Yes! Plus 14 other benefits just to start!
Let's do a fun dive into one of my favorite fruits, the watermelon!
1. Watermelons are great for your skin and fun to eat!
2. Watermelons contain vitamin rich water, minerals and antioxidants, which counteract aging, wrinkles, and dryness and also brighten the skin.
3. “Watermelon is a naturally low-calorie package,” says Christina Meyer-Jax, RDN, LDN, Standard Process nutrition chair and assistant professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University. “It contributes key antioxidant nutrients that support disease prevention and overall wellness.”
4. "Choosing watermelon over another sweet snack can help you feel full longer, Meyer-Jax explains. Limited research published in the journal Nutrients in 2019 found that subjects who were considered overweight or clinically obese and ate watermelon instead of low-fat cookies experienced greater satiety, as an example. Eating watermelon daily was associated with a decrease in subjects’ body weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and waist circumference." -says Christina Meyer-Jax, RDN, LDN, Standard Process nutrition chair and assistant professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University.
5. "A specific combination of antioxidants, lycopene and vitamin C, found in watermelon can lower inflammation and oxidative damage over time, Derocha explains. Inflammation can cause swelling, pain, or flushed skin for those experiencing it. And chronic inflammation can lead to serious conditions, including cancer, asthma, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes."
6. Watermelons contain 92% water by weight—the most of any fruit.
7. Watermelons are rich in antioxidants—including vitamin C, glutathione, and lycopene, one of the most powerful antioxidant that has been identified in food.
8. Watermelons protect the skin from sunburn because of the Lycopene. This potent antioxidant can play a role in protecting your skin from the sun, making it less likely you’ll get a sunburn. But it definitely doesn’t mean you should skip the sunscreen.
9. Watermelon not only brightens your skin, but helps fight hyperpigmentation, aka “age spots.”
10. “The water and vitamins A, B6, and C in watermelon help your skin stay soft, smooth, and supple,” Derocha says. Vitamin C boosts collagen production, which improves skin elasticity and blood flow to the skin. And vitamin A helps repair skin cells, preventing dry, flaky skin, while vitamin B6 helps with skin breakouts."
11. The Vitamin C in watermelon plays a critical role in the synthesis of collagen, the protein that gives your skin strength and structure. In one large study of middle-aged American women, a higher intake of vitamin C was linked to a lower likelihood of having dry and wrinkled skin. A wedge of watermelon contains 23.2 mg of vitamin C, or 25% of your RDA for this essential nutrient. -American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2007
12. Watermelon protects the skin against harsh environments. Watermelon contains an amino acid known as L-citrulline, which the body converts into another amino acid, L-arginine, which protects the skin from abrasive conditions including dry, cold climates, air-conditioned air, and pollution. -Dr. Howard Murad, M.D.
13. Watermelon is a gentle exfoliant.
14. An Ayurvedic treatment for skin rash utilizes watermelon—both eating the fruit and rubbing the rind on the skin.
Conclusion: Looks like this is a fun fruit, full of vitamin rich water, good for your skin and waistline, aids in protecting you against some health conditions, plus makes you happy when you eat it. I will always say, "Yes please!" to another slice of watermelon. :)
With Love and Blessings!
Rebecca