Watermelon is an incredibly healthy food, it has a delicious and refreshing taste, and is a great choice during the hot days.

Yet, when we eat it, we usually throw away its seeds, being unaware of the health benefits they hide inside. They are abundant in essential proteins, minerals, and fatty acids, as well as vitamin B, folate, niacin, thiamine, minerals including copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus.

They are also high in valorizes, with 600 grams on 100 grams of seeds.

These seeds are also known as ‘tarbooj ke beej‘ in Hindi, and are commonly used in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, often roasted and added to salads, or as a snack. They are added to soups in Nigeria.

Being high in nutrients and minerals, these seeds should not be discarded. They are edible and you should chew their hard outer covering, and then swallow its contents. Also, watermelon seed oil is extracted from the seeds and is extremely useful for the skin and hair.

These are some of the health benefits of these healthy seeds:

1.These seeds are high in magnesium, as 100 grams provide 139 percent of the recommended daily requirement. This mineral is extremely important for the normal function of the heart regulates the blood pressure, supports metabolic process and protein synthesis.

It controls diabetes and blood pressure, and it is helpful in the case of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

2. Essential amino acids like arginine and lysine are needed by the body, and it cannot produce it on its own. These seeds have some of these essential amino acids, like tryptophan and glutamic acids.

Lysine supports the absorption of calcium to help the collagen formation, as well as the formation of connective tissues, and arginine helps the metabolism, sexual health, and cardiovascular system.

3. Watermelon seeds are rich in multivitamin B, which comprises of folate, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins are essential for the nervous system, healthy blood, and healthy immune response.

Watermelon seeds are also great in the case of diabetes. You should boil a handful in a liter of water for 45 minutes, and over the pot. Then, drink this beverage as a tea, on a daily basis.

4. These seeds are rich in energy and calories. Half of the seed of this fruit has oil which consists of 20 percent saturated fat and the rest monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, including omega-6 fatty acids. A cup of dried seeds has 50 grams of fat which is around 80 percent of the daily recommended value.

5. Watermelon seeds have lycopene which is excellent for the male fertility and face.

6. The lack of proteins can cause diseases such as marasmus and kwashiorkor in poorer countries of the world. These seeds are rich in proteins, so they are great to fight the protein deficiency issues.

A cup of dried seeds has 30 grams of protein. Amino acids and proteins are essential for the growth and repair of muscles, connective tissues, enzymes production, and skin and proteins are also vital for strong and long nails.

7. These seeds sharpen the memory and promote a quicker recovery after illness.

Hair Benefits:

Watermelon seeds are rich in protein which provides health and shine of the hair. They are also rich in essential amino acids like arginine, lysine, tryptophan and glutamic acid which strengthen the hair and support its health.

Roasted watermelon seeds are high in copper, which is needed for the melanin production, a pigment which provides color to the skin and hair.

The application of the watermelon seed oil to the scalp will stimulate hair growth, support scalp health, and provide shine and vitality. It gets easily absorbed into the pores and does not clog them.

Moreover, this oil is high in essential fatty acids which prevent breakage and keep the hair hydrated.

Skin Benefits:

Watermelon seeds are extremely beneficial for the skin as they are high in nourishing nutrients, such as linoleum and oleic acids. They provide a healthy glow to the skin, as well as other benefits:

• These seeds prevent aging as they are high in oils and antioxidants, and make the skin young, healthy and glowing. You should consume a handful of two if these seeds a week.
• The extract of these seeds provides moisture, and thus prevents aging degradation and gives skin elasticity.
• The oil of these seeds, known as Ootanga oil or Kalahari oil, is excellent for the skin, as it does not clog the pores, moisturizes it and supports its normal function. Its properties make it perfect for an essential ingredient in baby oils.
• They contain unsaturated fatty acids which keep the skin soft, firm, hydrated, well-tones, and prevent skin issues and acne.
• Their nutrients prevent skin infections and skin cancer.
• Watermelon seed oil eliminates dirt, sebum, and grease, which accumulate in the pores and lead to acne, blackheads, and a dull appearance of the skin. The oil can be used in the case of oily, dry, maturing and acne-prone skin.

Sources:
www.naturalandhealthyworld.com
www.healthyfoodteam.com