The Incredible Health Benefits of Eating the Whole Watermelon

Watermelon flesh is eaten in a variety of ways- sliced, cubed, pureed, and scooped into balls. Watermelon can even be turned into alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. It can be turned into soup, BBQ sauce, pie, cake and pudding. There are a zillion ways to fix watermelon flesh. But we usually throw the seeds and rind away. By not eating the seeds and rind of a watermelon we're not getting all the vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants that we can. Read this informative article and learn about the incredible health benefits of eating the whole watermelon- seeds, rind and all!

The Incredible Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon Flesh
According to dietaryfiberfood.com, the flesh of the watermelon contains a wealth of carotenoids. These carotenoids include phytofluene, phytoene, beta-carotene, lutein, neurosporene and especially lycopene. Carotenoids are antioxidants. According to The New York Times, "Studies have reported that a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing beta carotene, lycopene, and other carotenoids may reduce the risk of heart attack." Lycopene, which is the pigment that gives watermelon flesh its color, helps fight against prostate cancer, oral cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancers.

The powerful antioxidants in watermelon can help reduce the severity of asthma attacks, and reduce the inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Eating the flesh of a watermelon will also give your body energy-producing B vitamins, magnesium and potassium. Watermelon will also help protect your eyes against macular degeneration.

Move Over Viagra, Here Comes Watermelon
Another incredible health benefit of eating watermelon flesh is, "Watermelon may be a natural Viagra", according to webmd.com. This fruit contains citrulline. This amino acid "...relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like Viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction (ED)."

The Incredible Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon Rinds
Watermelon rinds can be marinated, pickled and candied. It can be stir-fried, made into jam, and turned into juice. When watermelon flesh isn't available, drinking watermelon rind broth is a great diuretic, especially when you're holding water.

Just like the flesh, watermelon rind also contains citrulline, the amino acid that's believed to work much like Viagra.

The Incredible Health Benefits of Eating Watermelon Seeds
Did your folks ever tell you that eating watermelon seeds would cause one to grow in your stomach? Nothing could be farther than the truth, of course. In fact, watermelon seeds are rich in protein and nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, and more.

If eating watermelon seeds raw doesn't appeal to you, you can toast them and sprinkle them on your salads. Place a half-cup of watermelon seeds in a skillet with a quarter-cup of water. Cook them over medium heat until the water has evaporated- about 10 minutes. Let them cool before you use them.

Resources
http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/nutrition-watermelon.php
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/beta-carotene/dietary-health-benefits.html
http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20080701/watermelon-a-natural-viagra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/nutritional-facts-about-watermelon.html
http://www.kauz.com/news/22806129.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31#healthbenefits
http://stanford.wellsphere.com/vitamins-supplements-article/watermelon-is-such-a-healthful-fruit-maybe-even-able-to-work-like-viagra/439798