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Did you know, however, that it is actually not a fruit but a vegetable? The cultivation of watermelon dates back to nearly 4,000 years ago. At that time watermelons were brought from Asia to Italy, where the first mentions of their consumption appeared on drawings in the legendary Pompeii.
Today watermelons are grown all over the world. In Turkey and Greece they have become the “national fruit”. In Japan they even bred varieties that have no seeds.
Each of us likes red watermelon, especially during hot summer days. On the other hand, we do not care much about its seeds. We usually consider them waste and throw them away.
However, when we reveal to you what watermelon seeds contain and what their health benefits are, you certainly will not throw them away next time.
One of their greatest benefits is their effect on improving digestion. However, they must be crushed, otherwise they will simply pass through the intestines whole without us utilizing their contents.
Another condition for the absorption of some substances is that they must be cooked. Even without cooking the body gains many vitamins and minerals, but other important substances remain unused.
Health benefits of watermelon seeds
From the many health benefits, here are at least the most important:
- high fiber content supports the digestive system
- they remove intestinal parasites
- they treat inflammations in the digestive tract
- they help regenerate the liver after jaundice
- they have a positive effect on muscles
- they improve memory
- they dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure
- they act diuretically (remove accumulated water from the body and reduce swelling)
Their beneficial effect on the urinary system is the main reason why many doctors recommend watermelon seeds for problems with the bladder and the urinary tract.
In addition, they can also remove or help flush out kidney stones.
What watermelon seeds contain
Watermelon seeds contain a high amount of a substance called citrulline. It is an organic compound with strong antioxidant effects.
This substance also dilates vessels, lowers high blood pressure, prevents angina pectoris and atherosclerosis. By doing so it ensures significantly better circulation of the body and overall supports the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
In addition, watermelon seeds contain high amounts of other nutrients, such as: iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese and vitamins A, B-complex and C.
Recipe for homemade tea from watermelon seeds
To prepare the tea you will need these ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons of watermelon seeds
- 1.5 to 2 liters of water
Preparation
Proceed as follows:
- First crush or grind the watermelon seeds.
- Then place them in a pot, cover with water, put on the lid and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat.
- After cooking, strain the tea and let it cool.
Usage
Drink the prepared tea throughout the day. Divide the produced amount over 2 days. Then take one day off and drink again for 2 days.
Use the tea in this way for several weeks.
Final recommendations
We recommend that you set aside watermelon seeds gradually during the summer, because this vegetable is not always available. Even if they have it from imports, it tends to be fairly expensive in winter.
An alternative is to buy the seeds directly, but these can only be found in some specialized health food stores, and they may not always have them in stock.
