The Summer Fruit: Watermelon

Watermelon… This fruit which is loved by everyone is actually beyond just water & sugar; it rather contains a lot of nutrients: vitamins like Vitamin C & A, minerals and antioxidants – mainly Lycopene. Watermelon contains more Lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable. Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds, including watermelon is associated with health benefits and studies show that they decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Watermelon Facts & Benefits:
•Calories: The refreshing sweet taste of watermelon makes it more than just a fruit, but a delicious dessert. 1 ½ cup is considered as 1 portion of fruit and contains 60 calories. That’s why watermelon is considered as a good snack.
•Digestion: Watermelon helps in digestion because of its water and fiber content. It helps to prevent constipation and promotes a healthy digestive tract.
•Hydration: Watermelon can be a great snack to have on hand during the hot summer months to prevent dehydration, since it is made up of 90% water and is rich in important electrolytes.
•Skin: Watermelon is great for the skin because it contains vitamins A and C: Vitamin A helps in the maintenance of skin and growth of hair, whereas C provides their structure. In addition, watermelon contributes to overall hydration, which is important for healthy skin and hair.

How to incorporate more watermelon into the diet:
Being versatile, watermelon can easily be incorporated into a diet:
•Roasted seeds – for a tasty snack, get the watermelon seeds and roast them in the oven for 15-20 minutes and add just a little salt.
•Blended – for a tasty cold drink, dice the watermelon and place it in a blender with few ice cubes.
•Salad – for a tasty salad, jazz up a boring salad by adding watermelon, mint, and fresh mozzarella to spinach leaves and drizzle them with a balsamic dressing.
•Smoothies – for a tasty smoothie, add diced watermelon into a cup of skimmed milk and blend them.

Christelle Bedrossian
Dietitian-Nutritionist
Beirut, Lebanon