Watermelon is a real summer refreshment – Did you know that watermelon comes from the pumpkin family? The fruit is an annual plant and is planted every year. Most of the members of this family grow in tropical regions, where it was first brought to southern Europe and Egypt, and then to other countries throughout the world, due to it being a juicy and sweet fruit. They all have in common that they grow very quickly and there is a lot of juice in the fleshy part. The size, shape and color of the watermelon fruit varies from variety to variety. The fruit can weigh up to 20 kilograms or 44 lbs, and the shape varies from round like a soccer ball to oval. The bark is dark green with striped or net patterns. The inner edible part of the fruit is most often red, and less often yellow in various shades. Watermelon often impresses us with its size.
When buying a whole watermelon, choose one whose weight corresponds to its size and whose rind is smooth and not too shiny. If you tap it with your fingers, the sound should not be hollow. The side where the watermelon lay on the ground during ripening must be yellowish in color, but never white or green, as this is an indication that it was picked too early, which will negatively affect the texture, taste and juiciness. If you buy cut watermelon, pay attention to the color and freshness. Store watermelon in the refrigerator, whole or cut, for up to a week. Wrap the cut watermelon in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out and absorbing the smell of other foods. Also do not forget to say that the coldest watermelon is not always the best. If you buy an unripe watermelon, wait a few days for it to fully ripen and have more lycopene in it. You can combine watermelons with other vegetables in the form of a salad, as an appetizer or a small meal. Cut into cubes, you can mix it with tomatoes and cucumbers, with arugula and pine nuts with the addition of fragrant basil, or just with onions with the addition of salt and pepper. The choice is yours. Well-chilled watermelon goes well with salty cheeses (if you like them), such as feta or parmesan. Watermelon can be used to prepare refreshing ice desserts, such as sorbet. If desired, you can add raspberries to the sorbet as well. A great idea is to pour the sweetened watermelon puree into an ice cube tray and put a mint leaf on top. Keep in the freezer for at least four hours, then serve in decorative bowls. You can also get a very nutritious juice with a great taste from watermelons. There is no doubt that watermelon is a real summer refreshment.
When it comes to the nutritional value of watermelon, it is low-calorie, 100 grams of edible part has 21 calories. The chemical composition of the fruit is as follows: 94% water, 5.5% carbohydrates, 0.5% protein, 0.5% vegetable fiber. Considering the large proportion of water, it also contains a certain amount of minerals and vitamins. It is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and contains zinc and copper as trace minerals. A good ratio of potassium and magnesium, which are important for circulation and heart function, makes it recommended for regulating their balance in the body, and since intense sweating and dehydration increase their excretion from the body, especially in summer. Vitamins are dominated by provitamin A, I, E, carotenes, beta and gamma carotene, lycopene, which gives the color of the fruit. Watermelons also contain vitamins of the B group, B1, B2, niacin, B6, as well as vitamin C. In the fleshy edible part, there are organic acids, glutamic, phosphoric, propionic, which have a favorable effect on digestion and prevent the negative action of bacteria. Watermelon contains amino acids arginine and citrulline, which are important in the processes of metabolism and breakdown of proteins in the body, as well as in the formation of urine, which prevents the accumulation of nitrogenous compounds in higher concentrations and stimulates the conversion of ammonia into urea and excretion through urine. In this way, the function of the two main organs of detoxification, the liver and the kidneys, is supported. Since lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, it is recommended if you want to reduce the risk and prevent some types of cancer, namely bladder, prostate, and colon, but also to protect the heart and blood vessels, as well as to strengthen immunity in general .
