5 Reasons You Should Be Eating More Watermelon This Summer!

Watermelon and summer go hand in hand with July 4th events, picnics in the park, family reunions and church dinners. The sweet, refreshing taste of this juicy fruit alone is reason enough to eat it, but watermelon offers much more than a party for your taste buds. Check out the following five benefits of eating watermelon:’=

Keeps you Hydrated

Being outdoors in the hot summer sun can dehydrate you quickly if you don’t replenish your body with hydrating liquids. Thankfully, watermelon is 90% water and contains electrolytes that prevent muscle cramps and fatigue. Snacking on a delicious slice of watermelon while outside in the summer heat can provide you with the energy you need to keep having fun with sports or working in the garden and yard.

Pumps You with Nutrition

So, if a watermelon is 90% water, you may wonder what the remaining 10% contains. The answer is a packed load of nutrients like vitamins A, B, and C as well as fiber, copper, and magnesium. Don’t worry if you accidentally swallow some seeds because they are rich in zinc and iron. To sweeten the benefits even better, watermelon is low in calories, making it a great food to eat even if you are dieting.

Fights for Your Health

Like most fruits and vegetables, watermelon is high in antioxidants. This means when you consume a slice or two of this juicy plant flesh, an army of compounds explode through your bloodstream, searching for and destroying all those enemy free radicals that are causing inflammation and trying to break your body down. Loving watermelon means loving your health.

Protects Your Heart

You may have heard about how tomatoes are good for your heart because they contain the special antioxidant, lycopene. Well, watermelon is also rich in lycopene, which is found in many red and pink-hued vegetables and fruits. Therefore, a scarlet-red, ripe watermelon offers you a good shot of lycopene.

High levels of lycopene in the blood have been known to reduce blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, which can prevent strokes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, watermelon contains potassium, which is also needed for heart health.

Keeps You Looking Young and Beautiful

Everyone should love this one! Too much fun in the sun can damage your skin and hair, but eating plenty of fruits and vegetables high in vitamins A and C, such as watermelon, can help protect you. Vitamin A works to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays, while vitamin C promotes collagen growth, preventing wrinkles and the appearance of premature aging.

So, there you have five more reasons to eat watermelon this summer besides its luscious taste. Want some “cool” ideas for enjoying watermelon?

Freeze watermelon juice into ice cubes and add them to your drinks.
Puree watermelon and then pour it into a popsicle mold for a nice, cold treat.
Toss watermelon chunks into a salad with cucumbers and feta cheese.
Cut watermelon into triangle slices and make a fruit pizza, topped with whipped cream (or yogurt) and other pieces of fruit.

5 Reasons You Should Be Eating More Watermelon