National Watermelon Day

Celebrate National Watermelon Day on August 3. July is considered to b e the National Watermelon Month. So any fruit that has both a day and a month to be recognized must be of significant nutritional value. Today China is the No 1 producer of watermelons. In U.S watermelon is the most consumed fruit followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.

Watermelon is believed to be originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa and was often placed in the burial tombs of ancient Egyptian kings to nourish them in the afterlife. Egerton, the southern food historian believes that watermelon made its way to the United States with African slaves.

Watermelons are best during summer which contains 92 percent water, so it should be heavy for its size. Seedless watermelons are not genetically modified. They are hybrid watermelons that have been grown in the US for more than 50 years. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, only 16 percent of watermelon sold in grocery stores has seeds.

Recent research has shown that Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a powerful antioxidant, essential for vision and immunity. It also helps regulate body fluids, and control heart rate and regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C in watermelon helps the immune system defend against infections and viruses. . Vitamin B6 in watermelon also helps the body to maintain normal nerve function and form red blood cells.  The most nutrient found in watermelon is lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against cancer.