When it comes to welcoming in the warmer months, no food does it quite as well as watermelon. The quintessential hot-weather fruit of choice offers a tasty snack with serious refreshment—but we bet you didn’t know it also had a bunch of beauty benefits:
Hydration, Hydration, Hydration
The name sort of gives it a way, but this water-packed wonder (it’s made up of more than 90 percent water and even contains electrolytes) really does help in the hydration department—some studies even suggest it does so more effectively than water. “This means that not only is it basically free from calories, but it’s also made up of mostly water, which is great for the skin as well,” says New York dermatologist Susan Bard, MD. “Water is essential for healthy, glowing, radiant skin.”
The Antioxidant A-Lister
Of course, all that hydration is great news for your skin, which can also benefit from the melon’s high content of skin-saving vitamin A, C, B6, potassium and the antioxidant of lycopene, a flavonoid that protects from UV-induced free radicals. (Tomatoes contain this red pigment too, but a higher amount if found in watermelon.)
The Zen-Inducer
Since it also has magnesium, a key mineral in helping to regulate cellular and metabolic reactions, watermelon is one of those foods that can help beat stress.
The Post-Exercise Helper
Feeling sore after a workout? Studies show that watermelon juice can help relieve post-exercise muscle soreness. The reason? It is rich in the amino acid L-citrulline, which has components that can widen the blood vessels in the body. This amino acid is also responsible for helping the body make arginine, which helps wounds heal.
