Numerous health benefits in summer favorite watermelon
Contact: Autumn Canaday
Email: Autumn Canaday
May 27, 2021
No summer barbecue is complete without fresh watermelon. As the nation approaches summer BBQ season, you may want to ponder how watermelon fruit chemistry can affect your overall health. Researchers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently identified over 1,500 small molecules with varying chemical properties in the fruit known as phytochemicals. They concluded that eating watermelon is an excellent way to increase your intake of antioxidants, non-protein amino acids, and lycopene. This means that every time you eat watermelon you are improving the health of your cells, organs, and nervous system.
Specifically, research is finding that the antioxidants in watermelon can help your body fight free radicals and slow down cell damage. The fruit’s protein-free amino acids also help repair your body tissues, break down foods from other meals, and even regulate your blood pressure.
“Watermelon could be part of the refreshing and healthy fruit options on your summer picnic table,” said USDA-ARS scientist Larry Parnell. “The fruit has gone through many years of evolution, domestication, and selection to acquire desirable properties – mainly those associated with meat color, texture, nutritional and sugar content. However, our research has continued to find that the fruit has a wide range of Contains nutrients that will improve your overall health. “
Most Americans buy the sweet, dessert watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, from their local grocery store or farmer’s market. This species is one of the most important vegetables grown and consumed worldwide, with an annual worldwide production of over 100 million tons. The fruit also has more lycopene than a raw tomato, which has been linked to healthy eyes, general heart health, and protection against certain types of cancer. Other nutrients such as carotenoids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, and alkaloids are also found in meat, seeds, and bark.
“I worked with Dr. Parnell and the team to develop a pioneering approach to using big data and computational biology to identify and catalog all of the phytochemicals found in edible fruits,” said ARS researcher Amnon Levi . “Research to identify the metabolic pathways and genomic sequence of genes involved in the production of useful phytochemicals could be of great benefit to plant scientists and growers looking to improve the nutritional content of fruits and vegetables.”
The phytochemicals in watermelon are compounds that protect human cells and are found in fruits, vegetables, grains and beans. All of these nutrients can contribute to your overall health in a variety of ways.
The watermelon was introduced to Europe via Moorish Spain in the 10th century. Since then, the watermelon has been successfully grown in warmer Mediterranean regions before being brought to America by European colonists in the 16th century. Today watermelon is grown in 44 US states, with main production concentrated in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy, balanced diet. The recommendation is 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables per day.
The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s premier scientific in-house research agency. Every day, ARS focuses on solving agricultural problems affecting America. Every dollar invested in agricultural research has an economic impact of $ 17.
