Whole Food Signatures - Watermelon
There’s no other summer fruit quite as refreshing as the watermelon! They have been extremely delicious over the past week and are perfect as a juice, in a fruit salad or combined with vegetables for a summer salad (see this week’s recipe idea) and as I sip on my watermelon and mint juice I will focus on this beautiful fruit for this week’s healthy wholefood.
The watermelon’s whole food signature (sign of nature) is that of the brain, the water content of watermelon is close to 92% and similar to the human brain. The structure and physical appearance can also be linked, with pink interior and a solid rind/bone firm exterior. The gray matter of the human brain is copied by the pale light green tissue between the pink watermelon flesh and the hard rind. The substantia nigra in the mid brain (latin for black substance) is also mirrored in the black watermelon "seed”.
Watermelons have a wide range of healthy benefits, not just for your “melon”, these include:
- Watermelon has anti fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-viral properties.
- The extremely high content of lycopene available in watermelon makes it an excellent heart and cell beneficial food, also known to lower blood pressure, prevent cancers and heart dis-ease.
- Vitamin B6 found in watermelons is extremely useful in manufacturing brain chemicals and also helps cope with anxiety and panic.
- Vitamin A in watermelon boosts immunity by enhancing infection-fighting action in lymphocytes.
- Can help reduce inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis.
- Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through perspiration. Great for hydration (along with water of course!) and a perfectly healthy alternative to artificial energy drinks.
- Vitamin C is also instrumental in boosting the body immune system and also deters conditions such as cataract and benefits eyesight.
Our friend Don Tolman went 90 days on watermelon and watermelon juice along and “never felt better, more alert or more alive in my life!….. Quite the food!
