There’s a lot of misinformation out there about watermelon being bad for those with sugar issues. One of the main reasons that many people are afraid to eat watermelon is because it does contain sugar. The most important thing that we should keep in mind is that too much sugar is not good for us. But at the same time, anything eaten in moderation is okay. Chances are that we are not going to sit down and eat an entire watermelon in one sitting.
Eating a few slices of watermelon here and there will provide us with all its healthy benefits and should quench our hunger for the delicious treat. We should keep in mind that natural sugar is the right type of sugar.
About 88% of watermelon is (as you can probably guess by both its taste and name) water. The other 12% consists of fiber. Since it is mainly made up of water and fiber, eating this delicious fruit won’t contribute to weight gain. And the rest of the good news is that watermelon is fat free, cholesterol free and low in sodium!
Consider the health benefits of fiber: It works as a weight loss aid, helps lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and even works to prevent the risk of developing colon cancer.
And look at the health benefits of the vitamin-loaded water in the melon: It helps us keep hydrated during the hot days of summer, and does a great job in quenching thirst.
Watermelon is also PACKED with vitamin C, vitamin A, lycopene, citrulline, beta carotene, potassium and helps quench not just thirst, but cravings as well.
Here are the 6 reasons to eat watermelon:
1. Watermelon is rich in lycopenene—40% more than tomatoes!
2. Two cups of watermelon yields close to half of the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C!
3. Two cups of watermelon provides 25% of daily recommended allowance of beta carotene which helps the body create vitamin A and stave off viral infections and vision problems.
4. In the yellow-orange varieties, a rare edible source of citrulline (an amino acid used in wound healing and cell division) is present. FYI: there’s extra citrulline in the white and green part of the rind that is usually thrown away.
5. Watermelon is also a good source of potassium, which helps control blood pressure.
6. Watermelon is a dieter’s friend—it can quench cravings and there are only 96 calories in two cups!
