The Wonders of Watermelon

Source http://refineryfitnesspdx.com/the-wonders-of-watermelon/

I bought my first watermelon of the season yesterday.  Yum!  So tasty!  I love this time of the year when fresh, yummy watermelon begins to appear in the grocery stores.  I grew up in the South and cold watermelon was a nightly treat on those hot summer nights.  As a kid, I just knew that they tasted good.  Now as an adult, I realize the serious health benefits that ripe, red flesh can bring.

Even though watermelons are almost 92% water, they are still loaded with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.   It is a  fat-free,  low  sodium, 40 calories per cup hydration promoting treat.   That bright red color we all crave in watermelon comes from the anti oxidant lycopene.  Lycopene has been linked with heart health, bone health, prostate cancer prevention and is anti-inflammatory.

The red flesh of the watermelon is not the only healthy part.  The white rind is loaded with the amino acid citrulline  which promotes blood flow, leading to cardiovascular health and  improved circulation.  The rind also has blood-building chlorophyll and many find that eating the rind can help with the swelling of the bodies extremities that often comes with the summer heat.

A cup of watermelon contains nearly one-quarter of your recommended daily in…

Source http://refineryfitnesspdx.com/the-wonders-of-watermelon/

I bought my first watermelon of the season yesterday.  Yum!  So tasty!  I love this time of the year when fresh, yummy watermelon begins to appear in the grocery stores.  I grew up in the South and cold watermelon was a nightly treat on those hot summer nights.  As a kid, I just knew that they tasted good.  Now as an adult, I realize the serious health benefits that ripe, red flesh can bring.

Even though watermelons are almost 92% water, they are still loaded with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.   It is a  fat-free,  low  sodium, 40 calories per cup hydration promoting treat.   That bright red color we all crave in watermelon comes from the anti oxidant lycopene.  Lycopene has been linked with heart health, bone health, prostate cancer prevention and is anti-inflammatory.

The red flesh of the watermelon is not the only healthy part.  The white rind is loaded with the amino acid citrulline  which promotes blood flow, leading to cardiovascular health and  improved circulation.  The rind also has blood-building chlorophyll and many find that eating the rind can help with the swelling of the bodies extremities that often comes with the summer heat.

A cup of watermelon contains nearly one-quarter of your recommended daily in…

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