12 Benefits And Nutritional Properties Of Watermelon
Summer is here, and at this time of year eating fruit feels much more appealing Fruits are low-calorie foods with a high water content, so they help us stay well hydrated, which is especially important at this time of year when the heat is on.
Watermelon is a delicious food that also contains many health benefits. Regardless of the type of watermelon, in the following lines you will find some reasons why you should include this delicious food in your diet.
The benefits of watermelon are as follows.
1. Helps you stay hydrated
Being hydrated is vital for the proper functioning of our body and to keep us alive , that is why consuming watermelon, with 92% water, is a tasty way to hydrate. But not only that, but if we want to control calories, foods rich in water help us feel more satiated. This, together with its high fiber content, is ideal for losing weight.
2. Aphrodisiac food
Watermelon is an aphrodisiac food that increases the levels of nitric oxide in our body and libido , according to a study from the University of Texas. This occurs because citrulline, an amino acid relaxes blood vessels and is converted into arginine, which helps produce this compound. It’s like a natural Viagra.
Watermelon is a food rich in lycopene, which is a type of carotid found in vitamin A Its function is as an antioxidant, and it gives that reddish and orange color to many fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is associated with the prevention of different diseases: arteriosclerosis, prostate, breast, lung, bladder, ovarian, colon and pancreatic cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), cataracts and asthma.
4. Helps prevent cancer
As you see in the previous point, this fruit helps prevent cancer Not only is lycopene useful in this sense, but it is the most important compound, especially for those carcinogenic diseases of the digestive system.
This substance also helps reduce IGF or insulin-like growth factor that helps cancer cells develop. Vitamin E, present in this food, also inhibits the growth of tumor cells.
5. Helps improve vision
Vitamin A is also essential for our vision, as it promotes the development of retinal pigments and helps prevent macular degeneration and night blindness. This fruit, which contains lutein and zeaxanthin, has a protective effect on vision. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that could reduce the risk of developing cataracts.
6. Reduces muscle pain
Drinking watermelon juice after training is ideal for preventing muscle pain and reducing it if necessary This is due to L-citrulline, an amino acid that appears to protect against muscle pain. A study claims that consuming watermelon juice before your workouts reduces muscle soreness for up to 24 hours.
7. Prevents heart disease
Different studies have found that consuming watermelon prevents heart disease One of them highlights the role of this fruit in preventing heart attacks, thanks to the presence of citrulline and arginine. In fact, it is possible to find products with watermelon extract, and research has shown that people who consume them show significant improvements in blood pressure and heart stress.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide, which allows blood vessels to remain relaxed and open for blood flow, helping to lower blood pressure.
8. Helps lose weight
Watermelon helps to have a slimmer and healthier body, as it is a fruit that contains few calories and it is practically all water. According to research in the Journal of Nutrition, L-arginine speeds up metabolism and promotes fat loss.
9. Anti-inflammatory effect
As I have mentioned in previous points, this fruit is rich in lycopene which, in addition to the aforementioned benefits, is also a natural anti-inflammatory as many research indicates. Within the group of carotenoids, lycopene is the best in terms of positive effects on inflammation, even better than beta-carotene.
10. Improve the health of your skin
One of the important components of watermelon is vitamin C, essential for collagen synthesis This means your skin will look healthier. Likewise, vitamin A is very effective in treating wrinkles and sun spots, and is vital for a healthy tan. This vitamin is necessary for cell regeneration and protects against some skin diseases, such as psoriasis and vitiligo.
11. Improves hair health
But the presence of vitamin C and collagen are not only of vital importance for the skin, but also for the hair : it prevents hair loss, reduces dandruff, split ends, etc. Thanks to citrulline and, consequently, arginine, watermelon promotes hair growth. In addition, these compounds, which increase the presence of nitric oxide in the body, improve blood flow to different areas of the body, including the scalp.
12. Bone health
Again, lycopene has a beneficial effect on bones and keeps them strong, as it reduces oxidative stress and, therefore, the presence of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, two bone cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Watermelon is also rich in potassium, which together with calcium keeps bones and joints healthy.
