Do you love watermelons as much as we do? The tasty hydrating fruit is the ideal treat for the summer. Besides their amazing taste, watermelons have a variety of benefits for our health. They’re alkalizing, detoxifying, and nutritious fruits that can improve your health on many levels.

Watermelons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family which also includes pumpkins and cucumbers. These plants grow from vines in the ground and have an elliptical shape. They have a greenish color and hard rend, and are full of water. Watermelons contain 92% water as well as vitamins from the B group, folate, beta-carotene, and many other nutrients. They’re full of minerals as well, including iron, zinc, sodium, copper, and potassium among others.

Additionally, watermelons are full of lycopene, a rare carotenoid also found in tomatoes. This incredible antioxidant will improve your health on different levels and prevent a variety of diseases and conditions.

Fresh Watermelon or Watermelon Juice?

Although eating fresh watermelons has a number of health benefits, drinking watermelon juice is even more beneficial. It will dilate your veins and improve your blood flow while also boosting your stamina. It’s great for treatment of impotence as well, often being dubbed the natural Viagra.

It’s all due to the presence of citrulline, an amino acid that can improve your stamina and help with erectile dysfunction. Citrulline can boost your blood flow and works together with vitamin C to detoxify your organs, eliminate kidney stones, and more.

On the other hand, lycopene can decrease inflammation and reduce oxidative pressure, while also improving symptoms of asthma and allergies. Watermelon juice contains the highest concentrations of citrulline and lycopene. It’s a very powerful detox drink that can boost your digestion and metabolism, helping you lose weight as well.

Drinking a glass of watermelon juice every day will reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The juice will clean your arteries of plaque and reduce the risk of myocardial infarction. It acts as a great preventive measure against stroke which is why we should all drink it much more often.

Watermelons for Weight Loss

Watermelons are the perfect weight loss food. They’re naturally low in calories, but rich in water and fiber. Eating the fruit will keep you satisfied for a long period and boost your metabolism, effectively helping you to lose weight.

Additionally, the presence of vitamin A and beta-carotene in watermelon juice will also improve your eye health and prevent age-related macular degeneration and night blindness. Due to the rich presence of electrolytes and minerals, watermelon (or watermelon juice) is a perfect pre and post-workout snack.

Watermelons will reduce the presence of C-reactive protein in your body which has been associated with heart disease and inflammation. Watermelon juice is the perfect natural remedy for any kind of inflammatory disease including arthritis.

Watermelon Consumption Tips

If you want to keep your watermelon fresh, wrap it with a cling wrap and keep it in the fridge. Always juice watermelons whole without the rind. The seeds are full of nutrients your body needs, which is why you need to put them in the blender as well. You will benefit from watermelon juice mostly if you drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. If you don’t want to eat watermelons on their own, add small pieces to fruit salads for a tasty and healthy meal.

Here are a few great watermelon recipes you can also try:

Watermelon Sherbet

Ingredients

• 4 cups diced watermelon
• A cup of white sugar
• A cup of heavy cream (chilled)
• 1 oz. unflavored gelatin
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup cold of water
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

Mix the salt, sugar, lemon juice, and watermelon in a bowl, then cover with plastic wrap. Leave the mix to rest for half an hour and then blend it with a mixer. Pour the water in a saucepan and cook on low heat, then melt the gelatin in.

Next, add the watermelon mix to the gelatin and the heavy cream as well. Beat everything with a mixer until the mix is fluffy.

Pour the mix in an ice-cream mold and freeze it overnight. If you can’t wait for the delicious treat that long, 2-3 hours will do nicely.

Watermelon-Tomato Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced watermelon
• 1 yellow and red tomato each
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh lemon basil
• ¼ cup wine vinegar
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce
• A pinch of salt and black pepper

Preparation

Mix the tomatoes and watermelon in a bowl, then add the sauce, olive oil, and honey, and add the vinegar slowly in the end. Mix it all together, then add the seasonings and enjoy this great spicy salad.

Watermelon Smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced watermelon
• ½ cup lemon-lime soda pop
• A cup of diced honeydew melon
• A cup of diced cantaloupe
• Ice cubes

Preparation

It’s simple – mix all the ingredients except the lemon-lime soda pop in a smoothie maker. Add it in the end, give the smoothie another whirl and enjoy!