I’ve been trying to think of some new fresh ideas about watermelon, the king of summertime fruits. I’ve been thinking if I should post any new cutesy recipes like a watermelon feta salad with mint or something, but I just don’t think I could really put my heart into talking about a watermelon feta salad. Watermelon is just absolutely supreme on its own. I mean honestly--does it get better than pulling out a big bowl of cold, cubed watermelon and eating until you can’t eat anymore? No, it simply does not. I’d choose a cold bowl of watermelon cubes ten times out of ten instead of a watermelon feta mint salad. How about you?

We just downed two big watermelons in two days--so yeah….we’re watermelon people around here. Now, let’s get down to business for a minute and talk about why there is virtually nothing bad about eating a TON of watermelon. It has plenty of health benefits and virtually no down side. Best news ever! 

For starters, this quintessential summer snack is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup.

Just like tomatoes, watermelon is full of licopene. This is what gives watermelon, tomatoes, guavas and red grapefruit their color. Lycopene has been linked with heart health, bone health and prostate cancer prevention. It's also a powerful antioxidant thought to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Just like the name would imply, watermelon is full of water and is very hydrating. It has been shown that if you drink watermelon juice or eat watermelon before and/or after your workout, your muscles will be less sore and your body will recover faster after a hard workout. It is the perfect thing to drink or eat if you are wanting an alternative to synthetic supplements for working out.

Did you know that the white part of the watermelon actually has some great health benefits you are probably missing out on. The white part specifically has more of the amino acid citrulline than the flesh. Citrulline is a valuable amino acid that converts to the amino acid arginine. These amino acids promote blood flow, leading to cardiovascular health and improved circulation. You can cut off the thick, green skin on the outside and then finely chop the white part into little matchsticks and use them as you would cucumbers and put them on sandwiches for crunch, as toppings on salads or tacos, etc. 

If you really want to get crazy you could even eat the watermelon seeds. Recent studies have found that watermelon seeds are also wonderfully nutritious, especially if they are sprouted and shelled. They are high in protein, magnesium, vitamin B and good fats.

So get out there and enjoy summer’s very best sweet, guilt-free snack as much as you please.