The Best Fruit to Eat During Summer
- Discover why watermelon beats tomatoes when it comes to this heart-protecting antioxidant
- Trade aspirin for watermelon? Learn how watermelon can relieve your pain
- Go too hard in the gym? No problem. Find out how this fruit’s special amino acid will help rejuvenate your muscles.
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
“It’s summer. You should have watermelon with every meal — it’ll keep you healthy.”
My grandma would tell me this every summer. And it was something she lived by. In fact, there wasn’t a single summer day she didn’t eat at least three servings of watermelon.
And guess what? She was always the healthiest person I knew!
As it turns out, her watermelon habits may have helped her stay healthy and active for over 90 years.
You might be thinking, No way! Watermelon is nothing but sugar and water — it can’t possibly have any health benefits…
Well, if you’re thinking this…
You’re wrong.
Research shows that watermelon offers a whole host of health-promoting properties, some of which we will share with you today.
Protection Against Heart Disease and Cancer
Watermelon is extremely rich in the antioxidant lycopene. In fact, one cup of watermelon has 1.5 times the amount of lycopene found in a large, fresh tomato. Multiple studies have shown lycopene to be heart-protective.
A study in the American Journal of Hypertension found that watermelon extract can improve artery functions. Plus, it can reduce blood pressure in middle-aged, obese adults who are already suffering from Stage 1 hypertension. Scientists think these results may be linked to watermelon’s high lycopene content.
Other studies show that lycopene can also protect you from stroke. In one study, men with the highest blood levels of lycopene were 55 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those who had the lowest levels. These amazing results held true even after researchers controlled for age, diabetes and other stroke factors.
In addition, many studies in both animals and humans have found that lycopene may protect against cancer, including prostate and ovarian cancer. Not to mention watermelon’s high level of another powerful antioxidant, vitamin C, may also add a layer of protection between you and cancer.
Cools Inflammation
Watermelon contains a powerful anti-inflammatory substance called cucurbitacin E., a type of triterpenoid. This inflammation-buster can reduce the activity of an enzyme that causes pain and inflammation. In fact, cucurbitacin works the same way as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Watermelon also contains a versatile and vital nutrient called choline. Choline helps body reduced inflammation and aids in many important functions like sleep, learning and memory, as well as muscle movement.
Relives Muscle Soreness
If you’re getting your summer workout on, you’re going to want to pick up a watermelon! Watermelon contains l-citrulline, which is an amino acid that can shield against muscle pain. Eating the whole fruit or drinking watermelon juice after working out may lead to improved recovery time and reduced muscle soreness.
One note of caution here: Whole-fruit watermelon is lower in sugar than watermelon juice. If you are cautious of sugar (as you should be), eating the fruit is a better option.
However you slice it (or juice it), watermelon makes a great healthy snack or addition to any meal! You can get your hands on a watermelon at most grocers, as well as farmers markets and roadside produce stands. Get one today! And remember, choose organic when you can.
(And sprinkle with some unrefined sea salt- its good!)
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] Watermelon: Health Benefits and Nutritional Information
[2] 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Watermelon

Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Eat 23 of These Daily to SLASH Heart Risk [DELICIOUS!]
When it comes to heart health, we’re constantly told what we need to cut out. You know the drill—ditch the salt, dump the sugar, and avoid the processed foods. But what if I told you that adding something to your diet could be just as effective for protecting your heart? A comprehensive new scientific analysis...
"Yellow Devil" Fruit CRUSHES Blood Pressure Better Than Meds
I have a confession to make. I hate bananas. Even the smell of them causes my stomach to flip. The funny thing is that I have an uncle and a daughter who are the same—so I wonder if it’s genetic. But even though I consider them the yellow devil of the fruit world, I recommend...
50-Cent Nutrient Puts the Brakes on Aging
Scientists discovered a remarkable “anti-aging” solution hiding in plain sight. It isn’t some exotic compound from a remote rainforest or an expensive laboratory creation. It’s a nutrient you can find at any pharmacy for less than the cost of a cup of coffee. The trouble is, most seniors aren’t getting enough of it, which researchers...
The Hidden Brain Risk Lurking in Your Living Room
If you’re reading this while settled into your favorite chair, you might want to consider standing up… New research uncovered something that might surprise you. Sitting too much can literally shrink your brain. But it gets worse… We all know being sedentary isn’t good for our health. However, researchers at Vanderbilt University uncovered something alarming....
“Biohack” Your Life Like a Billionaire?! Here’s How
You’ve probably seen the headlines about the billionaire who spent millions on “biohacking” to try to make himself younger. He measures hundreds of biomarkers and pops dozens of pills daily. And he’s undergoing experimental treatments that cost more than most folks’ houses. It may have left you wondering if regular people like you and I...
Do THIS Daily to Improve Strength, Flexibility, and Endurance
For any couch potatoes out there… I have some exciting news. If you’ve been avoiding exercise because you hate the gym or don’t have the time, that might be about to change. A groundbreaking study reveals how a few simple moves, done daily in your own home, could dramatically improve your fitness—even if you’ve skipped...
Mailbag: A Post-Prostate Cancer Blueprint for a Better Recovery
“My son just got his prostate removed because of cancer. He is doing well and recovering. My question is there any information you can forward with regards to his lifestyle? Are there things he should not eat, things he should be eating, is social drinking a risk, any vitamins that should be on his list?...
The Stroke-Boosting Threat Lurking in YOUR Arteries
We want to take a moment on this Memorial Day to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Their courage, dedication, and selfless commitment to protecting our freedoms will never be forgotten, and their legacy lives on in the country they helped preserve. I’ve warned you...
20-Minute AM Hack Will Revolutionize How You Wake Up
If you feel like you’re in a fog for the first hour after your alarm goes off, you’re not alone. Mornings can be rough. That groggy, disoriented feeling isn’t just annoying—it’s a real physiological phenomenon called “sleep inertia.” And it can drag on for up to two hours after waking, even if you’ve had a...
Weekly Habit QUINTUPLES Your Cancer Risk
Everyone knows that sugar-sweetened sodas aren’t going to win any nutrition awards. That’s not news. But now, a disturbing new study suggests these soft drinks hide a deadly secret. A regular soda habit could do far more damage than just expand your waistline or raise your diabetes risk. The new research reveals these sugary treats...