Do you know how watermelons affect your blood vessels, pressure…

One of the main facts is that watermelon is an excellent source of antioxidants, primarily lycopene, which gives it its characteristic red color. Antioxidants help fight free radicals that can cause cell damage. Like all phytonutrients, lycopene protects against some types of cancer, such as prostate and breast cancer, and may also help protect against heart disease. Along with watermelon, tomatoes are also rich in lycopene.

It affects digestion

Watermelon consists mainly of water, as much as 92 percent, so the consumption of this fruit is an excellent way to hydrate during hot summer days. You can also use it as a post-workout snack to replenish fluids lost during exercise.

Water content in watermelon will help digestion because hydration is vital for that body process. Otherwise, if you are dehydrated the body will withdraw all available fluids to help the movement of food through the system. This can lead to imprisonment, writes živim.hr.

It has a low sugar content and few calories

A cup of cut watermelon contains about 45 calories and 10 g of sugar. Although the sugar that is naturally present in fruit does not pose a health problem, people who have to watch their carbohydrate intake should perhaps still give preference to some fruit with a lower level of sugar.

On the other hand, watermelon has less sugar than many types of fruit, such as melons, peaches, cherries or apples.

It helps keep blood vessels healthy

Watermelon is extremely rich in L-citrulline, a substance that can help relax blood vessels and thus improve blood flow and help in better blood pressure control. You may have already heard that watermelon can also help relieve muscle pain after intense exercise, which is also a consequence of the action of L-citrulline, which is believed to help faster muscle recovery and recovery. However, it should be kept in mind that the studies on this were done on a small sample and of a short duration, and that the results were inconsistent.

What to watch out for

When buying a whole watermelon, wash the outside before cutting it into slices, as the rind can be contaminated with harmful bacteria. If bacteria are present, the knife can transfer them from the peel to the pulp when cutting. Also, make sure that you always use a clean knife to cut, so that you don’t accidentally transfer bacteria from other foods to the watermelon. A whole watermelon can stand at room temperature for seven to 10 days. This applies to those that are picked and then transported to stores, while locally grown watermelons can last even longer. Cut watermelon should be kept in the fridge and should be eaten within three to four days from the day you cut it.

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