National Watermelon Day: Fun Facts, Health Benefits Of The Delicious Summertime Fruit

Are you looking for a perfect solution to beat the summer heat? Do you crave a summertime treat that keeps you hydrated and healthy? If yes, then there is no better option than watermelon -- a fruit that contains 92% water.

This juicy and delicious wonder fruit is not just meant for summer but is a superfood that nourishes you all year round.

National Watermelon Day is celebrated on Aug. 3 every year to appreciate the benefits of this healthy and delicious fruit.

"When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what the angels eat,” the famous author Mark Twain described the fruit in his novel Pudd'nHead Wilson.

While most people consume watermelons for the taste and freshness of the fruit, their nutritional value makes them all the more appealing. Watermelons can be consumed just as the fruit or used in delicious recipes to make smoothies, popsicles, salads or icecreams.

Health Benefits Of Watermelon:

​Weight Reduction- Watermelons help you satisfy your sweet tooth while providing vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other nutrients to the body. The fruit that is low in fat helps you feel full while keeping the calories on track.

Reduces Cancer Risk- According to studies by the National Cancer Institute, a diet rich in antioxidant lycopene has been linked with a lower risk of breast, lung and prostate cancer. Watermelon provides about 12.7 grams of lycopene per 2 cup serving.

Heart Friendly- Watermelon is a cholesterol-free, fat-free and sodium-free fruit that provides 80 calories per serving. They are rich in nutrients like magnesium and phosphorous that help one maintain a steady heartbeat as well as the electrical activity of the heart.

May Lower Inflammation and Oxidative Stress- Watermelons are rich in the anti-inflammatory antioxidants lycopene and vitamin C that help in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Fun Facts About Watermelon:

1. The United States currently ranks 7th in the worldwide production of watermelon. The states of Florida, Georgia, Texas and California are the leading producers in the U.S.

2. More than 300 varieties of watermelon are cultivated in the United States and South America.

3. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5000 years ago in Egypt.

4. According to the Guinness world records, the world’s heaviest watermelon was grown by Chris Kent of Tennessee in 2013, weighing in at 350.5 lbs.

5. Over 1200 varieties of watermelon are grown across 96 countries worldwide.

6. Seedless watermelons are not genetically modified but are cultivated through a perfectly natural phenomenon called hybridization.