Watermelon - It's Not Just The Perfect Summertime Fruit

When I was a kid, my all-time favorite fruit was watermelon.

So much so, I used to take some of the seeds and plant them in our garden in the hopes of growing my own, personal supply.

Unfortunately, my attempts were unsuccessful.

As I grew older, my love for watermelon never waned.

In fact, I would say I appreciate watermelon even more as an adult.

Because I now understand that it's not just the perfect summertime fruit.

It's also bursting with good nutrition.

For one – and this should come as no surprise given its name – the fruit is incredibly hydrating.

Watermelon is 92% water.

So, if you need to boost your water intake, but are completely sick of plain ol' water, grab a few slices of the juicy fruit.

If you're feeling bloated due to water retention, watermelon can help.

I know it seems counterintuitive to eat foods with a lot of water if your body is retaining water.

But you see, retaining water is your body's way of fighting dehydration.

So, if you eat foods that contain a large amount of water, your body will naturally start to flush out the liquids it has retained that caused bloating.

Watermelon is also loaded with key nutrients, like vitamins A and C.

One cup of watermelon delivers 21% of the RDI for vitamin C and 18% the RDI for vitamin A.

Both of these vitamins are critical for good health.

And, they're especially important for your skin and hair.

That's because vitamin C helps your body make collagen – a protein that keeps your skin supple and your hair strong.

While vitamin A helps your body create and repair skin cells.

Too little vitamin A and your skin can look dry and flaky.

The fruit can also support healthy blood pressure levels due to its citrulline content.

You see, citrulline is an amino acid that helps increase nitric oxide levels in the body.

And with more nitric oxide, your blood vessels expand, resulting in healthy blood pressure.

Watermelon gets its pink/red color from a carotenoid called lycopene.

But it's so much more than just a pigment.

Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that's been shown to promote good heart and vision health.

Clearly, the health benefits of watermelon make it a worthwhile fruit to add to your diet.

Unfortunately, though, it's not a fruit that's in-season year-round.

In most parts of the country, watermelon season runs through September.

So, now's the time to snatch some up and enjoy one of the sweetest, most healthy bites of summer before they're gone.