BENEFITS OF WATERMELON

Watermelon is a fruit that contains mostly water, but it is full of nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids, protein,fat, carbohydrates,fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, Calcium, Phosphorus and Potassium. It can be used in the treatment of the following:-

1.It contains vitamin  A and C  both of which are  needed for resistance against infections
2. It is good for weight control. And because of it's low sugar content, it is highly  recommended as a diet supplement for diabetic patients.
3. It can be used to correct  Kidney disorder, it takes care of early stages of kidney failure.


4. It is very effective in the treatment of constipation, it is a very good laxative, it cleanses the intestines.
5. It enhances the flow of urine
6. Diets rich in lycopene may help protect against heart disease.

Cancer: As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C as well as other antioxidants, watermelon can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Lycopene intake has been linked with a decreased risk of prostate cancer prevention in several studies.

Inflammation: Choline is a very important and versatile nutrient in watermelon that aids our bodies in sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline also helps to maintain the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, assists in the absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

Asthma prevention: The risks for developing asthma are lower in people who consume a high amount of certain nutrients. One of these nutrients is vitamin C, found in many fruits and vegetables including watermelon.

Blood pressure: A study published by the American Journal of Hypertension found that watermelon extract supplementation reduced ankle blood pressure, brachial blood pressure and carotid wave reflection in obese middle-aged adults with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension and that watermelon extract improved arterial function.

Hydration: Made up of 92% water and full of important electrolytes, watermelon is a great snack to have on hand during the hot summer months to prevent dehydration.

Muscle soreness: Researchers believe that amino acid L-citrulline contained in watermelon helps to improve recovery time following exercise in athletes. Watermelon and watermelon juice have been shown to reduce muscle soreness

Skin: The vitamin A in Watermelon is also great for your skin, it helps to keep your hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.
Potential health risks.

NOTE:

1. Although there are no known health risks associated with eating watermelon.It is the total diet or overall eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and achieving good health. It is better to eat a diet with variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health.

2. Recent studies have confirmed that eating a fully ripe watermelon can really pay off in terms of nutrient benefits. For example, research has shown that the biggest jump in lycopene content occurs at the time when a watermelon's flesh turns from white-pink to pink.

Yet when that flesh continues to ripen, resulting in a color change from pink to red, the lycopene content becomes even more concentrated. Prior to ripening, when the flesh of a watermelon is primarily white in color, its beta-carotene content is near zero.

Even when allowed to ripen to the white-pink stage, a watermelon still contains very little of its eventual beta-carotene content. But as it moves from white-pink to pink to red, the beta-carotene content of a watermelon steadily increases. Like lycopene and beta-carotene, total phenolic antioxidants in a watermelon also increase consistently during ripening, all the way up until the appearance of fully red flesh.