WATERMELON SEEDS – A
HEALTH BOON
It’s Mid-summer time; our eventual dietary additions
include majorly the fruit watermelon. Present generation either avoids or devoid
the seeds of the above fruits in general. But before spitting them off to the
ground, kindly remember this article. The magic of good health lies calm in
these seeds. Let’s cruise a short view on these seeds and their benefits.
watermelon seeds are a rich source of nutrients and
minerals and therefore, should not be discarded. These seeds have a hard outer
covering so they should be chewed before swallowing to get their nutritional
content which is listed at the end of this article.
Here's the major reason to
enjoy watermelon before summer ends: This delicious fruit and its seeds are
unusually high in an amino acid known as citrulline. Our body uses citrulline to make yet another amino
acid, arginine, which helps cells divide, wounds heal, and ammonia to be
removed from the body. Our body
requires amino acids but there are some essential amino acids such as arginine
and lysine which the body cannot produce on its own and these have to be
provided from food sources. Watermelon seeds also contain some of these
essential amino acids such as tryptophan and glutamic acids. Lysine helps in
calcium absorption to facilitate formation of collagen and connective tissues
in the body whereas arginine improves the body’s metabolism, cardiovascular
system and sexual health.
Citrulline plays an important
role in maintaining the stability of acid in the body. It’s needed to balance
the nitrogen and metabolic processes in the body. It’s needed to detoxify
and take away ammonia from muscle and liver cells. With a lack of Citrulline,
your body could have a Citrulline deficiency - a condition that can be detected
with vitamin deficiency tests. The most common symptoms of Citrulline
deficiency is fatigue and sustained weakness of muscles.
Benefits of Citrulline:
- Detoxifies the liver from ammonia
- Boosts the immune system
- Helps produce energy
- Maintains an acid balance in the body
Watermelon seeds contain lycopene which is good for your
face and also helps in improving male fertility. These seeds are excellent
sources of multivitamin B and can replace some of the supplements. Vitamin B
present in watermelon seeds comprises of niacin, folate, thiamine, riboflavin,
vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. B vitamins are vital for maintaining healthy
blood, nervous system and effective immune response.
These seeds can be used for treating diabetes. Boil a
handful of watermelon seeds in 1 liter water for 45 minutes, keeping the pot
covered. This concoction should be taken every day like tea. Watermelon seeds
are effective in recovering health after illness and sharpening your memory.
Almost half of the watermelon seed contains oil which
comprises of 20 percent saturated fat and the rest monounsaturated and
polyunsaturated fat including omega-6 fatty acids. One cup of dried watermelon seeds
contains around 50 grams of fat which constitutes about 80 percent of the daily
recommended value. Thus, watermelon seeds are an important source of calories
and energy.Being high in protein, watermelon seeds can be extremely beneficial
in combating protein deficiencies. One cup of dried seeds provides about 30
grams of protein.
Watermelon seed tea works as a natural diuretic. It can
be used for kidney cleansing. Edward Cayce was the person who made this tea
popular way back in the 1940s. This tea can be used to treat people coping with
urinary infections and eliminate kidney stones. Drinking watermelon seed tea
can be quite beneficial for cardiac health.
The healthy fats present in watermelon seeds, including
Omega 6 fatty acids and Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids, help in reducing the
levels of harmful LDL cholesterol in your blood. This, in the long run, helps
lower the risk of cardiac ailments and other health complications.
The unsaturated fatty acids in watermelon seeds keep the
skin moisturized, soft, firm, well-toned and prevent acne and other skin
disorders. Watermelon seeds prevent signs of ageing because they contain
antioxidants and oils which make your skin look younger, healthier and more
vibrant.
Water melon seed oil, also known as Ootanga oil or
Kalahari oil is extremely beneficial for your skin. Being light in texture, it
does not clog skin pores, thus allowing your skin to function naturally and is
a great moisturizer. Due to its excellent moisturizing properties, watermelon
seed oil is used as an essential ingredient in baby oils.
Watermelon seed oil also removes sebum, dirt and grease
that build up in your skin pores and are responsible for causing acne and giving
a dull appearance to your skin. This oil is suitable for all skin types
including dry, oily, acne prone and maturing skin.Watermelon seed extract locks
moisture, thus combating the ageing degradation. It also rejuvenates the
elasticity of your skin.The wide array of nutrients contained in watermelon
seeds protects your skin from certain types of skin cancers and infections as
well.
Roasted watermelon seeds contain copper which is involved
in the production of melanin. As you know, melanin is a pigment that provides
color to your hair and skin. In
addition to its skin benefits, watermelon seed oil can also be used for your
tresses. As pointed out earlier, this oil is light in texture that gets
absorbed easily without clogging the pores of your scalp. It provides
moisturizing benefits and improves hair growth by maintaining hair and scalp
health. Watermelon seed oil provides the hair with essential fatty acids which
are needed by your hair to prevent breakage and keep it moisturized.
Nutritional components
Magnesium
One of several minerals found in watermelon
seeds is magnesium. In a 4 gram serving, you’ll get 21 mg of magnesium.
Magnesium is essential for many of the body’s metabolic functions. It’s also
required to maintain nerve and muscle function, as well as immune, heart, and
bone health. 100 grams of seeds providing 139 percent of
the recommended daily requirement. Magnesium is vital for normal heart
functioning, maintenance of normal blood pressure, supporting metabolic process
and protein synthesis. It is also beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular
diseases and hypertension besides controlling blood pressure and diabetes.
Iron
A handful of watermelon seeds contains about
0.29 mg of iron. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin —
carrying oxygen through the body. It also helps your body convert calories into
energy.
Folate
There are 2 μ of folate in a single serving
of watermelon seeds. Folate, also known as folic acid
or vitamin B-9, is important for proper brain function and also works to
control homocysteine levels. Women of childbearing years need even more, since
folate deficiency has been associated with certain neural tubal birth defects.
‘Good’ Fats
Watermelon seeds also provide a good source
of both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids — 0.3 and 1.1 grams,
respectively. These fats are useful in protecting against heart attack and
stroke, and lowering levels of “bad” cholesterol in the blood.
Hope we shall happily chew these watermelon
seeds here more…….
No comments:
Post a Comment