Nutrition and Health Benefits of Watermelon

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Watermelon

 

9:00 PM Vegetarian

Watermelon Nutrition Facts
Eating your fruits is an important part of any well-balanced diet, but watermelon in particular has so much to offer. Watermelon nutrition facts show us that one wedge has 86 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, no cholesterol and less than 1% of your daily value of sodium.
But watermelon does provide you with 22 grams of carbs, 2 grams of protein and 5% of your daily value of fiber, a healthy recipe for fat burning and weight loss. With 18 grams of sugar, watermelon is a great way to curb a sugar craving.
Watermelon nutrition facts reveal this fruit as a jack of all trades; providing healthy amounts of virtually all essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A and C are available in high quantities in just 1 wedge of watermelon, providing 33 and 39% of your daily value. Vitamin B6, pantothenic acid and thiamin are also provided in significant amounts.
Aside from sodium, one wedge of watermelon can give you at least 2% of your daily value of all minerals. Potassium, magnesium and manganese are provided in the highest amounts, with other minerals in much smaller amounts.
How does this translate to health benefits?
Health Benefits of Watermelon
One of the main health benefits of watermelon is its status as a powerful antioxidant, found in vitamins A and C, which helps to neutralize free radicals than can lead to inflammation, general sickness and chronic illnesses such as stroke and heart attack.
The beautiful pink color of watermelon, due to beta-carotene, is a powerful ally against many types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon provides additional cancer fighting health benefits of watermelon.
The high water content of watermelon is part of what gives it fat burning benefits, helping to make your metabolism work more efficiently. With a healthy amount of fiber and protein, your body will still work harder simply processing watermelon.
To be sure, watermelon works best for fat burning as part of a well-balanced diet, but you can rest easily that most of the calories in watermelon will be burned quickly after consumption.