Watermelon……really? The ignored fruit.

Contrary to popular belief, Watermelon is packed with nutrition.

I often find that folks have no clue about the value of this seemingly benign fruit, the Watermelon.  Well, I decided to look into it a little further and share my findings.

I always knew that this fruit contained fiber and some B vitamins, but I was still impressed with the nutritional content.

Let’s start with the basics…

IT is delicious!!  There, I said it.  There is nothing like a sweet piece of watermelon.  That being said, Watermelon is over 90% water.  It’s a great source of Vit. C  (we will discuss this in another post), Lycopene and beta-carotene (Vit. A), making Watermelon full of antioxidants.   Very low in fat and cholesterol.

The B family….TONS!  Watermelon is chock full of an array of B vitamins such as Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin(B2), Vitamin B6, Folate, Niacin(B3) and Pantothetic Acid(B5).

Let’s not forget the Watermelon seed…that is filled with Protein and Oil….and some Dietary Fiber.

Watermelon is also extremely friendly to so many eating lifestyles.  Gluten-Free, Paleo, Vegan, Low Fat, High Protein and Low Carb.  As with anything, moderation is always suggested.

A word of caution to Diabetics.  Watermelon should only be eaten in smaller amounts as it has a higher Glycemic index.  So, if you choose to partake, do so in smaller amounts.  Always a good idea to eat it with  a protein to reduce how fast you absorb the sugar.

Some Watermelon resources for ya:

Watermelon recipes

Watermelon Fun Facts

The History of the Watermelon