Here’s Why You Should Eat Watermelon (And Other Melons) Every Day

You can tell the competence of your doctor and hospital if they implemented watermelon in their hospitals from way back in November 2011.

Watermelon juice reverses hardening of the arteries  Nov. 2011

 If they have done nothing you need to fire them all starting with the board of directors. 9 years of incompetence is way too long. There is no acceptable excuse for your hospital DOING NOTHING.

 

Here’s Why You Should Eat Watermelon (And Other Melons) Every Day

Sweet, juicy, and delicious, melons make a great addition to any meal. Although melons often appear on the table during summer, you can eat them year-round. And you should if you want their many health benefits.
For instance, eating watermelon before or after a workout could improve your performance. The same fruit may prevent heart disease and soothe your skin. To learn all the health benefits of watermelon, read on. And if you’re not a watermelon fan, don’t worry; many other melons offer health benefits, too.

Can watermelon prevent cognitive decline? Read on to find out.

1. Watermelon Helps You Hydrate

As its name implies, watermelon is 92% water. According to the USDA’s National Nutrient Database, one cup of watermelon serves over half a cup of water, which is more than most other fruits. It’s not empty calories, either. Watermelon supplies fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, and magnesium.

Because of its high water content, watermelon has few calories per serving. Research has linked watermelon’s low-calorie density to lower weight. During a 2014 study published in Advances in Nutrition, researchers found that foods like watermelon keep you fuller for longer. The result is less weight gain and more hydration.

2. Watermelon Lowers Inflammation

Chronic diseases occur through inflammation in the body. Fortunately, watermelon has two antioxidants, vitamin C and lycopene, which fight inflammation. In 2018, British researchers added vitamin C to a lycopene-rich juice and fed it to participants. The juice reduced inflammation, increased antioxidants, and lowered the participants’ risk of chronic disease.

The American Cancer Society credits lycopene with having at least twice the antioxidant power of beta carotene. While other carotenoids are converted to vitamin A in the body, which weakens their anti-inflammatory properties, lycopene is not.

3. Watermelon Protects The Brain

There is some evidence that watermelon and its nutrients improve brain health. During an animal study published in Toxicology Reports, researchers found that watermelon juice protected rats’ brains and livers. Specifically, the juice guarded against oxidative stress caused by toxins in ethanol.

According to Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a professor of horticulture at North Carolina University, watermelon’s nutrients also help the brain. Lycopene and citrulline support blood flow, which feeds the brain with essential amino acids. Its antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, also slow down cognitive decline.

4. If You Have Sore Muscles, Eat Watermelon

Citrulline, an amino acid in watermelon, is sold as a supplement to relieve muscle soreness. But the body doesn’t absorb the supplement as well as it absorbs watermelon’s citrulline. According to 2013 research in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, watermelon juice helps muscles relax more than citrulline alone.

The study’s authors credit watermelon’s healthy compounds and anti-inflammatory properties. So far, this small study is the only one that relates watermelon to muscle soreness. Further research is being conducted on citrulline’s effects on exercise.

5. It Soothes And Protects The Skin

In Korea, people used to rub watermelon rinds on rashes or sunburns to heal them faster. This herbal remedy has some scientific backing. Watermelon contains several minerals that support skin health. “The vitamins A and C found in watermelon can help restore damaged skin after it’s exposed to sun, wind, or even stress,” says dermatologist Anne Guanche.

Remember the antioxidant lycopene? There’s some evidence that it helps your skin, too. In 2012, research in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research noted that beta-carotene and lycopene supplements guard the skin against sunburns.

6. Watermelon Is Good For Your Heart

Your diet is a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, and watermelon fits into a heart-healthy diet. In 2012, scientists from Purdue University and the University of Kentucky conducted an animal study on watermelon juice. They found that the fruit reduced plaque in the arteries and lowered cholesterol.

The researchers were building on previous studies that connected citrulline to lower blood pressure. As recently as 2019, studies have shown that watermelon’s compound citrulline may decrease blood pressure, which significantly reduces your risk of heart disease.

7. Eat More Melon, Work Out Harder

Because of its ability to alleviate muscle soreness, watermelon has been a favorite among athletes. But 2013 research in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found further benefits from watermelon. According to the study, watermelon eaters work out more intensely and recover faster.

The study’s authors credit L-citrulline, an essential compound that widens the blood vessels. Athletes who ate watermelon experienced better heart and muscle recovery 24 hours after their workout. Plus, watermelon reduced muscle fatigue and hydrated the athletes. You can’t go wrong pairing watermelon with a healthy workout.

8. It May Keep Your Eyes Sharp

There is some evidence that watermelon guards against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which worsens eyesight with age. According to research in the Archives of Ophthalmology, those who have low levels of lycopene are twice as likely to have AMD as they age. Later research in 2005 showed that lycopene is the only carotenoid that affects AMD.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board reports that watermelon has 15 to 20 mg of lycopene per two cups. That’s more than most other fruits. So if you want to protect your eyes against age-related blindness, eat more watermelon.

9. Keep Your Gut Healthy With Watermelon’s Fiber

An average wedge of watermelon contains just over one gram of fiber. While it may not sound like much, remember that most people eat more than one slice in one serving. It adds up. A registered dietitian at Health, Cynthia Sass, says that watermelon’s dietary fiber improves digestive health.

Although watermelon helps your gut during the day, it may not do so at night. Nutritionist Dr. Shilpa Arora does not recommend watermelon after 7 p.m. because it is acidic. It may delay your digestion overnight, leading to some stomach upset in the morning.

10. It Increases Libido

All the reasons your doctor should be prescribing you lots of sex in this post.

Sex, Marijuana and Baby Booms

Although watermelon usually appears in summer barbecues, some studies suggest that it might be more appropriate for Valentine’s Day. In 2008, researchers from Texas A&N University reported that watermelon has “Viagra-like effects.” Its amino acids relax blood vessels as Viagra does, but without any side effects.

This effect has many other benefits besides increasing libido. Improving your blood circulation also increases immunity, removes toxins from the body, and reduces blood pressure, according to the study. The researchers believe that watermelon could potentially help erectile dysfunction as well.

11. It Has Cancer-Fighting Nutrients

Although watermelon has not been directly related to fighting cancer, its many nutrients have. Most notably, lycopene has displayed anti-cancer properties. For instance, a 2014 scientific review of lycopene concluded that the nutrient might prevent cancer in the digestive system. Colon, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers have been observed to shy away from lycopene.

How does lycopene work? According to the Frontiers in Endocrinology, it interrupts insulin-like growth factors (IGF). IGF causes inflammation and cell division that, over time, may contribute to cancer. Fortunately, watermelon has higher lycopene levels than most other fruit.

12. Watermelon May Help Wounds Heal

Watermelons contain pantothenic acid, which has been shown to accelerate wound healing. In 2018, a study in the Turkish Journal of Biology reported that bitter melon extract healed wounds in rats more quickly. A year earlier, scientists found that this extract also cured diabetic wounds more quickly.

Watermelon’s amino acid citrulline also comes into play here. According to a 2007 scientific report from the USDA, citrulline helps cells divide quickly, which contributes to wound healing. Research participants who drank watermelon juice absorbed more citrulline in their bodies than those who took supplements.