Watermelon is a vine-like (scrambler and trailer) flowering plant originally from southern Africa. It is a large, sprawling annual plant with coarse, hairy pinnately-lobed leaves and white to yellow flowers. It is grown for its edible fruit, also known as a watermelon, which is a special kind of berry botanically called a pepo. The fruit has a smooth hard rind, usually green with dark green stripes or yellow spots, and a juicy, sweet interior flesh, usually deep red to pink, but sometimes orange, yellow, or white, with many seeds.
1. Lowers the risks of cancer: As a result of its richness in lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient that is linked to cancer prevention. Lycopene has been proven to reduce the risks of colon, lung, prostate, endometrial and breast cancers. Watermelons have received great attention as a cancer-preventing fruit.
2. Helps control diabetes: The various vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium present in watermelon help in the proper functioning of insulin in the body thus lowering blood sugar level in diabetic patients. It is a fruit that can be used as a perfect supplement for diabetic patients who cannot eat staple means.
3.Protects the heart: Watermelons are rich in lycopene which helps in improving cardiac functions and beta carotene which performs anti-aging functions and keeps the heart young.
4. Controls high blood pressure: The high levels of magnesium and potassium present in watermelons is useful in regulating and bringing down the blood pressure thereby helping to prevent strokes and heart attacks.
5. Anti-inflammatory properties: The carotenoids in watermelon make it a good fruit to control inflammation. The lycopene in the fruit is a well-known inhibitor of many inflammatory processes in the body.
6. Other Benefit of Watermelon
Watermelon rinds are also edible, but most people avoid eating them due to their unappealing flavor. They are used for making pickles and sometimes used as a vegetable.
