Wonderous watermelon

By SA Tripi

Summertime, like the three other seasons, has its rituals. As kids, we would swim at the beach, go to parties, play outdoors and picnic. Picnics were always a favorite because we would either go to the park and sit and swing, and run around or we would barbecue in the backyard. And watermelon was always dessert.

We ate a lot of fruit when we were young but there was something about watermelon that made it the best of all. We were little and the pieces seemed so big. The fruit was sweet and red and juicy. We’d be wearing as much of the juice as we ate.

Fresh juicy watermelon slices this summer

I now eat watermelon not just for the taste but for the increased health benefits. They are ninety-one percent water, six percent sugar and thirty calories of food energy. They are low in fat and protein and have four grams of fiber. They are a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium and magnesium.

Watermelons contain lycopene which is found primarily in red and pink fruits and vegetables. It is a powerful antioxidant, and it is associated with many health benefits including a reduced risk of certain cancers, improved heart health, and enhanced skin protection from UV damage. Still, don’t forget your sunscreen. Your body doesn’t produce lycopene. You get it from food. Researchers think lycopene may also promote good oral and bone health and can help with stabilizing blood pressure.

Seedless watermelons were first developed by the Japanese in 1939. Some people prefer this fruit with seeds and some without seeds. The seeded watermelons rely on natural pollination to develop, and bees are needed. The seedless type is a hybrid process that takes a few types of watermelon plants. They are cross pollinated and the seeds disappear.

Watermelons were originally grown because of their high-water content and were stored so they could be eaten during dry seasons. This fruit is very important to the people and their animals in South Africa, the Kalahari Desert and East Africa. They need the water contained in this fruit. We can only hope that they will continue to be able to grow them. Our country cannot grow enough melons to keep up with our demand. Since we now eat watermelon all year long, some are brought in from South American countries.

Watermelon is a great snack. It is low in calories and high in water and cools you off in the heat and humidity of summer. You can eat as much as you want, and the fiber content is great for your gut health. (Diabetics may need to check their intake due to the sugar content of the fruit).  When you eat it, just remember one thing. Have a bib handy.

Sources: Healthline; Web MD; Medical News Today

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