Eating healthy (Watermelon)

Watermelon is a tasty, thirst-quenching fruit that many people enjoy in the heat of summer.

It has a very high-water content and provides nutrients like lycopene, citrulline, and vitamins A and C.

Studies suggest that this sweet, red melon may even boost heart health, reduce muscle soreness, and decrease inflammation, though more research is needed.

This large round fruit has a green rind and bright red flesh. It’s also packed with nutrients, including antioxidants and vitamins A and C.

Here are 9 of the top health benefits of watermelon.






1. Helps you stay hydrated

Watermelon’s high water content may help keep you hydrated — which supports your overall health — as well as feeling full.

2. Packed with nutrients and beneficial plant compounds

Watermelon boasts numerous nutrients, including a substantial amount of vitamins A and C. It also offers antioxidants like lycopene and cucurbitacin E.

3. May have anticancer effects

Several plant compounds found in watermelon, including lycopene and cucurbitacin E, have possible anticancer effects. Additionally, cucurbitacin E may inhibit tumor growth by promoting the autophagy of cancer cells. Autophagy is the process by which your body removes damaged cells.


4. May improve heart health

Several nutrients in watermelon may support heart health. Studies suggest that lycopene may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also help prevent oxidative damage caused by high cholesterol levels.

Watermelon also contains citrulline, an amino acid that may increase nitric oxide levels in your body. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels expand, which lowers blood pressure.

5. May reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

Inflammation is a key driver of many chronic diseases.

The combination of antioxidants, lycopene, and vitamin C in watermelon may help lower inflammation and oxidative damage. As an antioxidant lycopene may also delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research is needed.

6. May help prevent macular degeneration

The watermelon compound lycopene may have benefits for your eyes.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye problem that can cause blindness in older adults. Lycopene may help prevent AMD due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Still, further studies are needed.

7. May relieve muscle soreness

Citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon, may improve exercise performance and reduce muscle soreness. One older study gave athletes plain watermelon juice, watermelon juice mixed with citrulline, or a control drink. Both watermelon drinks led to less muscle soreness and quicker heart rate recovery than the control drink.

8. May aid skin health

Vitamins A and C, which are found in watermelon, are important for skin health.

Vitamin C — either when eaten or applied topically — helps your body make collagen, a protein that keeps your skin supple and your hair strong. Vitamin A is also important for healthy skin since it helps create and repair skin cells

In one review, animals with vitamin A deficiency had poorer wound healing than those fed a nutritionally complete diet.

9. May improve digestion

Watermelon contains plenty of water and a small amount of fiber, both of which are necessary for healthy digestion. Fiber helps keep your bowels regular, while water moves waste through your digestive tract more efficiently.

culled from Healthline.

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