BEAT SUMMER HEAT WITH SWEET MELON TREAT
One measuring cup of watermelon chunks has just 46 calories
plus a healthy dose of vitamins.
Watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but this
refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant
levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids.
There's even a modest amount of potassium. Plus, this quintessential summer
snack is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup
Foods that are high in antioxidants and amino acids allow your body to
function optimally," said Angela Lemond, a Plano,
Texas-based registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for
the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Antioxidants
help prevent damage, and cancer. Amino acids are the basic building block
for protein, and protein is used in virtually every vital function in the
body."Scientists have taken notice of watermelon's high lycopene levels — about 15 to 20 milligrams per 2-cup serving, according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board — some of the highest levels of any type of fresh produce. Lycopene is a phytonutrient, which is a naturally occurring compound in fruits and vegetables that reacts with the human body to trigger healthy reactions. It is also the red pigment that gives watermelons, tomatoes, red grapefruits and guavas their color
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