Watermelon is one of the perfect treats for a hot summer day, but there’s more to the fruit than its sweetness or juiciness. It also comes with lots of health benefits, making the summer treat even sweeter. Read below to learn more about the top health benefits of watermelon.
- Hydration: Because watermelon is made up of about 92 percent water, it is a great source of hydration. Staying hydrated helps to improve your health in many different ways including temperature regulation, normal organ function, improved digestion, and more. Because watermelon is mostly water, it’s also a low calorie snack!
- Vitamins and Nutrients: Despite being low in calories, watermelon is packed with lots of vitamins and nutrients including potassium, magnesium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. It also contains antioxidants like Vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin that combat free radicals and the damage they can do to your cells.
- Anticancer effects: Plant compounds like lycopene and cucurbitacin E are thought to have anticancer effects. Lycopene is thought to lower blood levels of a hormone that promotes cell division and cucurbitacin E may slow tumor growth. However, more research is needed on the effects of these compounds on cancer.
- Heart health: The lycopene in watermelon may also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure which can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. The amino acid, citrulline, contained in watermelon may increase nitric oxide levels in your body, which in turn help your blood vessels expand, and lower blood pressure.
- Inflammation and oxidative stress: The antioxidants, lycopene, and Vitamin C in watermelon are thought to lower inflammation, a key driver for many diseases, and oxidative damage.
- Macular degeneration prevention: Yet another benefit of the lycopene found in watermelons and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties is the benefits it may provide for your eyes by preventing age-related macular degeneration.
- Healthy skin: TheVitamins A and C found in watermelon are both beneficial for your skin. Vitamin C helps your body to produce collagen, a protein that keeps your skin soft and hair strong. Vitamin A also helps to create and repair skin cells.