In this past organic produce delivery there was a little watermelon. They call them personal watermelons. They are so cute. I decided to slice it open, cut it up, and put it in the fridge. Wow. It is a very good melon. Since watermelons have so much water in them I don’t think of them as having much nutritional value, but a quick internet search shows that they aren’t just water.
Red and pink fruits and veggies contain lycopene which is an antioxidant. Studies suggest it can help reduce the risks of getting asthma and cancer. Antioxidants help fight the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Watermelon may help protect against heart disease, while a study showed a supplement of watermelon extract helped with high blood pressure. Lycopene is also thought to help act as a sunscreen. With watermelon being over 90% water, it can help keep things moving in the digestive system.
Vitamin A contained in watermelon can help your skin and eyes. While Choline, an essential nutrient that is naturally present in some foods, helps with metabolism, among other things, and may help with chronic inflammation. And beta-cryptoxanthin may help protect against inflammation.
According to the International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences watermelon is high in protein, magnesium, and vitamin B.
Nutrition facts
Serving size: 2 cups diced (10 oz / 280 g)
Calories: 80 (Calories from Fat 0)
Total Fat: 0g
Total Carbohydrate: 21g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 20g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Potassium: 270mg
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 30%
Vitamin C: 25%
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 4%
Percent Daily Values (%DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
I have a post where I suggest adding watermelon to you salad greens, specifically, arugula
Information also says that while watermelon might seem high in carbohydrates, is has a glycemic index (GI) value of 80 and its glycemic load is a 5. So it is not a bad sweet.
I know two people who don’t like watermelon and I find that very odd. I pretty much think EVERYONE likes watermelon. These benefits seem to make it a good snack.
What do you think? Do you like watermelon? Do you cook with it? How do you eat it?
Terre Pruitt's Blog 