We know it tastes great during the summer and has been infused in a number of drinks, but there is so much more to watermelon than you know.
Before we get into that, do you know how to pick one? Here are a couple of hints:
First, look for the yellow spot. Watermelons develop a splotch where they rest on the ground. When this splotch is creamy yellow, it’s ripe.
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Then give it a thump. Tap the underbelly of the watermelon. A ripe one will have a deep hollow sound. Under-ripe or over-ripe melons will sound dull.
Now, check out 5 of watermelon facts that prove it is truly one of nature's most powerful foods:
1. Watermelon has nearly no fat. Unlike other fruits and veggies (yes some fruits and veggies have fat), watermelon only tops out around 80 calories and has virtually no fat per serving. So, go ahead. eat more watermelon. It's better for you than you think. Just keep reading…
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2. Watermelon juice may relieve muscle soreness.
A Spanish study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that drinking watermelon juice can actually be quite soothing after a grueling workout. Athletes who consumed a little more than 16 ounces an hour before exercise had less muscle soreness and a lower heart rate within a day. That may be because watermelon contains a natural substance called citrulline that’s been tied to improved artery function and lower blood pressure.
3. Watermelon a fruit AND a vegetable.
Talk about an overachiever. Like most fruits, watermelon is the product of a seed-producing plant and has a signature sweet taste. But it can be traced back to the squash, pumpkin, and cucumber family known as Cucurbitaceae. Remember how you can eat the rind? The dual nature of watermelon makes it all edible, so there’s no excuse to leave any part behind.
4. Watermelon produces cancer-fighting alkaline. Watermelons have an alkaline-forming effect in the body when fully ripe. Eating lots of alkaline-forming foods (fresh, ripe, fruit and vegetables) can help reduce your risk of developing disease and illness caused by a high-acid diet (namely, meat, eggs and dairy).
5. Watermelon is nature's viagra. Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction may benefit from drinking watermelon juice, "nature’s Viagra," to improve blood flow to the penis without the side effects of the blue pill. In 2008, a team of researchers at Texas A&M found ingredients in watermelon that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels may even increase libido. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it,” said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station. Although watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, it can give Viagra-like effects without the drug’s side effects.
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