Summertime is when watermelon is truly in season. It is an awesome fruit to really help love and nourish your body! What wonderful nutrients the watermelon has. It was created to harvest in summer so we could obtain the natural hydration, vitamins & minerals that is has to offer us.
If you can find old fashioned watermelon these days with seeds, consider yourself lucky. Any seedless watermelon is actually a HYBRID plant, not a GMO product.
In order to make a seedless watermelon, the traditional diploid melons number of chromosomes are doubled using a chemical called colchicine. Then when the colchicine is used to double, it creates four sets of chromosomes. They call this a tetraploid plant. Then they pollinate the tetraploid plant with the original watermelon used and it comes out seedless.
Most people are only familiar with eating the juicy red/pink flesh and spitting out the seeds. Did you know that a watermelon is actually considered a fruit and a vegetable? It is because every single part of the watermelon can be eaten, including the rind.
1. Vitamins & Nutrients:
The reddish pink fleshy part huge amounts of Vitamins, A, B6, C, antioxidants, potassium and amino acids such as and lycopene. 1 cup of watermelon has 1.5 times the amount of lycopene than a whole tomato. Lycopene helps to protect the body from damage that harmful pesticides cause to us. It also helps to slow down cancer cells. It also helps to reduce severe inflammation and sore muscles. Great for a work out drink or snack!
2. Healthy Skin Elasticity and Strong Nails
Who doesn’t want to look younger? The Vitamin A in watermelon helps the skin and nails and by creating a healthy growth of new collagen and elastin.
3. Immune Builder and Cancer Fighting
The white & green part of the rind is also full of nutrients. It has more citrulline amino acid than even the red flesh. Citrulline converts to arginine in the kidneys which helps the heart and boosts the immune system. It also helps the prostate and helps to prevent cancer.
Woohoo, who knew watermelon was a cancer fighting food! When I had cancer, no wonder my body craved yummy watermelon juice. I will share the recipe with you at the end of the blog.
The watermelon seeds are also the BOMB! They are so full of nutrients. These yummy seeds contain fiber, iron, protein and zinc. You can throw them into your blender for a smoothie or soup. They are also pretty delicious if soaked in sea salt water and dehydrate.
One of the rules of eating melons, especially watermelon is that you should “Eat it Alone, or Leave it Alone” That is because it is absorbed best on an empty stomach and allows the enzymes to work best.
My favorite cleansing juice is Watermelon, Lemon and Ginger. This is an amazing for weight loss. You will need a juicer, high speed blender or food processor.
Watermelon, Lemon, Ginger Juice
¼ of Small Watermelon with rind
1 Lemon or 2 small limes
1 knob of fresh ginger
- Wash watermelon rind, and cut into small slices. If desired, discard seeds and set them aside to dehydrate or just add them in the juice for extra nutrients.
- Peel lemon or limes, leaving as much white pith as possible, cut into quarters.
- Juice whole lemon first, then the watermelon with rind, ginger, and watermelon again.
