There is nothing quite as refreshing as a juicy, sweet, chilled watermelon to break up the summer heat. And, watermelon offers many health benefits. Here are a few:

1. Contains Nutrients and Beneficial Plant Compounds

As far as fruits go, watermelon is one of the lowest in calories — only 46 calories per cup (154 grams). That's lower than even low-sugar fruits such as berries (2).

One cup (154 grams) of watermelon has many other nutrients as well, including these vitamins and minerals:Vitamin C: 21% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)Vitamin A: 18% of the RDI, Potassium: 5% of the RDI, Magnesium: 4% of the RDI,Vitamins B1, B5 and B6: 3% of the RDI.

2. Helps You Hydrate and helps control appetite

Drinking water is an important way to keep your body hydrated. However, eating foods that have a high water content can also help. Interestingly, watermelon is 92% water.

What’s more, a high water content is one of the reasons why fruits and vegetables help you feel full.

3. Contains Compounds That May Help Prevent Cancer

Researchers have studied lycopene and other individual plant compounds in watermelon for their anti-cancer effects. Though lycopene intake is associated with a lower risk of some types of cancer, study results are mixed. The strongest link so far seems to be between lycopene and cancers of the digestive system.

It appears to reduce cancer risk by lowering insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a protein involved in cell division. High IGF levels are linked to cancer.

In addition, cucurbitacin E has been investigated for its ability to inhibit tumor growth.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/watermelon-he...

GRILLED WATERMELON: Cut thick wedges from a watermelon (go with seedless), brush them with a little olive oil and grill the wedges until lightly toasted with defined grill marks on each side. The grilling actually enhances the flavors, concentrating them while muting the sweetness and adding a little smokiness.

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