Watermelon is one of the top choices on a hot summer day.Filled with water and nutrients, the juicy watermelon is enjoyed by both adults and children, and even many animals. Although a favorite during warm weather, this fruit is available all year round in many places.Watermelon is known as Citrullus lanatus in scientific terms. It belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae, along with honeydew, cucumber, and cantaloupe. It is a fruit that is produced worldwide with hundreds of different varieties. Watermelon is indigenous to northeast Africa. Citron melon found in southern Africa can be considered one of the watermelon ancestors. Moreover, the seeds of wild watermelon were found in Uan Muhuggiag, a prehistoric site in Libya that dates back to around 3500 BC.Around 2000 BC, this fruit was domesticated in Egypt. It then spread to the Mediterranean parts of the world during the Roman reign.The African slaves who came along with the European colonizers to the United States were the ones who first introduced watermelon to the American continent. They brought the seeds of the fruit with them. Shortly after they were introduced, the natives living in those regions of the European colonies started to cultivate the plants of this fruit. Watermelon became a common fruit in Massachusetts by the 1630s.You can eat watermelon pieces and can even drink watermelon juice. The watermelon body is made of hard rind, juicy flesh, and black seeds. There are also seedless watermelon varieties that can be eaten. All parts of a watermelon fruit are edible, even watermelon seeds.Most people enjoy the fruit by itself raw or in juice form. However, there are recipes where watermelon is used as a food to complement other food ingredients of the dish. When cooked, even the rind part of watermelon can be consumed. You can easily find some delicious recipes containing watermelon as the main ingredient.Watermelon is one of the plant foods with a lot of health benefits. Watermelon has few calories; it is a protein and mineral-rich food that can even help someone with weight loss (depending on the individual). Since most of the fruit is made up of water, it is a good choice for people looking to reduce belly fat. Watermelon can make you feel full even though it is light so that you won’t look for more food. So, if you wish to lose weight and do so while eating something tasty, then you could definitely add watermelon to your diet.Consuming watermelon makes for healthy skin. Vitamins A and C in the fruit are significant for skin health. Either ingesting or applying vitamin C aids your body in creating collagen, which is a protein that helps keep the hair strong and skin supple. Meanwhile, vitamin A aids in the repair of skin cells. Therefore, many people believe that eating watermelon can make your skin glow.Even though watermelon is a relatively healthy snack to enjoy, too much consumption can also cause specific problems. Overeating watermelon can lead to indigestion, nausea, bloating, and diarrhea. Overconsumption can also cause an increase in potassium in the body. When there is too much potassium in the body, it can potentially lead to hyperkalemia. The condition of hyperkalemia can cause loss of muscle control, irregular heartbeats, and even cardiovascular issues.Sometimes eating watermelon can also cause an allergic reaction. Watermelon is a flowering plant that carries the ragweed pollen some people are allergic to. The allergy can cause itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose.Therefore, even though fresh watermelon is a healthy food, you must be careful the first time you eat it, and it should still be eaten in adequate quantities.There are various ways that the fruit of watermelon is eaten. While most people eat it as raw fruit, some cook it with other items to create new combinations. When watermelon is ripe, it contains higher quantities of nutrients.If you find this fun, factual article interesting, you might also enjoy reading articles on tuna nutrition facts and trout nutrition facts here at Kidadl.Watermelon And HydrationBeing (and staying) hydrated is an important task the human body has to carry out. When the body doesn’t get enough fluid, it can lead to dehydration, which can cause several other health-related issues. There are many fruits and vegetables one can add to their diet to get the required amount of fluids in their body.One of the primary health benefits of eating watermelon is that it keeps you hydrated. This refreshing fruit is made up of more than 90% water. Watermelon can provide you with the required daily amount of water you need to keep hydrated. A hydrated body is a healthy one that can tackle the harmful bacteria ingested into the body. It can also help in maintaining healthy digestion.It is hard to keep your body adequately hydrated in hot climates, especially during summers. People who work outside and children who play under the extra hot sun are often susceptible to feeling dehydrated. One way to ensure that fluid intake is met would be to eat watermelon frequently, in small slices.It doesn’t just provide water but also some essential nutrients, all with the added advantage of a sweet taste.Nutrients In WatermelonWatermelon facts include that watermelon isn’t just a sweet fruit that can tingle your taste buds, but it can also supply your body with some vital nutrients. Below is the nutrition information of the watermelon fruit.One cup, around 5.36 oz (152 g), of diced watermelon contains 46 calories. It has no cholesterol and only 0.007 oz (0.2 g) of fat, which is negligible. The carbs present in watermelon are about 0.41 oz (11.5 g). This much watermelon contains approximately 0.02 oz (0.6g) of dietary fiber along with 0.03 oz (0.9 g) of protein and 0.33 oz (9.4 g) of sugar. It also contains a small amount of potassium and magnesium, 4% DV (Daily Values). Watermelon also carries a small quantity of sodium and calcium.Watermelon is also considered a good source of vitamin C and vitamin A. In one cup - 5.36 oz (152 g) - of raw watermelon, there is about 5% DV of vitamin A and around 14% DV of vitamin C.Vitamin A is a vitamin that is important to eye health. Meanwhile, vitamin C is beneficial for wound healing. Vitamin C also has other health benefits such as boosting immune function, anti-aging properties, and anti-oxidant properties. Apart from vitamin A and vitamin C, watermelon also contains vitamin B1 and B6 and copper, iron, and zinc.Chemicals such as beta-carotene and lycopene (this contributes to the fruit’s red color) are also present in watermelon. These chemicals are anti-oxidants that prevent or delays cell damage. The beta-carotene and lycopene intake can help hinder oxidation - a chemical reaction that produces free radicals which cause damage to an organism’s cells.Most adults suffer from either high blood pressure or low blood pressure problems in the current age. Stress is one of the reasons for these irregularities in blood pressure. Watermelon, containing lycopene, can help to lower blood pressure and regulate it.Watermelon For Muscle ReliefLike many other fruits and vegetables, watermelon is a great snack to add to your diet. Eating watermelon doesn’t just provide you with electrolytes and minerals, but it can also help with muscle soreness.When you exercise, there can be muscle cramps or soreness after you are done. If you eat a controlled number of watermelon pieces before you start exercising, it might help with this problem. Watermelon is a food that contains a particular amino acid - citrulline - which helps in relieving muscle soreness.It does so by increasing nitric acid production, which boosts the blood flow in the blood vessels present in the muscles. When the muscles receive adequate blood before being excessively used, they can work properly without cramping up.Therefore, watermelon is food that athletes should eat before exercising or participating in any sports activity. However, it is best to keep the quantity you eat in check.Amino Acid CharacteristicsApart from pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, watermelon contains an amino acid, as discussed above. Amino acids are the molecules combined to make proteins that are considered the basic building blocks of your body.Citrulline is considered to be a non-essential amino acid. When the L-citrulline present in watermelon is consumed, it reacts with certain enzymes to convert into L-arginine, which improves the blow circulation in the body. This is one of the amino acids that can also affect heart health and potentially improve your immunity.Since there is no fat in watermelon, it doesn’t contain fatty acids.Did You Know?Among the health benefits of watermelon, there is a benefit of the fruit being able to prevent or control some of the chronic diseases caused by metabolic syndrome; however, the extent of this effect depends on any individual case.Watermelon can help in regulating blood sugar levels. The sugar intake from watermelon is good for the blood sugar in the body. Even though watermelon has a high glycemic index, it has a low glycemic load, suitable for diabetic people. The glycemic load of this fruit is low because of the high water content. Thus, experts find watermelon a generally safe choice for people with diabetes when taken in the recommended portions and frequency.Heart disease is one of the most common problems that people nowadays face. The high-stress levels, high carb diet, and genetics are some of the reasons that cause this disease. The lycopene intake from watermelon can potentially reduce (though by no means eliminate) the risk of getting heart disease or a stroke. This chemical prevents the formation of blood clots in the heart’s arteries. Without the blood clots, blood can flow more freely in the arteries. Lycopene present in watermelon reduces the cholesterol levels in the body, thus reducing the risk of developing heart disease.Some also believe that this chemical can lower the risk of the body developing the disease of prostate cancer. According to this theory, cancer is prevented from developing in a body through the anti-oxidants present in watermelon. They help in cell repair, which can hinder the cancer cells from developing in a body. However, while the fruit may lower the risk of cancer developing, it cannot be used as a cure against it.Moreover, the fiber and water present in watermelon can keep the digestive tract healthy and increase regular bowel movements.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for watermelon nutrition facts, then why not take a look at table salt nutrition facts or sushi nutrition facts.
Watermelon is one of the top choices on a hot summer day.
