We All Scream for Watermelon!!

Welcome Summer! 🙂 It’s only been two days since we officially welcomed summer but who has already had a good amount of watermelon so far?

In one of my earliest post, I stressed the importance of staying hydrated for optimal skin health. Most individuals believe that as long as they obtain 8 cups of fluid per day, they have reached the hydration goal. This is not true. Some individuals should strive for a goal of 3 to 4 L of fluid intake per day. It all depends on your lifestyle (i.e. how much physical activity you do, how much caffeine do you have per day, etc.)!

Not a fan of water? Do not worry! Watermelon is a delicious way to help you meet your daily fluid intake. Watermelon is made up of 92% water! 🙂 By comparison, our bodies are made up of 60% water. I would still encourage each and everyone of you to strive for water as your main source of fluid intake; however, having a few more slices of watermelon won’t hurt you. 😉

Watermelon is not only a great source of water but it can be a great source for Vitamin A, Vitamin C, lycopene and potassium.

Don’t forget that lycopene can also help with your skin health as lycopene helps to protect skin against the sun.  

Do you suffer from muscle cramps? Bananas are often the choice for individuals when they want to decrease muscle cramps as bananas are a great source of potassium. Did you know that if you eat 2 cups of watermelon, this amount will also allow you to obtain a good amount of potassium?

I will never turn down a slice of watermelon and cannot imagine ever getting bored of watermelon slices. Some individuals need variety to stay motivated.

Are you a fan of avocado toast? Why don’t you add a few cubes of watermelon on top to bump up the water content, lycopene, potassium as well as vitamin A and C content in your meal. 🙂

Try this simple but delicious combination below:

Ingredients:

1/4 c mashed avocado

1 teaspoon lemon juice (I like tart and tangy things; if you don’t like tangy things as much, try 1/2 tsp of lemon juice first)

1/4 c diced watermelon

2 tablespoons white kidney beans

2 tablespoons crumbled feta (I LOVE Krino’s Feta :P)

2 teaspoons chopped mint

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Mash the avocado and white kidney beans together. Add the lemon juice to prevent browning.
2. Spread mashed avocado on slices of toast.
3. Sprinkle toppings on the mashed avocado (cheese, watermelon and lemon zest).

 

Food For Thought: Will you be enjoying even more watermelon this summer given the added benefits of hydration and lycopene to protect you against the beautiful summer heat?