Domestication of the watermelon probably began in Northeast Africa more than four thousand years ago. Its sugary and juicy nature makes it an ideal summertime refreshment.
This enormous spherical fruit is covered with vivid green skin and contains juicy crimson meat. It's a great source of vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants and vitamin C. Here are some of the top health advantages of watermelon.
Keeps You Moisturized
To keep your body running smoothly, you need to drink enough water. Water is essential for various body activities, including temperature control, organ health, cellular nutrition delivery, and mental acuity.
Water is essential for optimum bodily function, and eating foods with a high water content may help you get enough of it. Watermelon is a fantastic option for getting your recommended eight glasses daily because it has 92% water.
Furthermore, because of its high water content, this melon has a low-calorie density – in other words, relatively few calories for its overall weight. Eating foods with low-calorie density, such as watermelon, may improve weight control by keeping you feeling full for longer.
Nutrient-Rich And Phytochemical-Rich
Watermelon is a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including A, C, and potassium. As a bonus, there are just 46 calories in a serving.
Additionally, it is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin E. Free radicals are unstable chemicals that may cause damage to your cells, and these substances help neutralize them. In the long run, this deterioration may cause diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Anticancer Effects
Lycopene and cucurbitacin E are the only two plant chemicals in watermelon that may have anticancer effects. While study results are varied, lycopene consumption may be connected with a decreased risk of cancer, such as prostate and colorectal cancers.
Lycopene is believed to operate by reducing blood levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a hormone that encourages cell proliferation. Notably, cancer occurs when cell division becomes unregulated.
In addition, cucurbitacin E may reduce tumour development by encouraging autophagy in malignant cells. Through autophagy, your body will naturally dispose of dead or malfunctioning cells. All the same, additional human study is essential.
Heart Health May Improve
Several components in watermelon may help heart health. Death from cardiovascular causes ranks first globally. It's worth mentioning that lifestyle variables like nutrition may lessen your risk of heart attack and stroke by decreasing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Research suggests that lycopene may help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also protect cells from the oxidative stress brought on by excessive cholesterol. Citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon, has been shown to elevate NO production in the body.
Blood pressure is reduced because nitric oxide causes blood vessels to dilate. Watermelon is a good source of nutrients for your heart, including magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, B6, and C, and lycopene.
Reduces Oxidative Stress And Inflammation
Many chronic disorders may be traced back to persistent inflammation. Watermelon contains antioxidants, lycopene, and vitamin C, which may reduce inflammation and oxidative damage.
C-reactive protein and oxidative stress were reduced in rats when watermelon powder was added to their poor diet, compared to animals that were given a placebo. Another trial offered 31 overweight patients with elevated inflammatory markers 500 mg of vitamin C twice daily for eight weeks.
They demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in inflammatory markers compared to the control group. Lycopene's antioxidant properties may potentially make it effective in preventing or slowing the development of Alzheimer's disease. The situation calls for more study, nevertheless.
May Prevent AMD
Lycopene, a watermelon chemical, may be good for your eyes. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye issue that can cause blindness in older persons. Although data is limited, lycopene's action as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory chemical may aid in the prevention and inhibition of AMD.
In vitro research on eye cells treated with lycopene discovered that the antioxidant reduced the cytotoxicity of inflammatory indicators. Remember that studies involving humans are essential.
Reduces Muscle Soreness
Watermelon contains the amino acid citrulline, which has been shown to increase exercise capacity and lessen muscle pain. It's also a supplement that you can buy. Aerobic performance was observed to be enhanced after taking citrulline for at least seven days daily, with the reviewers attributing this to the increased generation of nitric oxide.
The dilation of blood arteries facilitated by this chemical reduces the workload placed on the heart. Some research also shows eating watermelon itself, and not simply citrulline, may. The participants in an older trial were given either pure watermelon juice combined with citrulline or a placebo drink.
