BY: PRINCE PAUL AMUZU
Despite the popular belief that watermelon is just water and sugar, watermelon is actually a nutrient dense food. It provides high levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and just a small number of calories .Watermelons are mostly about 92 percent water content but this refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of Vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids. There is even a modest amount of potassium, Dr. Kwabena Oduro of Adepa Scientific Herbal Research Center has said.
According to him, eating watermelon or drinking watermelon juice may have several health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved insulin sensitivity and reduced muscle soreness and improve recovery time following exercise in athletes. He said researchers believe this is likely due to the amino acid citrulline contained in watermelon.
Speaking in an interview with Nana Ama, the host of Food Safety, Nutrition and Hygiene on Tuesday on the nutritional values of eating watermelon, Dr Oduro said, watermelon is great for the skin because it contains Vitamins A, a nutrient required for sebum production, which keeps hair moisture and also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.
He said, watermelon’s high levels of lycopene are very effective at protecting cells from damage and may help lower the risk of heart disease and also reduce hypertension and lower blood pressure in obese adults.
According to the Doctor, watermelon may be especially important for older women as a research study in menopause found that postmenopausal women, a group known to have increased aortic stiffness, who took watermelon extract for six weeks saw decrease blood pressure and arterial stiffness compared to those who did not take watermelon extract. It also contains fiber which encourages a healthy digestive tract and helps keep regulations.
The Herbal Doctor, Oduro, of the Adepa Scientific Herbal Research Center has therefore advised the general public to adapt to eating of watermelon as a hobby since its nutritional values cannot be underestimate.
Source:ritefmonline.org
