Health Benefit of Watermelons
Watermelons belong to the
Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin, and
cucumber.A fully-ripened watermelon is typically 6 percent sugar and 91 percent
water by weight, so it is not surprising why a number of people may wonder
about its potential health benefits - apart from being a sweet thirst quencher
of course.
Over recent years there have been
a number of studies carried out to try and determine whether watermelon might
have health benefits, and there have been some very promising results.This MNT
Knowledge Center feature is part of a collection of articles on the health
benefits of popular foods. It includes a nutritional breakdown of the
watermelon, tips on how to store the fruit, and sections describing the fruit's
therapeutic properties, including its ability to improve male potency, prevent
cardiovascular disease, and relieve muscle soreness.
Watermelon's nutritional profile
Nutrition experts at UT
Southwestern Medical Center claim that watermelons are a "nutritional
award winner".Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT
Southwestern and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association,
said: "Watermelons are a great
fruit to help you hydrate and cool down in the summer heat. Also, since it's
mostly made up of water, pureed watermelon makes a refreshing drink." Despite
being mainly water and sugar, watermelons are actually a very good source of
vitamin C, (which provides protection against immune system deficiencies) and
vitamin A (which promotes good eyesight).The red flesh of a watermelon is also
a significant source of phytochemicals, in particular one known as lycopene.
Lycopene, which is also found in tomatoes, is a nutrient with proven
cancer-protection qualities
Watermelons can help prevent cardiovascular disease
Researchers at Florida State
University found that watermelon is effective at preventing prehypertension
(which can lead to cardiovascular disease). The study included nine
participants who all benefited from the amino acid L-citrulline/L-arginine from
watermelon extract - their aortic blood pressure lowered.The lead author of the
study, Professor Arturo Figueroa, said: "Watermelon is the richest edible
natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the
amino acid required for the formation of nitric oxide essential to the
regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pressure."
Watermelons may relieve muscle soreness
Eating watermelon could be an
effective means of alleviating the pain associated with muscle soreness. A
study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, revealed
that eating watermelon can help treat post-exercise muscle soreness because of
its high levels of L-citrulline.
Watermelons may improve male erectile function
A study conducted by researchers
at Texas A&M found that phytonutrients in watermelon can relax blood
vessels in the same way Viagra does. "Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which
relaxes blood vessels, having the same basic effect as Viagra, to treat
erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," according to Dr. Bhimu
Patil, director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in
College Station.
The authors of the study said:
"We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its
very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study."
