5 Incredible Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon

health benefits of watermelon

I’m sure many of us have the childhood memory of taking a big bite into a slice of watermelon, letting the juices drip down our chins and then spitting the seeds as far as we could across the backyard. And now, as adults, there are few things better than a big bowl of cold watermelon on a hot summer day.

But, with research supporting a number of health benefits associated with the fruit, we have even more reason to feel great about reaching for this melon at the market.

The 5 Wonders of Watermelon:

  1. Helps you Lose Weight

    Watermelon is over 90% water making it not only hydrating but also very low calorie. At just 40 calories per cup, watermelon lets you add a lot of volume, vitamins and minerals and fiber to your daily food log without breaking the calorie bank.

  2. Repairs Your Body Post Workout

    L – Citrulline is an amino acid naturally found in watermelon. A recent scientific study published in 2013 by the American Chemical Study reported the amino acid found in the juice can help relieve post-workout muscle pain and soreness.

  3. Keeps You Hydrated

    Watermelon is naturally rich in electrolytes, and specifically potassium, essential for nerve and muscle function and responsible for converting blood sugar into glycogen. Watermelon water is becoming the hottest new exotic water – try out a bottle of WTRMLN WTR – which is the first cold-pressed juice with 6x the electrolytes than your regular brand sports drink.

  4. Protects Your Heart

    L-Citrulline is not just good for muscle soreness. A study out of Florida State University found that people given a 6 gram supplement of L-Citrulline from watermelon extract for 6 weeks lowered their blood pressure and had improved arterial function, making watermelon an effective natural weapon against hypertension.

  5. Is Rich in Antioxidants

    Antioxidants are chemicals that prevent (or slow) damage of cells incurred from free radicals. Natural antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables and watermelon is rich in one of them, lycopene. Also attributing to the rich pink/red color, lycopene can help fight against heart disease and play a role in lowering cholesterol. Watermelon contains the highest levels of lycopene compared to any other fruit or vegetable.

Try out this Jalapeno Watermelon Cooler recipe from Vega’s Recipe Center with Vega Sport Electrolyte Hydrator for a summer cool down. Not only will it keep you hydrated but will keep you awake as the sun beats down!

And more than just the tried-and-true fresh fruit, there are lots of options today for enjoying watermelon. For ultimate convenience, you can now grab watermelon in pure juice format, perfect when you need natural hydration and replenishment.

 

Kim McDevitt

A runner, cooking enthusiast and plant-focused flexitarian, Kim McDevitt has passionately built her career in nutrition. Noticing that her running performances were closely tied to what she was eating, Kim decided to study nutrition and pursue advanced degrees in Dietetics and Public Health, to better understand the power of food in performance. Today, Kim specializes in sports nutrition to enhance athletic performance and focuses on realistic and approachable ways for improving health through educated dietary choices within an active lifestyle