Watermelon is the large melon like fruit of a plant of the ground family with smooth skin red pulp and watery juice.
Watermelon contains different vitamins. It contains vitamin A which helps maintain the eye, it contains vitamin C which helps strengthen immunity, heal wounds, prevent cell damage, and promote healthy teeth and gums. And vitamin B6 which helps brain function and helps convert protein to energy. Water melon has the highest concentrations of lycophene which is the pigment that gives watermelon flesh its colour, helps fight against breast cancer, endometrical cancer, lung and colorectal cancers. It does not stop here. Watermelon has great source of potassium which helps. Muscle and nerve function, it helps maintain the body’s proper electrolyte and acid balance and helps lower the risk of high blood pressure.
Watermelon contains the amino acid citrlli and arginine, which can help maintain arteries blood flow and over all cardiovascular.
Not forgetting watermelon seed. Sometimes, when you eat watermelon seed your friends laugh at you. They do not know they are missing lots of nutrients. Some manage to eat watermelon and threw the seeds away.
Watermelon seeds have been used for various culinary and medicinal purposes. It can be attributed to its high nutritional content including fatty acids, essential amino acid and rich mineral content.
Watermelon seeds are good source of vitamin B like thiamin, niacin, folate in minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, iron, potassium and copper. 100 grams of watermelon seeds provide around 139% 87%, 82%, 74%, 44%, 20% and 37% of daily dietary values of these minerals respectively.
Watermelon seeds are also good source of dietary fibers which are essential for healthy body movement and digestion in some parts of the countries watermelon seeds are collected, dried and roasted for eating. Watermelon seeds are also used in making soup or other beneficial product like watermelon seed oil, watermelon seed tea, and watermelon seed extract are made.
Cooking watermelon seed can be roasted and eaten like snacks, these roasted watermelon seed can also be used to garnish salads, and oil obtained from watermelon seed is used as moisturizer for skin. Watermelon seed oil finds its place in some of skin care product and cosmetics. Sometimes watermelon seed extract is used instead.
Watermelon seed is considered as home remedy for stomach and urinary tract related disorders.
Amongst all the Amino acids body requires, there are some as known essential Amino acid which body cannot produce. These include arginine, lysine and others. Watermelon seeds supply some of this essential Amino acid including tryptohan, gultamic, Acids, lysine plays important role in calcium absorption and formation of collagen and connective tissue in body. Argine helps in improvement of body metabolism, cardio vascular system and sexual health.
Watermelon seeds are rich in magnesium and 100 grams of watermelon seeds provide around 139% of daily dietary requirement of magnesium. Magnesium is responsible for normal heart functioning, promoting normal blood pressure, supporting energy metabolism and protein synthesis. It has beneficial effect in treating cardiovascular diseases, hypertension. Magnesium regulates carbohydrate metabolism and there by checks blood sugar and control diabetics.
Watermelon seeds are equivalent to multi vitamin B. complex. Some of the vitamin present in watermelon seeds include niacin, folate, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, panthothenic acid. About 100 gm of watermelon seeds provide 19% daily value of naiacin, which is essential in maintaining the nervous system, digestive system and skin health.
Watermelon seed oil is also known as cotanga oil and Kalahari oil. Watermelon seeds are highly nutritive oil from watermelon seeds. Oil is obtained from crushing dried watermelon seed. The oil has amazing moisturizing capabilities and forms essential ingredient in baby oil. Watermelon oil contains essential fatty acids helpful for skin. It eliminates any toxins from skin; helps keep skin fresh and elastic. It is use in hair care product as non greasy high moisturizer.
Abu is a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State [email protected]
