My friend Khendra was always asking me how I cut up a watermelon cause she liked how the pieces were. I told her it was just a quick process because I have cut many many watermelons as it is one of my favorites. So, as a going away present, cause she was moving, I made her this silly video. She cracked up and suggested that I share it with others.
Soooooooooooooo………….
Here it is and I hope you like it!
PS… let me know how you like yours cut and send a video if ya want….
The Health Benefits of Watermelon
Not only does watermelon taste great but it’s good for you, too. There are so many health benefits to watermelon. You can enjoy it as a tasty snack, but it’s something that you really want in your diet with all of the healthful benefits it supplies.
Watermelon is chock-full of vitamins. There’s vitamin A, vitamin C, and B vitamins (B1 and B6). Vitamin A is an antioxidant and helps improve eye health. It’s not just carrots that are good for your eyes! Vitamin C helps build up your immunity, promotes wound healing, helps prevent cell damage, and helps give you a healthy smile. And B
vitamins help your brain function and turn protein into energy.
Just one cup of watermelon provides 21% of the daily value of vitamin C and 17% of the daily value of vitamin A. And with high concentrations of vitamin C you’re sure to boost your immune system.
It’s not just the vitamins found in watermelon that make this such a great fruit to eat. Watermelon contains the highest amount of lycopene of any fruit or vegetable – even more than tomatoes. What is lycopene? Well, quite simply it’s the antioxidant which helps fight heart disease and several types of cancer – like prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Watermelon, being 90% water, is an excellent source of magnesium and potassium. This helps our muscles and nerves function. It keeps our electrolytes and acid-base balanced. And it’s great at keeping our blood pressure low. Plus, potassium is a great cure for Charlie Horse – painful leg cramps.
Watermelon is a great heart-healthy food. It keeps our arteries working and blood flowing. In studies of mice, watermelon has been shown to reduce the lipid panels. It is believed that watermelon reduces clogged arteries from plaque. This lowers your chances of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Watermelon contains lutein which is great for eye health. It helps protect the eyes from age-related diseases. Coupled with the other vitamins found in watermelon, it might even help prevent diseases of the eye such as macular degeneration. It strengthens the eye which helps keep the eye healthy.
Possibly the best health benefit of all would be the very low calorie content of watermelon. This means you are less likely to gain weight when you eat it. But as with everything, eat it in moderation. While it has a low calorie content, the calories aren’t at zero. But it is definitely an ideal addition to any weight loss program. With its sweet, refreshing taste and low calories, it really is the perfect snack.
There’s just no denying the numerous health benefits of watermelon – it just might be a superfruit. So be sure to enjoy plenty of it this summer. It will help keep that heart healthy and lessen your risk of getting certain types of cancer, all while keeping your bathing suit ready and looking and feeling young.
How to Choose and Store Watermelon
With the onset of summer we start to think about summer fruits, like watermelon. This is always a favorite treat in the summer because of how refreshing and light it is. But, nothing is worse though than biting into a watermelon that has gone bad or just wasn’t ripe enough to begin with. So you want to make sure you choose the right watermelon from the get go, and then also make sure you store it correctly.
Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your watermelon this summer.
Choosing the Right Watermelon
First things first – you want to start out with the best watermelon. You need to decide if you want seeded watermelon or seedless watermelon. There’s no difference in appearance between seeded watermelon and seedless watermelon. About the only difference is convenience, although some say the seedless watermelon has a sweeter taste than the seeded watermelon. Obviously seedless would be less messy, but for a good family seed fight you’ll want to get the seeds.
The easiest method for picking out the perfect watermelon is to give it a little tap on the side. If it sounds solid it’s not ripe; if it sounds thick it isn’t quite ripe; if it sounds hollow then it’s ripe and just right. Pretty simple, right?
Also take notice of its appearance. A bright, green-colored skin that’s free of cuts and is firm and symmetrical is what you want to look for. You don’t want one that is narrow on one end or misshapen, because this means it grew in bits and spurts. It should also feel heavier than it looks. Since watermelon is 90% water (which is what makes it so refreshing), you want plenty of water in your watermelon. More water means it’s nice and ripe, giving it a much sweeter taste.
Now that you have picked the perfect watermelon for your summer event, you want to make sure you store it correctly so it lasts longer.
How to Store Watermelon
The best place to store a watermelon is in a dark, cool place like a basement. However, if that’s not a possibility, then the next best place is in the refrigerator. This keeps it from rotting. Not only does it keep it fresh, but the coolness will also make it a much more refreshing for that summer treat.
Once you have cut into your watermelon, you want to make sure you tightly wrap it in plastic to store in the refrigerator. If it’s cubed or balled, just place it in a tightly sealed plastic container. If you sliced it, just place some plastic wrap over the exposed edge. This way it won’t attract the other flavors and scents from the refrigerator and change its taste. It should last about a week in the refrigerator.
There you have it – the facts on how to choose and store a watermelon for this summer. Now you should have no problem getting the most out of your watermelon.
