Health benefits of watermelon by Dr. Sinatra

I thought I knew all there was to know about the perks of various varieties of fruit, but then I discovered a refreshing summertime drink with a fruit I had underestimated: Watermelon. That's right! Watermelon is rich in all the right stuff, including:

• Carotenoids lycopene and beta carotene that neutralize free radicals to prevent heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Research shows that lycopene decreases the risk for cancer of the breast, prostate, endometrium, lung and colon; and other diseases.
• Vitamins A and C which bolster your immune system. One specific health benefit of watermelon is that it provides 24.3% of the daily value for Vitamin C.
• Vitamin K that helps control blood pressure, regulate heart beat, and possibly prevent strokes.
• B vitamins: B1 and B6, important for energy production.
• Magnesium: Works to lower blood pressure, assuage arrhythmia, and more.
• Potassium: A cardinal mineral for the cardiovascular system.

Loaded with such powerful antioxidants, watermelon does everything right for your health. The health benefits of watermelon include quenching inflammation, an underlying culprit in heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, arthritis, and asthma.