Watermelon - A Refreshing And Useful Summer Fruit

Who can imagine summer without the beach, the sea and a piece of juicy watermelon. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a type of fruit vegetable, known and valued for its taste since ancient times.


There are over 1200 varieties of watermelon, but only about 60 species are suitable for consumption.


Watermelon is the fruit with the highest water content - between 80 and 92% by weight and depending on the variety, which makes it extremely refreshing and suitable for hot summer days food when the risk of dehydration is high. Due to increased sweating during the summer months, the body loses a lot of sodium and potassium, which can be compensated by eating a few pieces of fruit.

 

The content of citrulline in some of the varieties (mainly in the yellow and fleshy species) has a "cooling" effect on the body, as this substance leads to improved activity of the urinary system and the excretion of harmful substances in the urine.

 

In addition to the high water content, watermelons are rich in the antioxidants ascorbic acid, carotene, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin, which strengthen and rejuvenate the body, and some of them have anti-cancer effects. Watermelon contains 6 - 12% easily digestible sugars, 1-2% pectin, 1.5% cellulose, carotene, vitamins - A, B1, B3, C, sodium salts, calcium, iron, magnesium and copper.

 

Watermelon also has a high content of potassium , which helps regulate heart function and normalize blood pressure. Consumption of watermelon is recommended for angina, hypertension and cardiovascular problems.

 

It is also a good source of fiber , helping to maintain the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the risk of colon cancer. Due to its magnesium and fine cellulose , watermelon is suitable for people with an irregular stomach. In addition to regulating peristalsis, it stimulates the secretion of bile, which improves digestion.

 

Watermelon seeds contain cucurbocitrin , which helps lower blood pressure and improve kidney function.

 

Watermelon is one of the richest in folic acid (or vitamin B9) products, without which the human body can not develop normally.

 

The content of natural antioxidants is also high , which have a proven protective effect against a number of oncological diseases, allergies and asthma, rheumatoid problems.

 

Well-ripened red watermelon contains lycopene , a powerful antioxidant, a carotenoid that neutralizes free radicals responsible for the oxidation of cholesterol and its accumulation on the walls of blood vessels. This property makes it a suitable tool in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer. The content of lycopene in watermelon, compared to all other fruits and vegetables, is the highest.

 

Watermelon is a good source of thiamine, potassium, sodium and magnesium, which are involved in basic physiological processes in the body.

 

The refreshing fruit has a low sugar content, which is approximately 5% of that of an apple. 1 00 grams of the product contain from 30-40 to 80 calories , depending on the variety.
 

Watermelon contains absolutely no fat and cholesterol, which makes it extremely suitable for weight loss.

 

Although watermelon contains a number of beneficial substances for the body, they are not in sufficient quantity to supply the body with the required daily dose. For this reason, nutritionists are adamant that watermelon is not suitable for long diets , but only for 1-2 unloading days.