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As juicy and succulent as watermelon is, the health benefits go beyond the taste. Watermelon seed cures many diseases and sicknesses. All this time, many have thrown away the seed, not knowing the health benefits of eating watermelon seed. The United States Department of Agriculture has listed different nutritional components of the watermelon seed. And I personally, have discovered one more health benefit of eating watermelon.
Watermelon seed is very rich in protein, as we all know that plant protein is better than animal's. A cup of dried watermelon seeds contains more than 30 per cent proteins, which is the 61 per cent of the daily -recommended dose. The proteins in the seeds consist of amino acids , tryptophan, glutamic acid, lysine and arginine. According to Medline Plus, some health conditions may benefit from additional arginine.
Some of the health benefits of arginine include; regulating blood pressure and treating coronary heart disease. Another mineral found in the seed is magnesium.
According to the U . S . National Institute of Health , magnesium helps to regulate blood pressure and the metabolism of carbohydrates , which has a beneficial effect on blood sugar level. Other important minerals in watermelon seed are phosphorous, iron, potassium , sodium , copper , manganese and zinc. Wow! Can you beat that.
One surprising thing about watermelon seed is the amount of fat they contain. A cup of the dried seeds contain 51 per cent fat.
This means, watermelon seed contains 61% dose of the daily recommended protein in our diet and 51% of fat. Other categories of deposits in the seeds are mono-unsaturated , polyunsaturated and omega - 6 fatty acids. Also American Heart Association reports that mono and poly-unsaturated fats reduce blood cholesterol , while omega - 6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood pressure too.
Watermelon is an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C as well as other antioxidants, which helps to reduce the risk of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute lycopene intake has been linked to decrease the prostate cancer cell proliferation.
You can consume watermelon seeds as they are or in a powdered form. What makes the seeds even more special is their protein and vitamin B content. The seeds can make for a fun and inexpensive snack – something you can munch on in between your meals. Watermelon seed health benefits are endless, if you ask me.
And not just the seeds, but even the seed oil is replete with benefits. The seed oil is extracted after cold pressing sun dried seeds. The oil enjoys great popularity in Western Africa and works miraculously well for your skin and hair. It has excellent moisturizing properties and a subtle texture, which is why it is quite often used in baby oils. The oil is rich in minerals, vitamins, and other essential fatty acids. One of its important ingredients is linoleic acid, which is great for the skin and prevents heart disease.
Also, watermelon seed cures constipation too. Eat the seed in the night (chew and swallow) before going to bed. When you wake up in the morning, first drink a glass full of water. Now, get ready for action for that day.
