I love watermelon. I simply cannot imagine anyone taking issue with watermelon. In my mind Watermelon is the yummiest fruit ever invented.

As I sat at my desk the other day munching on some ice-cold watermelon chunks, I began to wonder just how nutritious watermelon really is, so I asked Google. For the most part my findings were pretty boring, however I did come across one small bit of info that flabbergasted me and proves my point.

Lets start with a few interesting bits

• Watermelon is thought to have originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa and made its way to the US via African slaves.
• Hollowed out watermelons were used as canteens by explorers.
• In 1990, some dude in Tennessee grew the largest watermelon at 262 pounds that is still on the record books.

Nutrition & facts

• Watermelon season runs from May – September but peak is mid June – late August.
• 1 cup = 46 calories, 1 gram fiber, 1g protein.
• Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.

Pick a good one

• The most common method states that a good melon should feel heavy for it’s size. I use my grandfathers method: Thump the melon by flicking your middle finger off your thumb against the melon, it should produce a deep thudding sound.
• Melons will continue to ripen and soften a little at room temperature but not much. Whole watermelon should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Pretty interesting tidbit

• Apparently, this delicious fruit is unusually high in an amino acid known as citrulline. Our bodies use citrulline to make yet another amino acid, arginine, which helps cells divide, wounds heal, and ammonia to be removed from the body. Citrulline relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like Viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction. Watermelon may be a natural Viagra, according to researchers.
• How much watermelon does it take to get your love up and running? They can’t seem to figure that out yet. Probably quite a bit but in the mean time eat up. Watermelon is low in calories and provides potassium and the phytonutrients lycopene and beta-carotene, in addition to the citrulline. So even if you don’t get some hot lovin’ out of a slice you’ll be getting some good old-fashioned nutrients.

Happy weekend! I’ll see you Monday. Eat some melon and let me know if it works!

P.s. Don’t forget to wash your melon before you slice it. You don’t know where it’s been!