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Apart from being a heaven-sent thirst quencher in sultry summer, watermelon is loaded with chemicals and antioxidants that fight deadly diseases like hypertension and diabetes
The juiciest of all citrusy delights, watermelon, is considered the official fruit of summer, not least because it contains 92 per cent of water. It is a great source of vitamins A, B6, and C, lycopene and crucial antioxidants. ‘Citrullus’ is a Greek word meaning citrus that is a predominant feature of the fruit. It contains about 13 per cent of Vitamin C. The other word ‘lanatus’ is a Latin word meaning woolly that is suggestive of the leaves and stems of the plant with small hairs on their surface.
Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus), succulent fruits and vine-like plants belonging to the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) are native to tropical Africa and cultivated around the world. The watermelon plant grows well in hot climates; its vines grow on the ground and have branched tendrils, deeply cut leaves, and flowers borne individually in the axil of a leaf. The fruit is a type of berry, botanically known as ‘pepo’.
A pilot study led by food scientists at The Florida State University (FSU) suggests that watermelon can be an effective natural weapon against pre-hypertension, a precursor to cardiovascular diseases, and lowers blood pressure. Arturo Figueroa, assistant professor at FSU, says, “Watermelon is the richest edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the amino acid required for the formation of nitric oxide essential to the regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pressure.”
Once it gets into the body, L-citrulline is converted into L-arginine. Consuming L-arginine as a dietary supplement isn’t an option for many hypertensive adults, because it can cause nausea, gastrointestinal tract discomfort and diarrhea.
While watermelon, or watermelon extract, is the best natural source of L-citrulline, it is also available in synthetic form in pills. Individuals with high blood pressure and arterial stiffness – especially those who are older and with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes – benefit from L-citrulline in either the synthetic or natural form.
The phenolic compounds in watermelon, including flavonoids, carotenoids and triterpenoids, account for the fruit’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. While most fruits get their reddish colour from anthocyanin flavonoids, watermelon gets it reddish-pink shade primarily from lycopene. The lycopene content in watermelon increases with ripening of the fruit. Lycopene, a well-known antioxidant with the ability to neutralise free radical molecules, acts as a catalyst of many inflammatory processes.
Watermelons are generally believed to have originated in Africa some thousands of years ago and have travelled over time from the Dark Continent to Asia, Europe and North America.
China is by far the largest watermelon producing country in the world accounting for over half of total global production. European Union countries, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Brazil and the United States are all leading watermelon producers; however, each produces less than 5 per cent of the world total.
The citrusy thirst-quencher has the property of postponing muscle soreness that becomes evident after tough workouts or strenuous play. Along with other great nutrients, watermelon is a rich source of Citrulline that pushes blood flow by utilising essential amino acids.
Fruity Facts
- Watermelon is one of those rare fruits with characteristics of both a fruit and a vegetable. It is a fruit because it is grown from a seed and is sweet in taste, while its family roots align with the cucumber, pumpkin and squash vegetables. Hence, it is also a vegetable.
- In the US one entire month is entirely devoted to this fruit. July is called Watermelon Month because watermelon production in this month is at its peak.
- Chris Kent of Sevierville stormed into the Guinness World Records for growing the world’s heaviest watermelon in 2013. It weighed around 350.5lbs.
- In Japan, people grow melons in glass boxes so that they take the form of glass and are stacked as cube boxes.
- In Egypt, it was a custom to keep watermelons in the burial tombs of kings so that they keep nourishing their soul after death.
Healthy bite
Potassium plus: Watermelon contains lots of potassium which helps in cleaning and washing out the toxic depositions in the kidneys. Moreover, it is helpful in reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood, thereby reducing the chances of kidney damage and the formation of renal calculi in that organ.
Preferred coolant: Watermelon is effective in reducing both body temperature and blood pressure. The high amount of water in it stimulates a release of excess liquid in the form of sweat, which cools the body during the sultry summer days.
Vital chemicals: Potassium and magnesium present in watermelons are beneficial in bringing down blood pressure. The carotenoids present in the fruit prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks and atherosclerosis.
Cancer prevention: The presence of antioxidant vitamin C and lycopene in watermelon makes it a great anti-cancer fruit.
Rind benefit: Arginine found in watermelons is effective in enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetics can also have curries, steaks and salads made from watermelon rinds, which help lower blood sugar.