Benefits of Watermelon
Benefits of Watermelon: Watermelon is an egg-shaped or spherical fruit of considerable dimensions. Its shell varies in colour, from pale to dark green, sometimes having stripes of two shades of green. The pulp is ordinarily deep red, pink or yellow and contains multiple seeds inside, although some do not have these seeds.
That this fruit is water and little else is a legend that must be banished.
Unmistakable aroma
It crunches in the mouth, and it fills with a sweet liquid with an unmistakable aroma. They is a food to taste, but above all to be satisfied. It provides, yes, a good dose of water but accompanied by surprising nutrients and beneficial substances that remain practically only found in watermelon.
There are almost 1,200 varieties of watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) in the world, a cucurbit plant, such as melon, pumpkin, zucchini or cucumber. Its origin is in Africa, probably in present-day Namibia, where the most incredible variety of species of this creeping plant still grows in the wild.
There is evidence that they were cultivated four thousand years ago in the Nile Valley. About a thousand years ago, the first ones reached Asia, and 700 years ago, Europe.
Today the world’s foremost producer is, by far, China, which harvests almost 70 of the 140 million tons grown in the world. The remaining half remains divided between Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Brazil and the United States, among other countries.
It came to the Iberian Peninsula with the Arabs, who called it sandiyyah, a modification of the classical Arabic niyyah, which refers to a fertile region of Pakistan: Sind. Today it is grown mainly in Andalusia and in the Levante area, where it flowers between June and July.
Watermelon Properties
It is a fruit with a very excellent water content (250 g of watermelon is equivalent to 220-230 g of water), which makes it a perfect fruit to quench thirst in the warmer months of the year.
And also, it provides a small dose of energy ( 32 calories / 100 g ) in generous quantities in any hypocaloric diet.
It provides a discrete amount of vitamin C (10 mg / 100 g), but toward cover 20% of the daily wants of this vitamin, it is enough to consume only 45 calories, thanks to the abundant water that this fruit contains (92% of its weight ).
It is also a basis of beta-carotene or provitamin A. Yellow varieties contain a higher concentration. Still, a 200 g serving of red watermelon (one slice) provides 605 mcg, representing 23% of the daily vitamin A needs.
The effect of beta-carotene in this sense remains multiplied when combined with lycopene. In 100 g of watermelon, there is 4,532 mcg of lycopene. We must also add the anti-inflammatory effect of triterpene cucurbitacin E.
It also contains vitamins E and B group.
It is worth noting its modest but interesting calcium content, and the same can remain said for iron.
The influence of magnesium and potassium explains the virtues of this fruit to replace losses of mineral salts.
It contains little fibre, and its fats are minimal.
Watermelon Benefits
Watermelon has cleansing properties and causes a feeling of satiety that can be useful in weight-loss diets.
Cardiovascular Prevention
The mixture of vitamin C, beta-carotene and lycopene makes watermelon a food that prevents cardiovascular diseases, cancer and many chronic and degenerative diseases.
Lowers Blood Pressure
The diuretic effect of water and citrulline in watermelon is enhances by its potassium content (112 mg in 100 g), a mineral that helps control blood pressure, regulates the heartbeat and probably helps prevent heart attacks.
To Lose Weight
It remain highly recommended, in addition to treating obesity, for kidney and urinary tract problems.
Help for Man
When watermelon remains eaten, citrulline, an amino acid present in this fruit, remain converted to the amino acid arginine. Which enhances nitric oxide production, relaxing blood vessels, increasing blood flow, and positively affecting erectile function in men.
Of course, it is necessary to eat a good amount a day (between 400 g and 1 kg). So that the blood level of arginine increases from 12 to 22%. On the other hand, some studies associate watermelon citrulline and arginine with advantages in type 2 diabetes and obesity.
On the other hand, chewing seeds are suitable for the prostate’s health due to trace elements. Such as copper, manganese, and zinc.
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