Originally from the lands of Southern Africa, Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a sweet fruit closely related to cantaloupe and pumpkin. Let’s take a look at some nutritional facts & 5 health benefits of Watermelon.
Being exceptionally refreshing, watermelon contains mostly water and nutrients in bulk quantities. It also boasts of being a good source of a couple of excellent plant compounds- Citrulline and Lycopene. While these melons are generally eaten fresh, they can also be stored in refrigerators and crushed to make juices and shakes.
Watermelons contain no fat or proteins and are significantly low in calories. 91% of this fruit is water and 7-8% is carbohydrates. Apart from this, they have high nutritional content which adds up to one of the many health benefits of including Watermelon in our diet.
Health Benefits of Watermelon:
- Helps in Hydration,
- Anti-Inflammatory Property,
- Reduce Muscle Soreness,
- Good for Hair and Skin,
- High in Nutrition
Nutritional Facts of Watermelon (1)
The nutritional facts for 100 g of watermelon are:
- Calories: 30.0
- Total Carbohydrate: 7.5 g
- Total Fat: 0.2 g
- Protein: 0.6 g
- Vitamins: Vitamin A (569 IU), Vitamin C (8.1 mg), Folate (3.0 mcg)
- Minerals: Calcium (7.0 mg), Magnesium (10.0 mg), Phosphorus (11.0 mg), Potassium (112 mg)
- Water: 91.5g
Let’s Take A Deep Look at 5 Health Benefits Of Watermelon:
Helps in Hydration
Watermelons help with keeping the body hydrated. We can get 20-30 percent of our liquid needs through our eating routine alone, and avoiding excess calories at the same time. Additionally, their juice is loaded with great electrolytes. This can even provide assistance in averting heat stroke. A fruit with high water content makes you feel full which is again an added benefit to this.
Anti-Inflammatory Property
The Lycopene content of Watermelons aids to the anti-inflammatory property of the fruit. Lycopene acts as an inhibitor to various processes adding towards inflammation and serves as an anti-oxidant to the body. Cellular damage in the body due to stress, sickness, pollution, etc. can all lead to inflammation in the body. To avoid this situation, anti-inflammatory foods can always be a good help to reduce inflammation and provide immunity.
Reduce Muscle Soreness
The Citrulline content in Watermelons acts as a performance booster and aids in power production for intense exercises, cycling, and swimming. It also improves the circulation of blood in muscles, thus reducing soreness in them and improving the endurance of muscles during intensive workouts. An important fact is that Citrulline works best when it is eaten as an ingredient of Watermelons.
Good for Hair and Skin
Watermelon is known to be rich in Vitamins such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Both of these have an important role to play in our body. Vitamin C acts as a supporting factor to the body in the making of collagen which is a protein responsible for keeping the skin moisturized and hairs nourished.
On the other hand, Vitamin A is responsible for the repair of replacement of skin cells which again is important for having healthy skin. Deficiency of any of these vitamins in the body can lead to dry skin and hair loss problems.
High in Nutrition
Including amino acids such as Citrulline, Watermelons also have a significant content of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A and C, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin B1, B5, and B6.
Vitamin A and C are responsible to maintain healthy skin and scalp in our body. Potassium helps in regulating neuron signals, maintaining proper fluid balance and assists in muscle contraction.
Magnesium is important for maintaining a strong immune system. Also, it keeps a check on the glucose level in the body. Vitamin B1, B5, and B6 are important due to their capability to boost the metabolism of the body and keeping energy levels high. It also regulates the efficient functioning of the brain.
The Bottom Line
Watermelon is exceptionally a healthy addition to our diet. Its high water content makes the body capable of withstanding adverse climate conditions. Significant quantities of some important vitamins and minerals make it a healthy choice for people who prefer low-calorie food. Above all, this sweet fruit surely presents itself as a great healthy dessert!