Also known as Citrullus Lanatus, Watermelon is a plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae with smooth green skin, pulp, and watery juice.
Wonderfully delicious and juicy melons are the great source of much-needed water and electrolytes. Watermelons are related to other fruits such as cantaloupe, squash, and pumpkin that run as vines on the ground surface.
Watermelon was originated from southern African countries and from where it spread to rest of the tropical and subtropical regions.
Varieties of watermelon-fruits are cultivated world over, featuring variation in their size, shape, and color of the flesh (red, orange, and yellow).
Watermelon contains a high amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a low amount of calories.
Here are some fun facts about watermelon that will definitely surprise you.
- Watermelons originated in South Africa
- Watermelons are very low in calories (just 30 calories per 100 g) and carry minimal fats. Nonetheless, they plentiful in numerous health promoting phyto-nutrients and anti-oxidants essential for optimum health.
- Watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamin-A, which is a powerful natural anti-oxidant. 100 g fresh fruit provides 569 mg or 19% of daily-required levels of this vitamin. It is one of essential vitamin for vision and immunity.
- It is also rich in anti-oxidant flavonoids like lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants have been found to offer protection against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
- There are more than 1200 varieties of watermelon that come in various weights, shapes, sizes and colours. The colours are; Red, orange, yellow and white.
- Watermelon fruit is a good source of potassium; Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
- Farmers in Japan have started growing cube-shaped watermelons by growing them in glass boxes where they assume the shape of the box.
- Watermelon is a fruit and a vegetable too. It is a vegetable because it is a member of the same family as the cucumber, pumpkin and squash. It is also harvested and cleared from fields like other vine growing vegetables.
- You can eat watermelon rind and seeds. All parts of a watermelon can be eaten, even the rind, which actually contains a number of nutrients too, but due to the unappealing flavour, it is rarely eaten.
- Nutritionally, watermelons contain high levels of vitamin B6 (which increases brain power), potassium (which helps in curing heart disease and keeping the heart healthy). The watermelon also contains Vitamin B1, C and manganese which protect against infections.