It’s the perfect summer snack: watermelon is not only super juicy and deliciously sweet, it’s also full of vitamins. What this fabulous fruit can do and how it tastes best, we tell you in this article.
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Why is watermelon healthy?
First and foremost, watermelon is healthy because it contains an enormous amount of liquid. It tastes very sweet, but at the same time has very few calories. In addition, watermelons contain hardly any fruit acid, which makes them very digestible and easy to digest.
That’s why watermelon is healthy: minimum calories, maximum taste.
Let’s just compare watermelon to a serving of regular vanilla ice cream. Both are super delicious, but what about the calories? At 100 grams, the melon comes to just about 25 kilocalories. In contrast, commercial vanilla ice cream has about 200 kilocalories – almost 10 times as many! In addition, watermelons contain about 5 to 6 grams of sugar per 100 grams, which is very little compared to many types of fruit.
That’s why watermelon is healthy: brimming with vitamins and minerals.
The red flesh of watermelon, just like tomatoes for example, contains large amounts of lycopene. This is a secondary plant substance that is responsible for the red color of the fruit. On the other hand, it has a strong anti-inflammatory effect in our body and can neutralize free radicals that weaken our immune system. The riper the melon, the more lycopene it contains.
Watermelon also contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. Especially vitamins A, B6 and C are contained, but also plenty of potassium and iron.
Powerfood watermelon: pleasure guaranteed!
Is watermelon healthy? We can now answer this question with a huge “YES”! Now the question is how it tastes best. There are countless and insanely delicious recipes and ideas, so the following suggestions will surely meet your taste.
Delicious: The pure taste
Watermelon pure or with a little drizzle of honey or agave syrup: this is definitely an absolute classic and always tastes good! So if you keep your melon in the fridge, it provides you with a refreshment on hot summer days right away. Watermelon is also healthy after exercise, providing plenty of electrolytes as well as fluids and vitamins.
Refreshing and sweet
Speaking of refreshment, watermelon cubed and frozen in the freezer make great and original ice cubes that provide delicious cooling in wine, juice or other drinks! Watermelon can also cut a great figure in cakes or pastries – and without causing a guilty conscience.
Due to their high water content and intense sweetness, melons also fit perfectly into healthy smoothies and home-squeezed juices. Cocktails also taste even better with watermelon.
A different take on watermelon: Salty and savory
Not only sweet, but also salty and savory, the watermelon makes a bombastic figure: grilled, pickled in brine or in combination with feta and pita bread, it can also be served and nibbled as a main course.
Fun Fact: Watermelon – fruit or vegetable?
Because watermelons taste so deliciously sweet, we often colloquially classify them as fruits. However, this is a fallacy; watermelon is related to cucurbits, which also include cucumber and zucchini. Thus, watermelons count as vegetables.
The melon seeds: please do not throw away!
We often separate the seeds of watermelon from the flesh and dispose of them. But from now on this is an end, because the seeds are much too tasty and healthy for the garbage!
They are also full of minerals (especially magnesium), proteins and healthy fats. You can dry them, salt them and/or roast them. They make a great snack in between meals or as a topping in salads or soups.
Alternatively, you can simply dry your melon seeds, store them and sow them next spring. This way you get free seeds and can soon harvest your own watermelons!
Cheerful variety – are all varieties of watermelon healthy?
Watermelons not only taste fantastic, they are also totally healthy at the same time. In the supermarket you can now find numerous varieties and shapes. Some are larger and weigh up to 10 kilograms, some are more elongated, some have yellow flesh and still others are tiny. The yellow varieties may not be as high in lycopene, but otherwise they are full of vitamins.
Can I grow watermelons myself?
Because commercial cultivation and transportation of the plants and fruits costs a lot of energy and is polluted by pesticides, it’s best to use fruits grown organically. But it’s even better to grow your own watermelons – it doesn’t get much tastier or more sustainable than that! Besides, growing your own is great fun.
In our store you will find Werner, also a mini watermelon, its fruits grow only about 15 cm. In contrast to its larger cousins, the plant is so compact that you can easily grow it in a container and cultivate it yourself on the balcony, terrace or in a greenhouse. All varieties have one thing in common: they taste super delicious, are juicy sweet and are full of vitamins and minerals!
I have 30 years of experience and i started this website to see if i could try and share my knowledge to help you.
With a degree a Horticulture BSc (Hons)
I have worked as a horticulture specialist lead gardener, garden landscaper, and of course i am a hobby gardener at home in my own garden.
Please if you have any questions leave them on the article and i will get back to you personally.
