Benefits Of Watermelon: Watermelon is a good source of antioxidants and nutrients. In addition to supporting hydration, it may also promote many aspects of health.
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Benefits Of Watermelon, Watermelon is centuries old fruit that is juicy and sweet, and many view it as a perfect treat to quench your thirst during summer heat.
With a bright red flesh and little seeds embedded throughout, watermelon is packed with a plethora of nutrients and antioxidants that include vitamins A and C.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Here are some of the top health benefits of watermelon.
1. Stay Hydrated
Benefits Of Watermelon, Staying hydrated is important for your body to function properly.
Body temperature regulation, normal organ function, nutrient delivery to cells, and alertness are only some of the bodily processes that rely on adequate hydration.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Eating foods with a high water content may help give your body the water it needs to function properly. Since watermelon is mostly water, it can serve as a good choice for daily water intake.
That water content also means this melon has a low calorie density — in other words, very few calories for its total weight. Eating foods with low calorie densities like watermelon may help with weight management by keeping you feeling full for longer.
2. Free In Nutrients
Benefits Of Watermelon, Watermelon contains a variety of nutrients, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C. It’s also relatively low in calories.
Here are the nutrients in 1 cup (152 grams) of raw, diced watermelon:
Calories: 46
Carbs: 11.5 grams
Fiber: 0.6 grams
Sugar: 9.4 grams
Protein: 0.9 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Vitamin A: 5% of the Daily Value (DV)
Vitamin C: 14% of the DV
Potassium: 4% of the DV
Magnesium: 4% of the DV
Benefits Of Watermelon, Watermelon is also a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that may improve exercise performance.
Plus, it boasts antioxidants, including vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin E, all of which are beneficial for your health in watermelon as well as other food sources.
Benefits Of Watermelon, These compounds help combat free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may damage your cells if they accumulate in your body. Over time, this damage may lead to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
3. Anti-Cancer
Benefits Of Watermelon, Several plant compounds found in watermelon, including lycopene and cucurbitacin E, may have possible anticancer effects.
While study results are mixed, lycopene intake may be associated with a lower risk of some types of cancer, such as prostate and colorectal cancers.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Lycopene is believed to work by lowering blood levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a hormone that promotes cell division. Notably, cancer forms when cell division becomes uncontrollable.
Additionally, cucurbitacin E may inhibit tumor growth by promoting your body’s process of destroying and removing cancer cells.
Benefits Of Watermelon, All the same, further human research is necessary.
4. Improve Heart Health
Benefits Of Watermelon, Several nutrients in watermelon may support heart health.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Lifestyle factors, including the foods you eat, may lower your risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Research suggests that lycopene may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, both key in cardiovascular health.
Watermelon also contains citrulline, an amino acid that may increase nitric oxide levels in your body and help your blood vessels expand to lower blood pressure.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Other vitamins and minerals in watermelon include magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, and C — all of which are healthy and can help your heart and overall health.
5. Reduce Inflammation And Oxidative Stress
Benefits Of Watermelon, 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.
Benefits Of Watermelon, This animal study noted that watermelon powder given to rats to supplement an unhealthy diet developed less oxidative stress and lower levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein than those in the control group.
Additionally, an 8-week study gave 31 people with obesity and high inflammatory markers 500 mg of vitamin C twice daily. They showed a significant decrease in inflammatory markers compared with the control group.
Benefits Of Watermelon, As an antioxidant, lycopene may also delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. But more research is needed on that topic.
6. Benefits For Bones And Joints
Benefits Of Watermelon, Somewhat connected to the effects on inflammation in your body, watermelon may also benefit your bones and joint health.
The fruit contains a natural pigment called beta-cryptoxanthin, which may protect your joints from inflammation. Though it’s limited, research even indicates that over time, less inflammation could help protect you from developing conditions such as osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis.
7. Prevent Macular Degeneration
Benefits Of Watermelon, 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.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Lycopene’s role as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound may help prevent and inhibit AMD, though research is limited. This study that treated eye cells with lycopene found that it decreased the capacity of inflammatory markers to damage cells.
8. May Relieve Muscle Soreness
Benefits Of Watermelon, Citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon, may have benefits that include improving exercise performance and reducing muscle soreness.
It’s also available as a supplement.
Benefits Of Watermelon, One review found that regular intake of citrulline for at least 7 days improved aerobic performance by increasing the body’s production of nitric oxide, which helps expand blood vessels so that your heart doesn’t need to work as hard to pump blood through your body.
What’s more, some evidence suggests that watermelon itself — not just citrulline — may aid your body after exercise.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Still, more research is needed.
9. Skin Health
Benefits Of Watermelon, 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.
Benefits Of Watermelon, A higher intake of vitamin C from food or supplements may decrease your chances of developing wrinkles and dry skin.
Vitamin A is also important for healthy skin since it helps create and repair skin cells.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Bear in mind that further studies on watermelon specifically are needed.
10. Helping Digestion
Benefits Of Watermelon, Watermelon contains plenty of water and a small amount of fiber, both of which are necessary for healthy digestion.
Benefits Of Watermelon, Fiber helps keep your bowels regular, while water more efficiently moves waste through your digestive tract.
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