Water Melon is one of my favourite fruits and I can eat it all day long. My husband likes it but won't eat it cos he does not want to go through removing those numerous seeds.I devised a unique way of removing them - the natural way all waste is thrown out from our body. Yes I swallow the seeds.It was such a relief not having to pick out those innumerable tiny seeds.
Today while eating this wonderful fruit I suddenly felt the urge to "google" for the nutrition facts about these tiny black irritants.I am sure most of you would think I was crazy for the seeds found in any fruit is considered an unnecessary part of it and which most of us spit out.I was surprised at the fact that it was very very nutritious.Here are a few excerpts from the articles I found.
Watermelon seeds are very high in
protein, with 1 cup of dried seeds
containing 30.6g, which is 61 percent of the daily recommended value.
The protein in watermelon seeds consists of several amino acids, one of
which is arginine. While the body produces some arginine, the Mayo
Clinic states that there are times when people need to take in
additional arginine. Some of the health benefits of arginine include
regulating blood pressure and treating coronary heart disease. There are
several other amino acids that make up the protein in watermelon seeds,
including tryptophan, glutamic acid, and lysine.
Watermelon seeds are also loaded with several of the
B vitamins. The
American Cancer Society reports that B vitamins are necessary for
converting food into energy and other important bodily functions. The
most prevalent B vitamin in watermelon seeds is niacin, with 1 cup of
dried watermelon seeds containing 3.8mg, which is 19 percent of the
daily value. Niacin is important for maintaining the nervous system,
digestive system and skin health. Other B vitamins in watermelon seeds
include
folate, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid.
Minerals abound in watermelon seeds.
Magnesium is the most abundant
mineral, weighing in with 556mg, or 139 percent of the recommended daily
value, in 1 cup of dried seeds. According to the National Institutes of
Health, magnesium helps regulate blood pressure and the metabolism of
carbohydrates, which has a beneficial effect on blood sugar as well.
Other important minerals in watermelon seeds are
phosphorous, iron,
potassium, sodium, copper, manganese and zinc.
The most surprising thing about watermelon seeds is the amount of
fat
they contain. In 1 cup of dried seeds, there are 51g of fat, with 11 of
those being saturated fat. The other fats are monounsaturated fats,
polyunsaturated fats, and omega-6 fatty acids. The American Heart
Association reports that mono and polyunsaturated fats reduce blood
cholesterol, and omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood
pressure.
I am still surprised about these facts but glad I started swallowing the seeds.
