The Health Benefits of Watermelon

Recently, awesome cuisine got in touch with those readers who regularly contacted us using the contact form. We asked them what their favorite summer snack/drink is and what they would want to hear about from us in the next blog. And we were not surprised when the majority of them told us that their best friend this summer was watermelon.

You could eat or ‘drink’ a watermelon because they contain 92% water and 8% sugar.

Children love to snack on a slice of watermelon extending between both ears; but as we grow up we lose interest in snacking on this tasty and nutritious snack because it is not only messy but we move onto various other hydration sources. This is bad, because just wait until you read the nutritional benefits of this awesome fruit on your awesome site.

Watermelons are a great source of vitamins A, C, and B6 which help in reducing risks of heart diseases, colon cancer, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

They are also an excellent source of potassium and hence will help lower the blood pressure. They are extremely low in sodium thus maintaining a good potassium-sodium ratio. Watermelon during a juice fast can cure kidney disorders.

Watermelons help in healing wound faster because they contain some special amino acids. Who wants a raw nagging wound with salty sweat and dirt mixed in it for a lot of days?

So, how can you snack on watermelon without getting your ears wet and not eating it the boring way chopped into pieces?

Firstly, the entire list of all the watermelon recipes found on our website is listed here. You go and have your fill from there. But for the choosy eater, we highlight the best and most popular recipes below.

There are so many different types of juices and smoothies you could make out of this. Do NOT add water as this contains 92% water in itself. There is Ginger-Watermelon crush for the spice lover, Watermelon Slush for your naughty toddler and plain old Watermelon drink for the elderly who just want to harvest the nutritional benefits. There also are Watermelon Sorbet, Watermelon strawberry smoothie and Watermelon and Black Pepper Sorbets for the teenagers and those who want to experiment newer drinks.

Our best rated watermelon drink is this Watermelon Juice video recipe. Don’t miss it.

Did you know, you could use watermelon in both fruit and vegetable salad and it would blend in with both? Ah, yes, like tomatoes.

If you are an active dieter, check out Tangy Melon medley, Citrus Fruit Salad and Watermelon Papaya Salad. They fill the stomach sumptuously but have very little calories in them.

Surprise your spouse with this never before chutney for tomorrow’s breakfast of idli and dosa. Try Dried fruit chutney with Watermelon and guava which can be whipped up in five minutes. Yes, a quick dish for the hurried morning hours.

If you have a sweet tooth and want to go to bad with something not only sweet, but exotic and tingly, try our Raj Doi recipe made of plump fresh watermelons.

Do you want to try something new and very different? We have not yet listed this out in our recipe sections yet. Our experts and tasters are just about to give this an ok. Have you heard of Watermelon pie? No? Then, you should prepare it this weekend. Here we go…

2 cups all purpose flower

3 cups watermelons, after removal of seeds and mashed.

1 orange pealed.

¾ cup honey

Sugar, if you are particular, but honey is sufficient.

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup cool whip topping

First place the flour in a dry skillet over medium heat temperature. Cook this for a few minutes, stirring occasionally and then set aside to cool. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Take a large bowl; mix watermelon, orange, honey, salt and cinnamon, whip it for 10 seconds. Grease the bottom of a pie plate and pour this mixture over top.

Place in the oven to bake for about forty five minutes and then remove to cool. Once completely cooled spread cool whip topping over and serve.

In this pie, in place of oranges, you can mix pineapples or peaches for a less sour taste. But it tastes best with orange.

Does watermelon help your good looks? Yes.

Forgot your sun screen in a hurry to join your friend in that shopping spree? Are you worried about wrinkles and sun burn this afternoon? Get a watermelon smoothie from the mall while shopping. Watermelon is nature's richest source of lycopene, which is an antioxidant that kills the UV-induced free radicals that cause sunburn and wrinkling. And it cuts the risk of sun related skin damage by 40%. Forget those messy creams; instead drink those chilled smoothies on the go.

This week, we open the question to all the readers and do not restrict it to our regulars. What would you like to hear about from us next week? Don’t wait. Go to the contact form, write to us and we would come back with your favorite fruit or vegetable or sweet or savory or just about any cuisine on awesome cuisine’s next blog post. Until then adieu J (**awesome cuisine waves with a sip of watermelon juice**)