What the white T-shirt is to our outfits, the watermelon is to our diet in summer: It can be combined in a variety of ways, is simply tasty for everyone and, with its lightness and degree of refreshment, is the perfect back-up when you’re hot Days don’t know what to eat.
In addition, it contains a lot of nutrients with little sugar, which makes it perfect for a healthy diet in summer. But, unfortunately, we always made a grave mistake when preparing it – and thus lost some of the nutrients and lost some of their potential for healthy eating: We did not eat the peel and kernels.
Healthy eating: that’s how healthy watermelons are
Yes, you read that right! What is considered “inedible” for many ends up in the organic rubbish should instead end up on the plate? Our healthy diet can benefit from this supposed waste – and make watermelon even healthier than it already is: with a water content of 96 per cent, for example, it helps maintain the body’s fluid content, and the vitamin C it contains boosts the immune system and protects against free radicals, while vitamin A (which, among other things, also ensures the red colour of the pulp) ensures healthy eyes, skin renewal and hair growth.
In addition, its magnesium content of 9 milligrams per 100 grams makes it the ideal post- workout-Snack and its low calorie and sugar content on top the perfect snack for everyone who wants to lose weight healthily.
Because of these health benefits, the watermelon can be enjoyed on all kinds of occasions in summer – be it as a salad with mint and feta , cut into triangles for a snack or as a topping on breakfast yogurt. From now on, we are also integrating your peel and seeds into our watermelon menus.
Healthy nutrition: These benefits are provided by the peel and core of the watermelon
When we talk about peel, we don’t mean the hard, green-patterned outermost layer of the watermelon – but the white flesh is immediately underneath. Many unjustifiably end up in the trash with the green peel. The taste is reminiscent of a cucumber and is excellent in all salads, grated or cut into small sticks. This not only benefits the variety on the plate but also our health. The white bowl contains:
- Vitamin C for a stable immune system
- Dietary fibre for a long-lasting feeling of satiety
- Citrulline for heart and blood vessel health
And also, many of us pull the seeds out of the red pulp instead of seeing them as the superfood upgrade that they are. There is a lot of value in them too:
- Vitamin A for healthy eyes, skin and hair
- Unsaturated fatty acids
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Calcium
If you want to benefit from them, you shouldn’t just swallow the watermelon kernels but chew them well. Alternatively, you can dry and powder them before stirring them into your muesli or spicing up your smoothie. They also taste great in a hearty combination: lightly roasted in oil and salt, they are great as a crunch on a salad – maybe even the one you added with the peel of the watermelon beforehand. So you benefit from the full power of the watermelon!