Watermelon Mania
Happy Independence Day Holiday
What’s not to love about watermelon!! Everyone has a way they prefer to choose and eat this wonderous fruit- from salads to juices, plain, or with a sprinkle of salt to bring out its sweetness. It’s known to be versatile from the juicy pink to the red inside and the less popular rind.
Watermelon is a flowering plant species of the cucurbitaceous family and is a trailing vine-like plant. Its history is traced to Africa. Naturally, it was quite familiar and loved in the south and today it is still a favorite in the African American community. Many Southern black farmers still farm many delicious varieties of this fruit that grows well in the summer.
Nutritionally speaking, watermelon is a great way to hydrate on hot summer days. As a matter of fact, in certain semidesert regions of the world, the watermelon is an important source of water to natives during dry periods. It’s mostly water as its name implies and nutritional data puts it 91% water or more.
Watermelon’s nutrition Boasts:
Lycopene- has been linked with heart health, bone health, and prostate cancer prevention
Vitamin A- helps keep skin and hair moisturized, and it also encourages healthy growth of new collagen
Vitamin C- A powerful immune booster and skin nutrient
Potassium- The mineral known to help regulate heartbeat and help muscles contract
Even more benefits of watermelon rind
The rind has a surprising amount of health benefits. Plus, eating something you typically would have discarded cuts down on waste. Often suggest that the rind is pickled or used in juice. The rind is high in B vitamins, vitamin c, and a compound Citrulline that converts to Arginine an amino acid vital to the heart and circulation
Enjoy the holiday weekend. Here are some fun things to do with watermelon to complement your cookout. Everything watermelon recipes
Watermelon & Cucumber Salad with Feta
Ingredients
3 cups watermelon cubed or balled.
1 1/2 cups sliced cucumber seeds removed or Persian cucumbers
2 tablespoons mint or basil thinly sliced
1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Place the watermelon, cucumber and mint/basil in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Drizzle the dressing over the melon mixture and toss to coat. Sprinkle with feta and serve.