Simply Natural: Watermelon

August 17, 2007

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating.�
—Miguel de Cervantes

Watermelon is one of the great foods because it is “beyond delicious,� and it satisfies so many of the body’s needs. First, being 93% water, it satisfies thirst. Any water that you might get from fruit (not pasteurized, commercial fruit juice, ugh) is far, far more “body friendly� than purified water, spring water, or even rain water. David Wolfe, an internationally known speaker, writer, and guru for the vegetarian, raw foods movement, says this about watermelon: “Watermelon is one of the top foods on the planet. Chew a few seeds for fat, take in the natural melon sugar, and you have close to a balanced picture.�

For those who do sports, work out, work hard in the garden, or just walk, watermelon is probably the best electrolyte replacement available. Forget that stuff in bottles with “-ade� after their names. That’s bad stuff, for many reasons. In watermelon there are plenty of vitamins and minerals. A 300-gram wedge will give you: 2 grams of highly assimilable protein, copious amounts of potassium, carotene, iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, and as with most fruits, many trace minerals. Watermelon also provides lycopene, which studies show can drastically reduce lung and prostate cancers.

Watermelon juice is fantastic. Fill a blender 1/3 with watermelon and pulse it until it is mush. Maybe two times. Then pour the mush into a pitcher and the seeds will be on the bottom of the blender. Discard them and pour the mush back in the blender. Add a few strips of the white part of the rind. Start with just a little and add rind to your taste. Watermelon rind is rich in silicon, which plays a major role in bone and teeth formation. Add a little water if you wish. Blend well and you have juice “fit for the gods.�

Some fear that watermelon is not healthy because it is so sweet. It does have a higher than average glycemic index—74—but consider that cooked carrots are 127, baked potatoes 93, and whole wheat bread is 99. The glycemic index shows the rate at which the sugars in a food are absorbed into the blood. A key factor is that watermelon, of course, is raw, while carrots, baked potatoes and whole wheat bread have all been cooked. Cooking raises the glycemic index number substantially in most cases.

Watermelon is a great internal cleanser. It has a flushing action on the kidneys, gall bladder and bladder. The seeds can be dried for a fine tea, or just chewed well as a healthy supplement. Grind the seeds and they can be added to salads, soups, etc. The seeds contain cucubocitrin, which is used to dilate the capillaries and reduce high blood pressure.

Seedless watermelons are very high in sugar and the mineral ratios are off. The great melon taste is usually not there. Most hybrid fruits, in fact, will give me a sugar high. I can gorge on wild berries or natural seeded varieties of fruit and, no problem. Genesis 1:29 advises us to eat herbs bearing seed and fruits bearing seed.

Last year I did a watermelon fast for 4 days. Yes, nothing but watermelon. I lost 7 lbs, my energy level soared, and I gained a surreal clarity of mind.

Delicious recipe: Iron Boost
10 organic strawberries
10 organic raspberries
1 large slice of watermelon
1 handful of parsley

Mix, blend, and serve! Red fruits, especially berries, contain high amounts of iron. Red watermelon has the highest iron content of any fruit.

Trent lives in Taos and is a health coach. He has received certification from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City and Teacher’s College, Columbia University. His favorite hangout is the organic produce aisle at Cid’s Market.