Watermelon rind offers several great benefits.
To some people, watermelon is a symbol of summer and picnics. Most people just enjoy eating the juicy, red flesh of a watermelon while throwing away the rind. If you're one of those people, you might be surprised to find out some of the benefits of saving the rind of a watermelon.
Nutrition Value
Regardless of how it looks or what you've heard, a watermelon rind is edible. In fact, the rind has several nutrients that are healthy for your body. A one-inch square of watermelon rind contains 11.6 milligrams of potassium, a necessary nutrient for your heart, kidneys and digestive system. It contains several vitamins, such as Vitamin C, which is required for muscle and tissue growth, and Vitamin B-6, which helps convert carbohydrates into energy. Also, it has only 1.8 calories and .01 grams of fat.
Edible Recipes
There are several ways to prepare a watermelon rind as a snack. You can choose to eat it like a regular melon or you can spice things up a bit. Slice the rind into strips and soak them in vinegar or lime juice to make pickled watermelon rind. Chop the rind into small chunks and mix it with onions, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, vinegar, lemon juice and seasoning to make a watermelon rind salsa. Other recipes include watermelon rind jelly, water rind soup and watermelon rind salad.
Party Decoration
Another neat way to recycle a watermelon rind is to use it as decoration. Watermelon rind carvings are cheap and easy party decorations. Simply slice your watermelon and remove the red flesh inside, leaving just the rind. You can choose to make a basket with it to hold fruits and vegetables or carve a face to make a watermelon jack-o-lantern. A list of ideas can be found at the website of the National Watermelon Promotion Board (watermelon.org).
Pregnancy Benefits
In addition to containing healthy doses of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6 and Vitamin C, watermelon rind offers additional benefits to pregnant women, since it's been shown to reduce heartburn, a condition common during pregnancy. The natural sugars in watermelon rind help prevent morning sickness and dehydration. Watermelon rind contains amino acid citrulline, which can reduce muscle cramps by relaxing your blood vessels. Also contained in watermelon rind is lycopene, an antioxidant that help prevent cancer, boost your immune system and protect against heart disease.
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