(Citrullus lanatus)
What a wonderful fruit! Sweet and juicy and beautifully colored. The entire fruit is beneficial for us, even the rind and seeds!
Cool and juicy
The watermelon is used as a cooling food in hot weather. Since watermelons contain over 90% water they are great for relieving thirst. The water is an excellent cleanser and detoxifier for the whole body and has the greatest dissolving power of inorganic minerals in the body out of all fruits and vegetables. Watermelon is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium and has a cooling effect on the body. It is no wonder that we find ourselves reaching for a piece on those hot summer days!
Packed with nutrients
Watermelon is a great source of vitamin C and also A (from its beta carotene) and packed with antioxidants. It is also rich in B6, B1 and magnesium which are needed for energy production. Watermelon is a great source of lycopene as well, which is a potent carotene antioxidant. These antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which can cause much damage to us. Furthermore the watermelon contains higher amounts of lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable including tomatoes. Maybe even as much as 40% more lycopene than tomatoes!
Not as sugary as you might think!
Watermelon has only half the sugar of an apple, but it tastes much sweeter because sugar is its main taste-producing element. It is one of nature’s safest and most dependable diuretics. It has a remarkable ability to quickly and completely wash out the bladder. For many people who come off a fast, watermelon is their first food of choice.
Eat the rind?
The white rind is one of the highest organic sodium foods in nature, great for relieving thirst. The outside peel is one of the best sources of chlorophyll*, like a blood transfusion. The rind can actually be juiced and drunk, or small amounts can be eaten.
What about the seeds?
The edible seeds come in many colors. They are great for the kidneys. They are tranquilizers for the body and wonderful for the nervous system. They contain curcurbocitrin, a compound that dilates capillaries and lowers high blood pressure as well as improving kidney function. The seeds are also a remedy for constipation and are nearly as efficacious as pumpkin seeds in their ability to expel worms.
Pat a watermelon hard on the skin, and if it ”vibrates” it is ripe and ready to eat.
So go and enjoy your watermelon, a lovely raw food summer dish– both refreshing and filling!
*CHLOROPHYLL
Chlorophyll is considered the blood of plants; it is almost identical to the hemoglobin molecule present in our own blood. It increases hemoglobin content and improves oxygen transport – alkalizing and enhancing health. Our brain and all tissues thrive in a highly oxygenated environment and chlorophyll is a highly effective method of improving tissue oxygenation.
By Åsa Paul-Johansson
On the Lime – Raw Foods
Fort Lauderdale area, Florida
