Benefits Of Adding Watermelon Seeds To Your Diet

Watermelon is a delicious and refreshing fruit that is known for its high content of water and antioxidants. It is one of the so-called summer foods because it is a great way to hydrate your body during the hottest days of the year. In addition to that, watermelon is beneficial to add to your diet since it is  packed with essential nutrients that can provide significant benefits to your health.

It contains a substance called lycopene that helps cleanse your body and remove excess fluid – all with very few calories.

What many people do not know, however ,  is that these watermelon seeds they usually spit out are also full of nutrients and other benefits that they should take advantage of.

When you consume them in tea and other beverages, they can help prevent disease and support the functions of several of the major organs.

Want to find out more about the benefits of adding watermelon seeds to your diet?

Watermelon seeds are a natural laxative

Watermelon seeds contain a high amount of dietary fiber, a nutrient that regulates bowel movements to stimulate waste removal. You can consume these instead of synthetic laxatives to fight constipation and improve digestion.

An excellent water driver

Just like the fruit itself, watermelon seeds have good diuretic properties that help eliminate excess fluid retained in the tissue. A medicinal tea made with these seeds is an ancient remedy for accumulated toxins and wastes in the kidneys, and prevents the formation of kidney stones. The active compounds support the proper functioning of the urinary tract and increase the elimination of fluids, and they prevent the overgrowth of bacteria.

They also promote the removal of toxins and heavy metals, and reduce your risk of serious diseases. Thanks to their ability to balance the body’s fluid and salt levels, regular intake of watermelon seeds also helps control high blood pressure. 

So it is not a bad idea to add these to your diet!

Rich in antioxidants

While this fruit is rich in lycopene, the seeds contain other important antioxidants such as magnesium and zinc. These help control damage caused by free radicals, and prevent the early deterioration of joints and bones.

Add a good source of energy to your diet

It is a shame that people prefer to throw away these seeds instead of using them for energy. Watermelon seeds contain very few calories, but their high energy value can help combat weakness and fatigue.

Minerals and fiber fight fatigue by increasing both physical and mental performance. In fact, while 100 grams of watermelon contains only 20.3 calories, the same amount of watermelon seeds can contain up to 555 calories.

Of course, you will never eat so much in one serving because you will only use a few seeds in the preparation of the drink of your choice.

Treatment for dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia, or lipid abnormality, is a type of disorder characterized by an imbalance in the metabolism of lipids in the blood. High cholesterol levels in the arteries and poor triglyceride control can lead to this condition. Because they are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, watermelon seeds can control this problem and help purify the blood. This lowers the risk of getting clogged or hard arteries, while avoiding serious circulatory problems or cardiovascular disease.

How to make a drink with watermelon seeds

The preparation of this drink is very simple and not time consuming at all. Although you can use whole seeds, the powder is better for nutrient uptake.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons watermelon seeds (40 g)
• 1 liter of water
• 1 cup chopped watermelon (optional)

This is what you do

• Boil a liter of water over medium heat.
• While the water is boiling, grind the watermelon seeds with a mortar.
• When you have a fine powder, put it in the hot water and simmer for 30 minutes.

• Afterwards, take it off the heat and let the mixture stand for an hour.
• Filter the liquid and pour this water into a jug.
• For a delicious drink, have the water in a blender along with several pieces of fresh watermelon.
• Store it in the refrigerator to cool, or serve immediately over ice cubes.

How to eat it

• Drink your first cup of this water on an empty stomach, and wait at least half an hour before eating breakfast.
• Do this two days in a row, every week, for best results.
• Avoid having in sugar or artificial sweeteners, as this will make you lose the benefits.
• Do not exceed the recommended amount of seeds to avoid any negative side effects.

Ready to get started? Now that you know how good these seeds are, do not hesitate to add them to your diet instead of throwing them in the trash.