Watermelon is a very popular fruit. A slice of cold watermelon after coming home from the scorching sun seems to refresh body and mind in an instant. It is valued not only for its taste but as one of the best ways to protect the body from dehydration.

Many people do not know that watermelon is more than a thirst-quencher: it is also good for heart health, immunity and even sexual health. On World Watermelon Day, here is why nutritionists keep this fruit on their list.

About 92 per cent of a watermelon is water, making it very effective at replacing fluid lost through sweat in the heat. Adequate water helps control body temperature, reduces fatigue and keeps the skin fresh. For those who do not drink enough water, watermelon can be a tasty alternative.

Watermelon contains lycopene, potassium and magnesium, which play an important role in heart health. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage, and it may help control cholesterol and blood pressure. When blood pressure is normal, the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke is comparatively lower.

Not one fruit but a balanced diet is the key to a healthy life.

Watermelon contains vitamin C, vitamin A and various antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system. It may also help maintain normal liver function.

Many people feel muscle fatigue after long hours outdoors in the heat or after exercise. The potassium in watermelon helps maintain the body's electrolyte balance, which is important for normal muscle and nerve function.

Watermelon is often described as a fruit that naturally benefits sexual health, largely because of an amino acid called citrulline. In the body citrulline is converted into arginine, which in turn produces nitric oxide, helping to relax blood vessels. This can improve blood flow to different parts of the body, and healthy circulation plays an important role in sexual health too. Experts say, however, that watermelon is not a medicine and no substitute for treating sexual problems; anyone with a serious problem must consult a doctor.

The lycopene and other antioxidants in watermelon help reduce inflammation in the body. Along with a healthy diet, enough sleep and regular exercise, watermelon can be part of good living and may help reduce stress.

Many people eat only the red flesh and throw away the white part inside the rind, yet research has found that the white part just inside the rind may contain comparatively more citrulline. So, where possible, eating watermelon with a little of the white part may provide more of its nutrients.

Although watermelon is a healthy fruit, it should not be overeaten, as it contains natural sugar. People with diabetes or kidney problems should decide how much to eat on the advice of a doctor or nutritionist.

From keeping the body hydrated to supporting heart health, immunity and circulation, watermelon is a fruit full of nutrients. So on World Watermelon Day, a juicy slice can be part of a healthy lifestyle, not just a treat.

The article draws on the Hindustan Times and Medical News Today.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.