Watermelon : The super nutritious summer fruit

Shahnaz Husain *

With a lip-smacking taste and having a distinct juicy, sweet and refreshing quality to it, watermelons are synonymous with summertime.

Watermelons and Indian summers are made for each other. High in water content and low in calories, watermelon is a cool option on a scorching afternoon.

A slice of juicy watermelon is one of summer’s most delicious seasonal treats. Its refreshing sweetness makes it a versatile ingredient for all kinds of dishes, from salads to salsas to smoothies. Nothing beats a big, juicy wedge of watermelon on a hot summer day, whether it’s berries, mango, peaches, or litchi.

It is rich in salt, potassium, and electrolytes, all of which are essential for maintaining your body's strength. Watermelon is also loaded with the healthy vitamins A, B, and C, as well as the antioxidant lycopene.

Watermelon the ‘summer’s blessing’ contains 90 % water by weight and is packed with vitamins and nutrients, especially lycopene, ascorbic acid, and citrulline. Watermelons are tasty, hydrating, and negative calorie food, which helps in burning calories.

When you’re incredibly thirsty and need to replenish fluids in your body, watermelon is the ideal summer go-to. Since 90 percent of watermelon is just water, it helps in nourishing the skin and makes it more radiant.

This luscious summer fruit is not only a delicious summer snack, but it also has several advantages for the skin.

From keeping you cool to maintaining your skin health, let us look at some of the benefits of consuming watermelons in summer Benefits of Watermelon for skin

Hydrates your skin--------Whether you apply a watermelon face mask or consume a fresh slice, it has a huge influence on keeping your skin hydrated. From acne-prone to sensitive, dry to combination, it’s a one-fruit-fits-all kind of thing. If you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, the strong anti-inflammatory properties in watermelon can help calm skin irritation, redness, and inflammation.

Vitamin A, B6, and Vitamin C in Watermelon help in collagen production, which improves skin texture and suppleness, make the skin brighter, and fade spots and blemishes. Lycopene content in watermelons has a sun-protection effect, so you are less likely to get sunburnt. The vitamin A in watermelon keeps your eyes sparkly and healthy too and can prevent macular degeneration.

At home, you may make your own moisturizing facemask using watermelon and honey. Honey is a humectant that replenishes moisture and works quickly to give you smooth, bright skin. It hydrates and cures dry skin.

Combine two tablespoons of watermelon juice and one tablespoon of honey in a mixing dish. On your face, apply the mixture. Allow it to sit for 10-12 minutes before washing it off. For the best results, do this once a week.

Additionally, watermelon juice helps to calm and lessen the redness of the skin that is prone to acne .

Prevent oily skin

Watermelon is an excellent skin component, particularly for individuals with oily skin. The delicious red fruit reduces pores and has unparalleled moisturizing effects. It treats oily skin by controlling the oil-producing glands called sebaceous glands, allowing your face to be free of oil and acne. Watermelon is beneficial for eliminating excess oil from your skin.

Mix one tablespoon of watermelon pulp and one tablespoon of banana pulp in a bowl with a spatula and apply to the face and neck. Allow 20 to 25 minutes for the face pack to dry. After that, wash it with warm water. This is the finest watermelon face mask for those who suffer from acne and pigmentation.

A mixture of mashed watermelon and tomato pulp can be used by those with oily skin to smoothen the skin. The malic acid in watermelon and lycopene in tomato act as natural exfoliators and soothe the skin

A natural skin toner--Watermelon juice is a natural toner that is as good as rose water for your skin because of its natural extracts.

Vitamin C and antioxidants present in watermelon help regenerate skin cells and protect them from injury. These nutrients prevent free radical damage and also protect your skin from any further disruption. To tone your skin, gently apply fresh watermelon juice to it and rinse it off.

Watermelon seeds are a good source of magnesium which lowers cortisol levels that help reduce acne and also balances out your hormones. They also contain protein, fatty acids, and ceramides that help in locking the moisture in your skin.

Natural Exfoliator-- The grainy particles present in the fruit helps gently exfoliate the skin.

Watermelon is rich in vitamin C, which brightens your skin quickly. The gritty particles in the fruit assist in gently exfoliating the skin while also moisturizing it. To naturally scrub off dead skin cells, apply a teaspoon of mashed watermelon to your skin.

To remove dead skin cells, rub watermelon and tomato pulp across the face or body in circular motions. The malic acid in watermelon and the enzymes in tomato help break down the glue that holds the dead skin cells together.

Combining mashed watermelon with yogurt and honey and then leaving the paste on the face for 10-15 minutes can be beneficial. The antioxidants in honey and watermelon can reduce inflammation, while yogurt can exfoliate the skin.

An Anti-Ager

Watermelons are enriched with antioxidants and vitamins, which all involve offering you glowing skin. Antioxidants help combat free radical damage and enhance suppleness, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and makes skin appear tighter.

Vitamins brighten dull skin and take off that layer that makes it look tired and overworked. Mix watermelon pulp, milk, and honey. Make a paste and apply it to your face. Wash it with running or lukewarm water. Watermelon has potent antioxidants that fight free radicals to prevent premature aging. Milk, on the other hand, is a natural cleanser that deep cleanses the skin and removes dead skin cells.

Cure sunburn

Applying a watermelon and cucumber face pack to cure sunburn is recommended. Both watermelon and cucumber are excellent for your skin. Cucumber is a cooling substance that aids in the removal of tan.

Watermelon has various aesthetic advantages, including moisturizing and soothing inflammation and itching. It also contains lycopene, protecting the skin from sunburn and skin cancer. It blocks UV rays at least twice as well as an antioxidant.

Mix a spoonful of cucumber pulp with watermelon juice to make the face mask. Apply the pack evenly to your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing it off.

The best time to eat watermelons is in the morning between 10 am to 12 pm, as breakfast or between breakfast and lunch. You can also have it as an evening snack, before 5 pm. Do not consume it at night or with your meals.

It must be avoided by diabetics and everyone with digestive issues. Have it in moderation and never too much, otherwise, it sure can make you feel bloated, and gassy and even give you a stomach ache. It's totally safe, to use it for skin care. The only people who can't use it are those who are allergic to watermelon.