Watermelon is the plant of the Cucurbitaceae family which bears a sweet, edible and fleshy fruit. Botanically, Watermelon is a fruit which has sweet, too bland to bitter taste. It is a creeping vine which bears rounded or oblong fruit that are also used as vegetables. The skin of the fruit is green, rarely yellow with stripes or dots. The fruit contains the pulp and seeds. Native to tropical and subtropical Africa, it was introduced early in the India and Mediterranean areas. It is widely cultivated and naturalized there. It was widely cultivated for over 4,000 years in Africa. Watermelon is also known as Bastard-melon, Watermelon, Dessert watermelon, Afghan melon, Bitter-melon, Egusi and Wild melon.

History

Wild watermelon is widely cultivated in Asia and Africa but was originated from the Southern Africa. It was occurred naturally Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia. Watermelon was cultivated as a crop in ancient times in Egypt. It got reached to India in the prehistoric times but reached China in the eleventh century. Today China is considered as the largest producer of Watermelon in the world. From Africa, Watermelon reached Europe where it was cultivated on the warmer parts of the Mediterranean. In the 17^th century, it was cultivated on the rest of Europe didn’t state growing watermelons until the 17th century.

Plant

Watermelon is a creeping herbaceous vine that roots in the ground and grows upto 10 m or 32.8 ft long. The vine has alternate and large leaves which measures up to 60-200 mm long; 40-150 mm wide and pinnately lobed. The flowers are axillary, yellow or green and measures upto 1.5 cm long. The plants have fruit upto 1.5-20 cm (0.59-7.87 inches) in diameter which is rounded or oblong or subglobose. The flesh is deep red, pink, orange, yellow or white. It contains dull brown seeds that are flattened, ovate and 0.35 – 0.47 × 0.19 – 0.27 inch (9-12 × 5-7 mm). The fruit usually weighs upto 20 kg.

Nutritional value

152 grams of raw Watermelon offers 46 calories with 6889 µg of lycopene, 12.3 mg of Vitamin C, 11.48 g of carbohydrate, 0.064 mg of copper, 0.336 mg of Vitamin B5, 43 µg of Vitamin A, 0.068 mg of Vitamin B6, 0.36 mg of Iron, 0.05 mg of Vitamin B1, 170 mg of potassium, 15 mg of magnesium and others.

Health benefits of Watermelon

Watermelon is the fruit that is free in fat and also an excellent source of Vitamin B6, A and C. It contains lycopene which provides the color of bright red, pink and deep red. It is a great source of antioxidant. Potassium helps to reduce the blood pressure and supports the functions of body organs. It is a great source of minerals and vitamins that helps to prevent the health illness such as obesity, mortality, heart disease, diabetes, enhance hair and complexion and increases energy.

1. Viagra effect

Lycopene and Beta carotene is found in the watermelons that helps to relax the blood vessels. Citrulline converts into arginine when the Watermelon is consumed. Arginine is helpful for the circulatory system and heart that also helps to maintain the immune health. Arginine enhances nitric oxide that helps to relax the blood vessels and also prevents erectile dysfunction. It cures high blood pressure, angina and other cardiovascular ailments. It also eliminates the toxic compounds from the bodies. It contains lycopene which is an antioxidant that protects the prostate, skin and heart health. (1)

2. Relieves muscle soreness

Watermelon possesses antioxidant properties that help to raise the muscle protein and promote the athletic performance. The study shows that watermelon is rich in L-citrulline which helps to provide relief from the muscle soreness. The study found that the natural juice containing natural juice seems to be bioavailable. (2)

3. Lowers blood pressure

Watermelon helps to lower the blood pressure on the heart and aorta. The people with high blood pressure and obesity are at high chances of heart attack or stroke when they are exposed to the cold during the winter months. The study shows that Watermelon is helpful for the vascular parameters and aortic blood pressure. (3)

4. Lowers aortic blood pressure

Watermelon possesses vasodilator properties that help to prevent hypertension which is the major chances for strokes and heart attacks. Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline which is associated with L-arginine that is an amino acid essential to form nitric oxide required to regulate blood pressure and vascular tone. Watermelon is rich in Vitamin C, B6, A and lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to lower the glucose level of serum. (4)

5. Treats health ailments

The research shows that the people who drank watermelon juice, their blood levels of arginine was 11 percent and 18 percent more in comparison to those who did not drank the watermelon juice. The study shows that arginine helps to cure the unhealthy level of blood sugar, high blood pressure and vascular ailments related with sickle cell disease. (5)

6. Reduce atherosclerosis

The study conducted on mice shows that those who drank watermelon juice instead of water have low body weight due to the reduction in fat mass. The concentration of plasma cholesterol and atherosclerotic lesions was reduced. Melon provides various health benefits. The study is still going on to find out the bioactive compounds that help to enhance the human health. (6)

7. Prostate health

High amount of lycopene is found in Watermelon which is an antioxidant that helps to eliminate the prostate cancer. There is a specific relationship between the prevention of cancer and lycopene. The diuretic properties found in Watermelon make the health of urinary tract effective. (7)

8. Kidney ailments

Watermelons are rich source of potassium that helps to cleanse the toxic substances in kidney. It helps to reduce the uric acid concentration in the blood that helps to lower the risk of kidney damage and forms the renal calculi. It promotes the urination that helps to clean the kidneys due to the high water content. The antioxidants found in Watermelon promote the kidney health and lowers the signs of premature aging such as age spots and wrinkles. (8)

9. Prevent cancer

Watermelons have high concentration of lycopene which is a carotenoid phytonutrient that is associated with the prevention of cancer. The study shows that lycopene helps to reduce the chances of breast, lung, colon, prostate and endometrial cancer. It also contains Vitamin C which is an antioxidanat and serves great anti-cancer activities. (9)

10. Eye ailments

The adequate intake of Watermelon helps to lower the chances of macular degeneration and eye problems due to the presence of Vitamin C, zeaxanthin, lutein and beta carotene. It promotes the eye health by delaying the chances of age related blindness as well as degeneration. These antioxidants prevent drying up of eyes, optical nerves and glaucoma. (10)

11. Cures impotence

Watermelon contains arginine that helps to cure erectile dysfunction and promotes the libido, lowers frigidity. (11)

Traditional uses

• The seed possess demulcent, pectoral, diuretic and tonic properties.
• It helps to treat the urinary passages and bed wetting.
• The fruit is consumed ripe.
• The fruit is a diuretic which helps to treat renal stones and dropsy.
• It contains lycopene which helps to prevent from heart attacks.
• The fruit is effective for diabetes and alcoholic poisoning.
• The intake of a glass of Watermelon juice helps to provide relief from dizziness in sunstroke as well as vomiting.
• The consumption of watermelon (500-1,000 grams) twice in a day provides relief from thirst, discharge of yellowish urine, bitter taste in mouth, pain in urethra, bad breath and hangover.
• The sundried Watermelon peels are used in Chinese herbalism.
• The diabetic patients should steam in water by adding 30 grams of winter melon skin and 30 grams of watermelon skin for thrice in a day.
• The people with fever, hot stomach, thirst and dry mouth, bad breath should eat 500-1000 grams of melon one or two times in a day.
• To eliminate hangover, one should take 500-1000 grams of fruit or 60 grams of skin which should be steamed in water and then serve.
• 50 grams of dried watermelon peels should be boiled in water and consumed as tea to tin order to treat hypertension, nephritis, diabetes and hangover.
• The root is used as a purgative but it is emetic in large doses emetic.
• The seeds are demulcent, pectoral, diuretic and tonic.
• In Northern Sudan, it is useful for burns, rheumatism, swellings and gout.
• It is used for purifying bladder and kidney; prevent erectile dysfunction and treats hepatomegaly as well as jaundice.
• Watermelon fruit pulp, juice and seeds have been used as a diuretic.
• The juice extracted from roots helps to treat hemorrhage after abortion.
• Juice of fruit use as antiseptic in typhus fever.
• In China, the dried fruit is useful for mouth sores.
• Pericarp is used to treat diarrhea in Tonkin.
• Seeds help to relieve the symptoms of acute cystitis.
• In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to provide relief from excessive thirst, scanty urination, urinary tract infections and icetreic hepatitis.
• In Chinese herbal medicine, it is used to cure erectile dysfunction, diabetes, acne and nephritic edema.

Precautions   

• It should not be consumed after meals because it results in vomiting.
• The people with diarrhea should not consume watermelon.
• The unsure people should consult the experienced medicine practitioner.
• The excessive consumption of Watermelon causes vomiting, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, gas, indigestion, irregular heartbeats and allergic reactions such as facial swelling, severe rashes and anaphylaxis.
• Due to the high amount of potassium content in Watermelon, it could lead to the ailments of nervous system and heart.
• It could damage the control of motor nerves and kidneys.
• The people with kidney ailments should avoid it because it could lead to the internal damage.
• It may lead to the allergic reactions such as itching, rashes, sneezing etc.
• It could reduce the blood pressure.

How to Eat

• The fruit is consumed raw as a refreshing drink.
• Unripe fruits are added to the soups.
• The fruits are used to make jams.
• Seed are consumed raw or cooked.
• The roasted seeds are used with cereal flours to make cakes, bread etc.
• It is also added to make stews or soups.
• It is added to the fruit salads by making cubes or sections.
• It could be made into jam, fruit cocktail, sorbet and juice.
• The seeds are roasted and eaten as a snack in some Asian countries.
• In China, rinds are stewed or stir-fried.
• In South, it is used in form of pickles.
• In Asian countries, the seeds are roasted and consumed as a snack food.
• Watermelon could be mixed with salt, red onion (thinly sliced) and black pepper.

Other Facts

• Watermelon is considered as both a vegetable and a fruit.
• It belongs to the same family of pumpkin, cucumber and squash.
• The watermelon is the official state vegetable of Oklahoma.
• Watermelon contains about 92% water and 6% sugar.
• Due to the rich electrolyte and water content, it is regarded as the thirst quenchers.
• Watermelon contains Vitamin C, B1 and manganese that helps to prevent from infections.
• China is largest producer and Turkey is the second largest producer of Watermelon in the world.
• In China, rinds are stewed, stir-fried or pickled and also used as a vegetable.
• There are above 1200 varieties of Watermelon which is available in different weights, sizes, shapes and color such as red, yellow, orange or white.
• The weight of the heaviest watermelon is 121.93 kg or 268.8 lb.
• Watermelon contains more lycopene in comparison to the raw tomatoes.
• The juice of Watermelon may provide relief from muscle soreness.
• Watermelon doesn’t contain any cholesterol or fat and rich in fiber, Vitamins C & A and potassium.
• Watermelon is cultivated over 96 countries in the world.
• In Egypt and Israel, Watermelon is paired with feta cheese.
• Even the rinds and seeds of Watermelon are edible.

Types of Watermelon

Watermelon is a plant which grows like a vine indigenous to the Southern Africa. Watermelon is  a pepo which has thicker skin and fleshy heart. The fruit watermelon has green to white external skin with succulent and sweet internal flesh whose color ranges from deep red to pink.

1. Sugar Baby

The sugar baby measures from 9-13 pounds is usually which is also known as icebox watermelon. It was created in 1955 which is a fairly sweet fruit having dark green skin.

 

2. Sangria

Sangria was created in 1985 which has scarlet colored and non fibrous tissue.

 

 

3. Golden Midget

It has spectacular golden skin and weighs upto 3 pounds.The skin turns to yellow when it gets ripened. It was produced by Elwyn Meader and Albert Yeager in 1959.

 

4. Starlight

It is the fruit of amaranth colored. It is transportable and gratifying.

 

 

5. Jubilee

Jubilee was created in 1963 which weighs up to 45 pounds. It exceeds above 32 pounds when ripened completely.

 

 

6. Starbrite

It is pink which has medium to firm flesh which is great for puréeing into sorbets or granites.

 

 

7. Extazy

Extazy is seedless which measures upto 5 pounds and is mainly cultivated in Arizona and California.

 

 

8. Stars ‘n’ Stripes

It is a crossbreed which has green stripes on its skin, and may weighs about 30 pounds. It has firm and fairly sweet tissue.

 

 

9. Mickylee

Mickylee has an attractive and speckled skins with red flesh. It measures about 12 pounds.

 

 

10. Yellow Baby

This  crossbreed has yellow doll in the skin design and the flesh color.

 

 

11. Yellow Doll

 It weighs about 8 pounds. It has golden fleshed and taste extra sweet. It is great for fruit smoothies and iced beverages.

 

 

12. Little Baby Flower

It has pink flesh which ripens fast and weighs above four pounds.

 

 

13. Crimson Sweet

Crimson sweet has bright red flesh which has sweet taste.

 

 

14. Pixie

It is a seedless melon which weighs about 6 pounds and has thick lines in the skin. It is very sweet nd seedless fruit.

 

 

15. Summer Flavor

Summer flavor is a combination of crimson sweet and sweet.

 

 

16. Moon and Stars

It has lemon colored dots which measures about 40 pounds. It got launched in 1920s.

 

 

17. Sweet Favorite

It has light green patches on blue to green rind.It has succulent and ruby colored fruit.

 

 

18. Cream of Saskatchewan

This melon has creamy flesh and weighs about 10 pounds. The cultivar has been said to have been delivered to North America by Russian immigrants whom settled within the Canadian land of Saskatchewan.

 

References:

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/citrullus_lanatus.htm

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279562&isprofile=0&pt=1

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Citrullus+lanatus

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/481/

https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=10675

http://www.pingminghealth.com/article/108/watermelon-and-urinary-tract-infections/

https://caloriebee.com/nutrition/Watermelon-And-Diarrhea-Some-Effects-Of-Watermelon-Consumption

http://myhealthbynature.com/health-benefits-of-watermelon-side-effects/

http://2beingfit.com/watermelon-fruit-seeds-rind-peel-health-benefits-nutrition-uses/#

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31

http://www.thetowndish.com/2007/06/07/ten-facts-you-never-knew-about-watermelon/

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