Watermelons are very popular as a snack on hot summer days. They are low in calories and the perfect fluid supplier without leaving an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. But only a few are aware of the healthy ingredients of watermelon. We want to clarify the question: is the watermelon healthy? And give you tips on how you can best enjoy them.
Pumpkin? Didn't someone make a mistake? No, it's really true. The watermelon is one of the plants Pumpkin family, as well as honeydew melons or cucumbers. In contrast to what is marketed here, it is a vegetables!
The watermelon grows on the ground as a herbaceous, barred plant. The fruit – our watermelon – can be up to 60 centimeters long and has a spherical to cylindrical shape. Under the one to four centimeters thick bark, can you find this red and watery pulp with the dark brown to black seeds. You can differentiate the different types of melons by the way Coloring on the outside.
Like their close relatives, the cucumbers, watermelons consist approximately of 90 – 95 percent water and counted on 100 gram, just 36 calories! And their healthy properties don't end there! For a quick overview, I have briefly explained the most important ones:
Vitamin bomb
The immune system is strengthening in the fruit fibers vitamin C and the Vitamin A, which ensures beautiful skin and healthy eyes.
Tip: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, so to get it into your body you need some fat. You can easily conjure up a delicious salad from the watermelon and some feta cheese.
Antioxidant: lycopene
The antioxidant is one of the most effective in fighting free radicals (harmful waste products of metabolism). In addition, some studies show that the active ingredient Prevent cancer and as an oral Sun protection can work. In addition to watermelons, lycopene is also in tomatoes contain.
Minerals for drainage
Together with a low potassium and sodium content and a large amount of water, the consumption of watermelons drains your body and cleanses your kidneys.
Strengthening the circulation
other plant substances (beta-carotene and citrulline) have a relaxing effect on the blood vessels and thus lower high blood pressure. Citrulline also has a completely different stimulating effect …
100 grams of melon contain the following ingredients:
per 100 g melon
Calories
30 kcal
fat
0.2 g
carbohydrates
8 g
– of which fructose
6 g
protein
0.6 g
vitamin A
245 μg
vitamin C
8.1 mg
potassium
112 mg
sodium
1 mg
With just 30 calories per 100 grams, the melon is a great snack if you want to lose a few pounds. Because it consists mostly of water, it fills your stomach, fills you up and provides your body with a lot of fluid. Because often we do not snack because we are hungry, but out Lack of fluids. In addition, the amino acid contained in the melon Citrulline a total Fat Burner! For this reason, citrulline capsules are often used by athletes as dietary supplements. To take advantage of the positive effects of citrulline, it should 30 minutes before training to be eaten or ingested.
Tip: For refreshment: try melon juice, it not only tastes good, but also has hardly any calories!
Basically, watermelons are available all year round. With us, they are often only sold in the summer months. You should find packaged melon cubes on every salad and snack bar in the supermarket. When the watermelon is in season, we recommend you go melon hunting at the weekly markets. There the selection and quality of the fruit is larger and the price of the fruit and vegetables is often cheaper than in the supermarket.
To the Melon ripeness you just have to check knock on the bark. Is the sound dull and sonorous, then the melon is ripe. If it sounds hollow and metallic, then you should let it ripen a little. In order to check the ripeness in the end, you have to see the pulp: it should be evenly colored in a juicy red tone.
Not sure if you are getting enough vitamins? Then do the test here:
