Discover the health benefits of this classic summer snack.
Watermelon is the ultimate refreshing summer treat, which makes it pretty exciting that it’s good for you too! Let’s check out some of these fantastic health benefits of watermelon:
- Increased hydration
- Muscle soreness relief
- Disease-fighting antioxidants
- Reduced inflammation
- Vitamin and mineral content
- Digestion and weight management
- Skin protection
Keep reading to learn all about these seven health benefits of watermelon.
Increased hydration
In this article on how to stay hydrated, we suggested eating foods with high water content. Of course, one of the best options is the food with “water” right in the name! At about 90% water, watermelons are some of the juiciest fruits on the block. On hot summer days when you need a little extra hydration, snacking on a slice of melon is one of the tastiest ways to get it. You can also try adding watermelon to these hydrating summer drink recipes!
Muscle soreness relief
Beyond hydration, here’s another reason to add watermelon to your pre-or post-workout routine. Thanks to the amino acid l-Citrulline, watermelon may be able to reduce muscle soreness after exercise, as shown in a small study of athletes.
Disease-fighting antioxidants
Antioxidants are like tiny little warriors that help fight off the damaging free radicals that can potentially cause chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Watermelon contains various antioxidants that support everything from heart health to the immune system, so they’re a tasty way to help ward off diseases!
Reduced inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting us from things like bacteria and viruses. But on occasion, especially if you have an autoimmune disease like arthritis, inflammation can flare up when there are no outside invaders to fend off! That kind of inflammation can aggravate or lead to chronic health conditions, so keeping it under control is vital. (That’s especially true if you experience hearing loss since oxidative stress, a type of damage that’s often seen with inflammation, can play a role in hearing loss).
Watermelon is one of the best sources of a compound known as lycopene, which has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great asset to help reduce inflammation.
Vitamin and mineral content
In addition to antioxidants, watermelon can also help you meet your daily vitamin and mineral targets! The fruit is particularly rich in vitamin C, potassium, and Vitamin A. Check out our guide to essential vitamins and what they all do here! Potassium is also an excellent mineral for our hearing, as it helps the brain convert sounds into the right signals.
Digestion and weight management
Eating enough fiber and drinking enough water are two of the big factors that help when it comes to digestion and satiety. As we mentioned earlier, watermelon is mostly water, but you’ll also get some fiber from the snack, so it offers a two-for-one deal! It’s incredibly low-calorie, but the water content will help you feel full faster, making it a tasty weight management ally as well.
Skin protection
Last but not least, watermelon helps nourish our skin from the inside out. Vitamins A and C help our bodies make collagen and repair skin cells, while lycopene helps prevent discoloration, wrinkles, and even UV damage from the sun!
As you can see, watermelon protects so many different aspects of our health and hearing! Whether you enjoy it by the slice, blend it up in your favorite drinks, or even mix it up and give grilled watermelon a try, feel free to indulge to your heart’s content this summer and enjoy the health benefits of watermelon.
Keep reading the CapTel blog for more summer health and wellness tips!
