It is a regular sight for one to
spit out the seeds after biting into a watermelon
Most people regard it as an inconvenience
preventing them from biting away their sweet watermelon.
I myself have harboured such
thoughts until I come across information that says a lot about the nutritional
properties of these “in-the-way” seeds.
It’s interesting that as yummy and
nutritious as a watermelon is; its seeds add up to the nutritional value of it
as a fruit.
In Asia, roasted watermelon seeds
are a popular snack. Watermelon seeds have been used for various culinary and
medicinal purposes.
Health benefits of watermelon seeds
can be attributed to its high nutritional content including fatty acids,
essential amino acids and rich mineral content ( calcium potassium, iron,
phosphorous etc.).
HOW TO EAT THEM
The seeds come with a semi-hard outer
cover and its either you chew the seeds (with the cover) or crack out the soft white nutritious
part. If the seeds are ingested wholly, it will pass though the digestive tract
and end up in your bowels undigested. Chewing the seeds with the hand cover provides you a chunk of dietary fibre.
FACTS:
1. Around 100
gram of watermelon seeds provide around 600 calories same as having 10 loaves
of bread.
2. Fat content
in 100 gram of watermelon seeds is around 80% of daily dietary requirement of
fats.
3. Around one
third of watermelon seeds are proteins, mainly highly essential proteins like
lysine.
4. An ounce of
dried watermelon seed kernels contains about 3 grams of zinc (or 25 percent of
the Recommended Dietary Allowance for a woman under 50), and 2 grams of iron
(or 14 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance.
ALSO…. (as stated by Valuefoods)
Essential Amino Acids: Amongst all the amino acids the
body requires, there are some known as essential amino acids which the body
cannot naturally produce. These include arginine, lysine and others. Watermelon
seeds supply some of these essential amino acids including tryptophan, glutamic
acids. Lysine plays important role in calcium absorption and formation of
collagen and connective tissues in the body. Arginine helps in improvement of
body metabolism, cardio vascular system and sexual health.
Magnesium store: Watermelon seeds are rich in magnesium. Magnesium is
responsible for normal heart functioning, promoting normal blood pressure,
supporting energy metabolism and protein synthesis. It has beneficial effect in
treating cardiovascular diseases, hypertension. Magnesium regulates
carbohydrate metabolism and thereby checks blood sugar and controls diabetes.
Natural Multi-Vitamin: Watermelon seeds can rub shoulders
with multivitamin B-complex supplements we consume. Some of the vitamin B
present in watermelon seeds includes niacin, folate, thiamine, riboflavin,
vitamin B6, panthothenic acid. About 100 gram of watermelon seed provide 19%
daily value of niacin, which is essential in maintaining the nervous system,
digestive system and skin health.
Oil: Watermelon Seed Oil is also known as Ootanga Oil and
Kalahari Oil. African people have understood benefits of watermelon seeds and
been using highly nutritive oil from watermelon seeds. Oil is obtained from
crushing dried watermelon seeds. Watermelon seed oil has amazing moisturizing
capabilities and forms essential ingredient in baby oils. Watermelon oil
contains essential fatty acids helpful for skin, it eliminates any toxins from
skin and helps keep skin fresh and elastic. It is used in hair care products as
non-greasy high moisturizer.
The seeds can be collected, dried
and roasted (HOW TO MAKE ROASTED WATERMELON SEEDS) and the inner seed
then eating or used to garnish your salad.
FOR CONSULTATION
WhatsApp Our
Nutritionist: +233277279565
This article
was reviewed on Tuesday, 18th July, 2016 By Sallah Stanley Kwesi (Nutritionist at Nutritional Talk)
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