What’s Hidden Behind the Sweetness of Watermelon?

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News Picture: AHA News: Watermelon Is a Summertime Staple. But What's Hidden Behind the Sweetness?

THURSDAY, July 1, 2021 (American Coronary heart Affiliation Information)

Whether or not they’re serving as snacks at a household reunion or props in a late-night comedy act, watermelons and enjoyable simply appear to go collectively. However how does watermelon maintain up health-wise?

Smashingly, you would possibly say.

“I am undoubtedly impressed by its well being advantages,” mentioned Tim Allerton, a postdoctoral researcher at Louisiana State College’s Pennington Biomedical Analysis Middle in Baton Rouge.

Fruit is all the time a part of a nutritious diet. However watermelon’s mixture of vitamins makes it particular, Allerton mentioned.

It is a wealthy supply of minerals akin to potassium and magnesium. It is also a great supply of nutritional vitamins C and A (plus beta carotene, which helps produce vitamin A), and it has truthful quantities of nutritional vitamins B1, B5 and B6. You get all of that for less than 46.5 energy per cup.

Befitting its identify, watermelon is about 92% water, which suggests why ancestral watermelons have been carried in Africa’s Kalahari Desert so long as 5,000 years in the past. It is a deal with with a lineage: Fashionable-looking variations are depicted in historic Egyptian tombs.

The place watermelon actually stands out is in its focus of sure antioxidants, which regulate cell-damaging free radicals within the physique. “Our physique has its personal antioxidant system, nevertheless it helps to get a lift from our weight-reduction plan,” Allerton mentioned. “And watermelon is an efficient supply of these antioxidants.”

Lycopene, which provides watermelon its reddish colour, is a type of antioxidants, together with nutritional vitamins C and A. Lycopene additionally works as an anti-inflammatory and has been linked to decrease stroke danger. It’s most considerable in cooked tomato merchandise, however watermelon’s lycopene ranges are about 40% greater than uncooked tomatoes.

Watermelon additionally has glutathione, which Allerton known as a “versatile, world antioxidant.”

And watermelon is excessive in an amino acid known as citrulline, which has been a spotlight of Allerton’s analysis. “Watermelon is fairly distinctive as a result of not a number of meals are excessive on this,” he mentioned.

In a small 2013 research revealed within the Journal of Agricultural and Meals Chemistry, citrulline in watermelon juice was credited with serving to relieve sore muscular tissues in athletes.

Citrulline is also linked to the manufacturing of nitric oxide, which is vital for the well being of blood vessels. A number of small research counsel citrulline in watermelon extract may decrease blood stress, though these results have been seen in individuals consuming the equal of greater than 3 kilos of watermelon a day for six weeks.

That is a number of watermelon. However apart from the final concept that overindulgence in something is a nasty thought, Allerton mentioned there is not any draw back to having fun with it.

Though it has pure sugar and a excessive glycemic index – a measure of how briskly sugar enters the bloodstream – it has a low glycemic load. Which means its precise impact on blood sugar is small. And it’ll fill you up sooner than, say, a bowl of cookies.

All diet and science apart, afficionados of the fruit simply benefit from the style. Superfan Mark Twain wrote, “It’s the chief of this world’s luxuries, king by the grace of God over all of the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he is aware of what the angels eat.”

Allerton prefers his straight up, however he provides that watermelon juice retains lots of the advantages of the entire fruit as a result of a lot of the fruit is water already.

That makes watermelon work nicely in smoothies. Or you’ll be able to flip it right into a fruit salsa.

Specialists agree the key to discovering a ripe one is to search for a creamy yellow spot from the place the watermelon sat on the bottom. If the spot appears extra white than yellow, then the melon might not be absolutely ripe. Weight additionally is an indication of high quality – the heavier the higher.

However most specialists say you’ll be able to’t be taught a lot a few watermelon’s ripeness from thumping one. So you’ll be able to most likely depart that to the comedians.

American Coronary heart Affiliation Information covers coronary heart and mind well being. Not all views expressed on this story mirror the official place of the American Coronary heart Affiliation. Copyright is owned or held by the American Coronary heart Affiliation, Inc., and all rights are reserved. When you have questions or feedback about this story, please electronic mail [email protected].

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