National Watermelon Day-Benefits of Melons and Recipes

Is there anything that says Summer better than watermelon?

Refreshing, sweet, and fun to eat-- melon is a favourite for all ages.

But there’s more to watermelon than just a Summer treat. There are a host of beneficial nutrients in watermelon that can also support you in your journey to good health.

Benefits of Watermelon

Super Hydrating- Watermelons are roughly 92% water, making them an excellent source of hydration. In fact, watermelons actually originate from Africa, where travellers would use them as ‘nature’s canteen’ and carry them for long trips where water was scarce.
Vitamin C- One cup of watermelon contains around 20% of your daily vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system and acts as an antioxidant.
Carotenoids- Watermelon contains alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, which is converted into vision boosting vitamin A by your body.
Lycopene- Like tomatoes, watermelon contains high levels of the compound lycopene, which has been linked to health benefits including reduced rates of heart disease and prostate cancer, as well as increased sun protection for the skin. Preliminary research also links lycopene to the potential reduction of inflammation linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Now that we know some of the reasons for eating the succulent melon, let’s drool over some tantalizing watermelon based recipes to spice up your melon eating game this Summer.