Watermelon is Paradise

What is more refreshing than some cool watermelon on a nice hot day? Paradise.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/watermelon-h…

Watermelon is believed to have first been domesticated over 4,000 years ago in Northeast Africa (1Trusted Source).

It’s sweet and juicy, making it the perfect treat to quench your thirst during the summer heat.

This large round fruit has a green rind and bright red flesh. It’s also packed with nutrients, including antioxidants and vitamins A and C.

Here are 9 of the top health benefits of watermelon.

Irina Shpiller/Getty Images

1. Helps you stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is important for your body to function properly.

Body temperature regulation, normal organ function, nutrient delivery to cells, and alertness are only some of the bodily processes that rely on adequate hydration (2Trusted Source).

Eating foods with a high water content may help give your body the water it needs to function properly.

Watermelon comprises 92% water, making it a great choice for daily water intake (3Trusted Source).

Furthermore, due to its high water content, this melon has a low calorie density — in other words, very few calories for its total weight.

Eating foods with low calorie densities, such as watermelon, may aid weight management by keeping you feeling full for longer (4Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Watermelon’s high water content may help keep you hydrated — which supports your overall health — as well as feeling full.

2. Packed with nutrients and beneficial plant compounds

Watermelon contains a variety of nutrients, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C. It’s also relatively low in calories, containing just 46 per cup (152 grams) (5Trusted Source).

Here are the nutrients in 1 cup (152 grams) of raw, diced watermelon:

• Calories: 46
• Carbs: 11.5 grams
• Fiber: 0.6 grams
• Sugar: 9.4 grams
• Protein: 0.9 grams
• Fat: 0.2 grams
• Vitamin A: 5% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin C: 14% of the DV
• Potassium: 4% of the DV
• Magnesium: 4% of the DV

Watermelon is also a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that may improve exercise performance (6Trusted Source).

Plus, it boasts antioxidants, including vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin E (3Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

These compounds help combat free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may damage your cells if they accumulate in your body. Over time, this damage may lead to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer (8Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Watermelon boasts numerous nutrients, including a substantial amount of vitamins A and C. It also offers antioxidants like lycopene and cucurbitacin E.

3. May have anticancer effects

Several plant compounds found in watermelon, including lycopene and cucurbitacin E, have possible anticancer effects.

While study results are mixed, lycopene intake may be associated with a lower risk of some types of cancer, such as prostate and colorectal cancers (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

Lycopene is believed to work by lowering blood levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a hormone that promotes cell division. Notably, cancer forms when cell division becomes uncontrollable (13Trusted Source).

Additionally, cucurbitacin E may inhibit tumor growth by promoting the autophagy of cancer cells. Autophagy is the process by which your body removes damaged cells (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

All the same, further human research is necessary.

SUMMARY

Watermelon contains plant compounds that may combat certain forms of cancer. However, more studies are needed.

4. May improve heart health

Several nutrients in watermelon may support heart health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. It’s worth noting that lifestyle factors like diet may lower your risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).

Studies suggest that lycopene may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also help prevent oxidative damage caused by high cholesterol levels (3Trusted Source).

Watermelon also contains citrulline, an amino acid that may increase nitric oxide levels in your body. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels expand, which lowers blood pressure (18Trusted Source).

Other heart-healthy vitamins and minerals in watermelon include magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, and C (3Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

The lycopene and citrulline in watermelon may support heart health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

5. May reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

Inflammation is a key driver of many chronic diseases.

The combination of antioxidants, lycopene, and vitamin C in watermelon may help lower inflammation and oxidative damage (3Trusted Source).

In one study, rats fed watermelon powder to supplement an unhealthy diet developed less oxidative stress and lower levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein than those in the control group (19Trusted Source).

Additionally, an 8-week study gave 31 people with obesity and high inflammatory markers 500 mg of vitamin C twice daily. They showed a significant decrease in inflammatory markers compared with the control group (20Trusted Source).

As an antioxidant, lycopene may also delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. (21).

SUMMARY 

Watermelon contains compounds that may help reduce inflammation, high levels of which are linked to numerous illnesses.