Filling up on watermelon-and lycopene-protects against inflammation and cell damage, which are known to lead to a higher risk of health problems including heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The juicy fruit contains the antioxidant lycopene, which is usually associated with tomatoes, however, one study, published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology, found that watermelon actually contains more of the antioxidant than a tomato. Drink the juice straight or add the juice to your favorite smoothie recipe. One study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that drinking watermelon juice postrun helped to lessen postexercise muscle soreness. Watermelon juice is rich in the amino acid L-citrulline. While watermelon certainly tastes like a sweet and refreshing treat, there are five more reasons to sink your teeth into a slice for better health. The juicy fruit is also loaded with vitamins A, B6, and C, which boost your immunity, and potassium, which can potentially help ward off muscle cramps. While it does contain sugar (about 17 grams), this sugar, fructose, is naturally found in fruit which makes it a far better option than added or processed sugars as it’s easier for our bodies to process and won’t spike your blood sugar as drastically as a bag of sour watermelon candy, for example. One serving of watermelon or about two cups of diced melon contains just 80 calories and 21 grams of carbohydrate. Watermelon is made up of mostly-you guess it-water, about 90 percent to be exact, which makes it a refreshing and hydrating treat. The research shows that there are many benefits of watermelon we should take advantage of, so we tapped a dietitian to find out why you should feel good about grabbing some watermelon before or after your next run. And in celebration of National Watermelon Day, you might be reaching for a piece today, but you should actually be incorporating this hydrating fruit into your diet on the regular. There are few things that scream “summer” more than a refreshing slice of juicy watermelon.
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