WATERMELON: 92% is water

How to Choose a best watermelon?

1. Look the watermelon over, choose a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free of bruises, cuts and dents.

2. Lift it up - the watermelon should be heavy for its size. Watermelon is 92% water, that accounts for most of its weight.

3. Turn it over - on the underside of the watermelon there should be a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

4. Knock at the watermelon with your fingers while holding with other hand. Good watermelon gives nice strong sound. (similar to empty pot)

Watermelon contains lycopene that may help reduce the risks of prostate cancer. Lycopene is a red pigment found in plants and is part of a large class of plant compounds called carotenoids. Carotenoids are fat-soluble and create yellow, orange or red colors in plants. Carotenoids are not made by humans.

The primary role of carotenoids in plants is to neutralize compounds created during photosynthesis. These compounds are often hydrogen peroxide or singlet oxygen, both of which will attack and destroy cell membranes, ultimately damaging the cell. Singlet oxygen is oxygen with a higher energy charge because outer orbital electrons are spinning in opposite directions.

Humans breathe in oxygen as O2. The biological processes in the body use oxygen for reactions, frequently creating singlet oxygen as a byproduct. The singlet oxygen is very reactive (high electric charge) and therefore must be eliminated by the body before cell damage occurs. The body uses antioxidants, compounds that look for singlet oxygen and neutralizes it. Of the carotenoids, lycopene is the most effective oxygen scavenger because it can neutralize several singlet oxygen with one lycopene molecule. Examples of other antioxidants are Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and Vitamin E.

Researchers report that carotenoids may act as antioxidants that protect cells from oxygen-related damage that can result from regular cell functions. There have been a number of studies that have drawn a correlation between lycopene and the possible prevention of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

A recent Harvard study concluded that men who ate lycopene-rich diets had a much lower risk of developing certain cancers, especially prostate cancer. In addition, another recent report indicates that women with the highest lycopene levels had a five-fold lower risk of developing pre-cancerous signs of cervical cancer than women with the lowest lycopene levels.

Other preliminary studies with processed tomatoes and tomato products show that lycopene’s antioxidant capacity may prevent against hardening of the arteries, a risk factor for heart disease. And, in Europe, researchers have found a statistically significant association between high dietary lycopene and a 48% lower risk of heart disease.

A 2-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamins A, B6 and C