BENEFITS OF WATERMELON SEED:

BENEFITS OF WATERMELON SEED:

When you think of the health benefits
of watermelon, the seeds probably
don't come to mind. You probably
think about the sweet, juicy pulp,
with the seeds an afterthought and
maybe good only for spitting contests.
The fact is, watermelon seeds make a
great snack when they have been dried
and roasted; the United States
Department of Agriculture, lists several
important nutritional components of
watermelon seeds.
Protein
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, MedlinePlus states that some health conditions
may benefit from additional arginine. Some of the health benefits of arginine include regulating blood
pressure and treating coronary heart disease. Several other amino acids make up the protein in watermelon
seeds, including tryptophan, glutamic acid, and lysine.
You Might Also Like
B Vitamins
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
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.
Fats
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. The down side of consuming a cup of watermelon seeds is the calorie count -- you'll take in just
over 600 calories if you eat the whole cup.
Link; www.livestrong.com/article/24243-health-benefits-watermelon-seeds/