Watermelon Nutrition: EP Wellness and Functional Clinic

Watermelon, one of the summer’s main fruits, is low in calories and rich in water. It provides an excellent source of vitamins A and C and lycopene and is less acidic than citrus fruits and tomatoes. The whole fruit is edible. The watermelon can be used as frozen chunks for water or seltzer drinks, smoothies, salsas, and salads; the rind can be stir-fried, stewed, or pickled, and the subtle sweetness pairs well with cheese, nuts, and other protein sources.

Watermelon

Watermelon poses few risks, with research deeming the fruit nontoxic. Side effects from eating too much watermelon can include abdominal discomfort, bloating, and gas.
The fruit does contain sugar, recommending individuals with diabetes should be careful to avoid sugar spikes.

Vitamins and Minerals

• A fully ripe red watermelon contains higher nutrients than a less ripe watermelon.
• A single serving is a healthy source of vitamins C and A, providing a significant percentage of the daily requirement.
• Vitamin C aids in wound healing and can help increase anti-aging properties and immune system function.
• Vitamin A is important for eye health.

Calories

• One cup of diced or balled watermelon contains about 46 calories.
• Wedges around one-sixteenth of the melon, or 286 g, contain approximately 86 calories.

Benefits

Watermelon can benefit health in several ways.

Fight Dehydration

• Watermelon is nearly 92% water, making it a hydrating food choice.
• If it is a struggle to drink water, specifically during the hot summer days, a few servings of watermelon can rehydrate the body.

Reduce Blood Pressure

• Watermelon contains antioxidants that research has shown can help reduce or prevent high blood pressure.
• A fully ripe melon contains more lycopene than a tomato.

Reduce Risk of Infections and Cancer

• Other antioxidants include flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids.
• These antioxidants can help cell repair and lower the risk of infections and certain cancers.

Contributes to Weight Loss

• A group of overweight adults participated in a study that found the group that ate watermelon instead of low-fat cookies felt fuller.
• The watermelon group also showed reductions in body weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and blood pressure.

Reduce Muscle Fatigue

• The fruit contains a significant amount of the amino acid citrulline.
• Capsules of concentrated citrulline are sold as nutritional supplements.
• The benefits are not conclusive, but some studies show that supplements could reduce the feeling of fatigue.

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Nutrition Fundamentals

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References

Bailey, Stephen J et al. “Two weeks of watermelon juice supplementation improves nitric oxide bioavailability but not endurance exercise performance in humans.” Nitric oxide: biology and chemistry vol. 59 (2016): 10-20. doi:10.1016/j.niox.2016.06.008

Burton-Freeman, Britt, et al. “Watermelon and L-Citrulline in Cardio-Metabolic Health: Review of the Evidence 2000-2020.” Current atherosclerosis reports vol. 23,12 81. 11 Dec. 2021, doi:10.1007/s11883-021-00978-5

Figueroa, Arturo, et al. “Watermelon extract supplementation reduces ankle blood pressure and carotid augmentation index in obese adults with prehypertension or hypertension.” American Journal of Hypertension vol. 25,6 (2012): 640-3. doi:10.1038/ajh.2012.20

Glenn, J.M., Gray, M., Wethington, L.N. et al. Acute citrulline malate supplementation improves upper- and lower-body submaximal weightlifting exercise performance in resistance-trained females. Eur J Nutr 56, 775–784 (2017). doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-1124-6

Martínez-Sánchez A., Ramos-Campo D. J., Fernández-Lobato B., Rubio-Arias J. A., Alacid F., & Aguayo E. (2017). Biochemical, physiological, and performance response of a functional watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline during a half-marathon race. Food & Nutrition Research, 61. Retrieved from foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/view/1203

Naz, Ambreen, et al. “Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims.” EXCLI journal vol. 13 650-60. 3 Jun. 2014

Panche, A N et al. “Flavonoids: an overview.” Journal of nutritional science vol. 5 e47. 29 Dec. 2016, doi:10.1017/jns.2016.41

Volino-Souza, Mônica et al. “Current Evidence of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Ingestion on Vascular Health: A Food Science and Technology Perspective.” Nutrients vol. 14,14 2913. 15 Jul. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14142913