Watermelon, that tasty, refreshing, (and inexpensive) fruit most of us grew up slurping on as kids, has a lot more going for it than a dessert treat. Although it’s been recognized for decades that watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins C, A and B6, more recent nutritional studies of this fruit, which was originally cultivated in Africa, have revealed it to be an almost unparalleled antioxidant.
With watermelon so abundant and inexpensive at this time of year, you can start benefiting from this treat right now.
Pink watermelon (and yes, in some varieties the flesh is yellow) is a super source of lycopene, the powerful carotenoid antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals, substances which cause serious damage to the body. Regular snacking on watermelon is now known to oxidize cholesterol, and reduce rheumatoid and osteoarthritis inflammation. Lycopene has is believed to protect the body against many cancers, including prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
And a study conducted last year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry indicates that keeping watermelon in your diet is beneficial for both women and men as it can prevent erectile dysfunction, lower blood pressure, improve insulin sensitivity, and fight macular degeneration.
