When it comes to summertime enjoyment, what can be better than eating watermelons – be it on the breakfast table, after supper on the porch or in the park among family gatherings. Sweet, juicy, thirst-quenching, refreshing – watermelons have it all you look for in a food on a hot summer day. Apart from that, watermelons have tremendous health benefits. Anyone who lives a healthy lifestyle should be sure to take advantage of every year when the season arises. The fruit is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C, and contains lycopene, a cancer-fighting carotenoid. Let's take a closer look at some of these health benefits this fruit has to offer.
Lycopene
Pink watermelon is a source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant called lycopene. These powerful antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause a great deal of damage. Scientific studies have shown that lycopene reduces the risk of prostate cancer and heart disease in people, especially men, who are most prone to these diseases. Men who eat a diet high in lycopene are much less likely to suffer a heart attack than men who don't.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is an important attribute to have in a healthy diet as it promotes chemicals in the brain that help people to cope with anxiety and panic, two psychological disorders that are on the rise in America today.
Vitamin C
If you thought oranges were the only fruit that could provide you with
Vitamin C, think again. Vitamin C is important not only for being healthy, but also for remaining attractive all your life. Vitamin C boosts the immune system so that you get sick less often. It also slows down aging and medical conditions such as cataract.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A works much like Vitamin C, in helping boost immunity, but it also helps your body fight off infection. It also prevents blindness.
As you can see, eating watermelon is practically the same as taking a multivitamin every morning, but with a much better taste.
More about watermelons
The scientific name for watermelon is Citrullis lanatus. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, the watermelon is related to the cantaloupe, squash and pumpkin, other plants that also grow on vines on the ground. Watermelons can be round, oblong or spherical in shape and feature thick green rinds that are often spotted or striped. They range in size from a few pounds to upward of ninety pounds. The fruit is so juicy because it's 92 percent water.
Watermelons are seasonal, which means that they are not available all year long, like fruits such as apples, which also means that when they are in season you should definitely take advantage.
Fresh watermelon is wonderful eaten on its own and is best at room temperature. Some people squeeze lemon juice, sprinkle liqueur, or use a dash of salt on the fruit to draw out the flavor.
How to select and store
When you go to the store to purchase one you want to try and find one that is ripe and ready to eat. The best way to do this is to knock on the outside of the rind. If you hear a hollow sound then melon is ready to eat, but if you hear solid thud put it back. The fruit is over ripe and you won't be getting very good flavor from it. Try to eat it within the first few days of getting it home. Everything about it is healthy, and in addition, it won't leave you feeling over stuffed if you eat too much.
Since the summer is approaching and weather is becoming warmer, don't forget taking watermelons home. Eat up and get the extra boost they will add to your healthy lifestyle.
