The Best Kept Secret
We all know it is important to eat our fruits and vegetables. But are some better than others? The reality is that every fruit and vegetable serves a different purpose. Some fruits and vegetables are ideal candidates for different treatments over others. So, what is watermelon good for? We all know it tastes like it should be bad for us. There was even a time period in which people stopped eating it as much based on it’s sugar content. It was that age old saying “something that tastes this good must be bad for you”. Well I am here to tell you that you don’t need to feel guilty about giving your kids this delicious treat and why you should keep some for your plate too.
Friend or Foe?
Over the years people’s stance on watermelon has been a constant back and forth. Is it good, is it bad. Enough is enough! Watermelon is and has always been our friend. Watermelon has an extremely high water content of about 92% making it one of the best ways to eat our water. For those of us unaware a great way to insure we stay hydrated is by consuming foods high in water content and watermelon is leading the pack on water content. Not only does it contain high amounts of water it also contains potassium and magnesium which are essential for rebalancing our electrolytes. Here’s the thing when the temperature goes up our bodies sweat to naturally cool us off. Sweat, however, is not composed of just water. Meaning we need more than just water put back into our systems. Potassium even helps prevent dehydration and cramping that can occur from depletion after excessive sweating.
Watermelon has Our Back
Watermelon does more than just keep us hydrated. It is high in lycopene which promotes good bone and heart health, while also acting as a powerful antioxidant. Watermelon is high in beta-carotene which aids in eye and skin health. It is high in phenolic which has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Watermelon contains high levels of Vitamin A, which promotes eye health, strengthens immune system, aids in growth and development, improving reproductive health, and increases production of red blood cells, skin, and bone formation. It has high amounts of Vitamin C that make it a great addition to improve our immune systems and slow down the effects of aging. Watermelon contains high amounts of Vitamin B6 and B1, which increase energy levels, promote normal nerve function, help us breakdown proteins, reduce memory loss and confusion by replenishing our thiamin levels. Thiamin is reduced when drinking alcohol which leads to hangovers making watermelon the best option to treat and prevent hangovers this summer! It also contains citrulline acid which converts to arginine. Arginine is needed to promote blood flow, improve heart health, and aid in erectile dysfunction.
Need it Now?
Adding watermelon into our daily nutrition is extremely easy due to the fact that it tastes amazing. There are tons of great recipes out there that use watermelon. Here is one of my summer favorites.
Ingredients
- Gluten Free Vegan
- -1 Ripe Peach Cut and Frozen
- -3 C Watermelon Cubed and Frozen
- -1 Coconut Bia Water
- -6 Mint Leaves
- -1 tsp Lime Juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into blender. Mix until desired texture has been reached.
- For added convenience put all fruit in freezer friendly bag and for future use.
- If you are looking to create an alcohol version I would suggest vanilla flavored vodka! Enjoy safely and have an amazing summer.
I can have all the watermelon I want? What a great prescription to get from a doctor! We’re definitely going to make the smoothie, well 2 kinds of smoothies, one for us adults, and one for the kids. Thanks, Dr. Dee, this is on the list for the backyard party next weekend..
You are totally welcome. You should try it grilled it takes on another flavor profile altogether and produces a meat like texture that is ideal for meatless Mondays! Hope you enjoy.