Watermelon is my summer crush; I can’t get enough of it. Crisp, juicy, and cold; it’s the most perfect treat on hot summer days. Watermelon is a crowd pleaser that’s perfect for picnics, barbeques, and the beach. Eat your watermelon in big chunks, in a salad with tomatoes and feta cheese, fruit salad, juiced, blended, or even as a cold summer soup.

• Watermelon is high on the list of lycopene rich foods. Lycopene is an important phytonutrient that is a known free radical fighter and is important for our cardiovascular and bone health.
• Make sure your watermelon is fully ripe before consuming; this is when the lycopene content is highest.
• Other amazing antioxidants in watermelon include flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids, all which boast anti-inflammatory and free-radical reduction support.
• Watermelon is 92% water, making it an ideal hydrating and thirst quenching fruit for hot summer months.
• Watermelon is also contains thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, niacin, folate, magnesium, zinc, and copper.
• If you like to juice your watermelon, keep the rind on! Watermelon’s rind is rich in nutrients including the amino acid citrulline which is known to help dilate blood vessels and improve circulation.

Vegukate Tips:

Selecting the right watermelon is a tricky process. First assess its weight: a watermelon should feel heavy, as its water content increases with ripening. The bottom of the watermelon (where it sat in the field) should be creamy yellow and brownish, not white or green. Lastly, give your watermelon a thump. A deep hollow “bass” sounding thump comes from a ripe watermelon, while an unripe melon will produce a shallow “soprano” sound.