and regulate your heart beat. Lycopene is one of the antioxidants mentioned in my previous article about the 9 amazing antioxidants for great health.
2. Strong bones
Dietary lycopene (also found in tomatoes) has been recognized to promote healthy bones. This powerful antioxidant reduces the activity of bone cells involved in the development of osteoporosis. And its high potassium levels help to retain calcium, which keeps your bones and joints healthy and strong. You may also want to read about these 4 steps to prevent osteoporosis.
3. Boost immune system and speeds-up wound healing
Watermelon contains high levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C strengthens your immune system and protects your body against free radicals and oxidative stress. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the healing of wounds. The enzymes involved in collagen production need vitamin C. So if your wounds aren’t healing as they should, increase your intake of vitamin C rich foods such as watermelons and citrus fruits. Find here more natural ways to boost your immune system.
4. Aids weight loss
Watermelon contains around 90% water and is very low in calories, making it a great fruit for people who want to lose weight. But its low calorie content is not the only reason why you should eat watermelons regularly to lose weight. Citrulline, also found in watermelons, gets converted into arginine which is an amino acid that has fat burning effect. Also read here about 12 simple tweaks for weight loss and great health.
5. Anti-inflammatory properties
Watermelons are rich in flavonoids, carotenoids (like lycopene), and triterpenoids. Especially lycopene has shown some great results in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals. Make sure to pick ripe watermelons as they have higher amounts of these anti-inflammatory compounds. Find here more anti inflammatory foods.
6. Prevents cancer
Again it is lycopene who steals the show. This powerful carotenoid has been linked to reduce the risk of prostate, breast, lung, uterus, and colon cancer. Find here more foods that protect against cancer development.
7. Alkalize your body
These days our diets are full of acid producing foods (meat, dairy, baked goods, processed foods, and fast foods). High acidic diets have been linked to weight gain and an increased risk of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart diseases. Ripe watermelons are very alkaline and help your body to neutralize these harmful and damaging acids.
8. Healthy Muscles and Nerves
Watermelon is a good sources of potassium and citrulline to keep your muscles and nerves working properly. It controls the contraction of your muscles and avoids muscle soreness after tough workouts. Our body converts citrulline to arginine, which helps to relax blood vessels and improves circulation.
9. Improves vision
Eating plenty of watermelon is good for your eye health, due to its high levels of antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamin-C, lutein, and zeaxanthin. They will protect your eyes against age-related issues like night blindness, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Find here more information about preventing eyesight problems and improving vision naturally.
10. Skin and hair
Watermelon contains a good amount of beta-carotene, which gets converted to vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in the sebum production and cell growth to keep your skin and hair healthy and hydrated. Find here the top 8 vitamins and nutrients that are essential for healthy skin.
11. Natural Viagra
Watermelons work as a natural Viagra. They boost libido and improve circulation. According to a Texas A&M University study, the citrulline in watermelons helps to relax blood vessels in a similar way than what happens when men take Viagra.
12. Hydrates your body
Watermelons are around 90% water and full of beneficial electrolytes. So eating watermelons on a daily basis may help prevent dehydration, especially in the hot summer months.
13. Makes your brain sharper and improves your mood
Watermelons contain a good amount of vitamin B6. B6 is needed for the production of several chemicals in our brain that are responsible for our mood and behavior (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and gamma-amino butyric acid, or GABA). Imbalances can result in mood swings, anxiety, depression and Parkinson disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, low levels of B6 may also play a role in reduced short-term memory, making watermelon the perfect snack for students. Find here more foods to improve your memory.
FYI: Eat the seeds as well!
Most people I know don’t eat the seeds of watermelons or opt for seedless watermelons… and that’s actually a shame. The seeds are a rich source of protein and have their own beneficial phytonutrients to keep your body healthy.
While for many people these seedless watermelons may be more convenient, keep in mind that these can’t reproduce without human intervention. So it’s another good reason to choose the natural seeded varieties.
Red fruits and vegetables are rich in lycopene which is an effective antioxidant to protect the body against various ailments. Read here why it’s so important to eat multiple colored fruits and vegetables:
