Can Watermelon Improve Your Heart Health?
Watermelons contain many nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin C, and magnesium. The fruit also has a high bioavailability of antioxidants, including lycopene and l-citrulline. Studies have shown that watermelon supplements and extracts decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Comparably fewer studies investigate raw watermelon, however, and those that do tend to involve large quantities of over 2 lbs per day. Nevertheless, these studies also report that consumption of the fruit is linked to lower cholesterol and body weight, as well as a lower risk of prostateTrusted Source, lung, and breast cancerTrusted Source.
Further study of raw watermelon’s health effects could improve dietary guidelines and prevention strategies for cardiometabolic health. Recently, two studies that investigated the health effects of watermelon consumption. The first study, published in Nutrients, found that children and adults who consumed watermelon had a higher intake of various nutrients, including dietary fiber, magnesium, and potassium, than non-consumers. They also had a lower intake of added sugars and saturated fatty acids.
Excerpted from Medical News Today
