What benefits does the watermelon contain?
The watermelon is said to have its origins in Africa more than 4000 years ago! It is also a fruit that is mostly known for its water content. This makes it immensely famous during the summer season in India. Even though watermelon is not really known for its diversity, it does come in various colors like yellow, orange, pink and red. Does this mean that these varieties have some differences we have to keep in mind while choosing? Yes!
It’s important to make sure to choose a nice ripe watermelon to make sure it has the maximum amount of Vitamin C and flavonoids. In addition to these nutrients, watermelons contain NO (Nitric Oxide). It’s important to know the importance of NO. After all, it was named the molecule of the year a couple of decades back. It is intricately tied to blood pressure and blood sugar regulation. The watermelon is one of the foods that is definitely rich in it!
It doesn’t end there! Watermelon also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cardiovascular benefits. It is abundant in phytonutrients including carotenoids, flavonoids, and triterpenoids. These phytonutrients are intricately linked to increased cardiovascular benefits. The red variety of watermelon especially has a higher amount of these nutrients so next time you know which to choose!
What benefits does the muskmelon contain?
Now that we have a good idea about the watermelon, let’s look at the benefits of the muskmelon. We aren’t really sure about the origins of the muskmelon, but it is said to have originated from Africa. Some historians believe they may have originated from Asia as well. Most people ask if cantaloupes and muskmelons are the same. The cantaloupe is a variety of muskmelon, therefore all cantaloupes are muskmelons but all muskmelons are not cantaloupes.
Since muskmelons have a color that is more on the yellow side, we tend to forget how rich in Vitamin A they are. They’re also known to contain high quantities of beta-carotene (which is like a precursor to Vitamin A). In fact, studies have shown that they contain close to 30 times the amount of beta-carotene as compared to fresh oranges!
Even though strawberries and lychees are known to have a higher amount of anti-oxidants in theory, the muskmelon tested to have more practical absorption of the anti-oxidants. This places the muskmelon higher than strawberries!
What does this mean for your fitness diet?
When it comes to choosing between the fruits to suit your fitness needs, wither it is a great choice. Both fruits are a good choice since they are low in calorie count and have a good amount of nutrients. Choosing fresh fruit over a fruit juice adds fiber to your diet which is very important for your gut health. Choosing a piece of fruit over other snacks like biscuits or flavored bread is a very wise choice!
Choose either fruit, you won’t regret it. Stay healthy!
