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| via chriskresser.com |
I see National Watermelon Day is buzzing all around! I love watermelon! Not so much because I enjoy the taste, but because of its memories for me.
How many of us have a food that brings us comfort or a warm feeling? Whether its smell or taste, or just the sight of it appeals to some of our most precious moments.
Watermelon is one of those comfort foods for me. To be honest, watermelon among other fruits bring me much comfort because during my childhood, my Grandma would buy me plenty fruits and bring them from her job for me to eat. Despite the refreshing, crisp water that bursts from a watermelon every time you eat it, I love that every time you eat a watermelon it bring 1 or 2 more friends or family around to eat it with you. And in South Carolina, where my extended family lives, they are always as big as they come!
Of course watermelon is great to eat, being a fruit itself, but what are the benefits that we aren't aware of?
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| via womenshealthmag.com |
I found that the top 3 vitamins in watermelon are Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Magnesium!
We can knock out snack time and our very own hair & beauty care-- 2 for 1 just by eating watermelon with our babies!
Here's what these vitamins are good for!
1. Vitamin C is great for strengthening our hair and nails! According to Women's Health, "Vitamin C is one of the most effective nutrients to help grow and strengthen hair. Also, it helps maintain the integrity of our nails by strengthening our skin, connective tissue, bones, and blood vessel walls."2
2. Vitamin A is a whole food ingredient recommended for skin healing. Chris Kresser lists vitamin A as one of the top nutrients for a skin healing diet! "Vitamin A, or retinol, is one of the most widely acknowledged nutrients for healthy skin. Synthetic retinoids have been used as effective treatments for severe acne and psoriasis since the 1980s, demonstrating how useful vitamin A can be in treating problem skin."1
3. Magnesium fights eczema and acne. According to LiveStrong.Com, "Eczema is often a sign of a magnesium deficiency. When magnesium levels are low, the body begins to produce histamines. Histamine creates itchy skin and red blotches, which is caused by swelling blood vessels leaking fluid into the skin and tissues. Along with histamine production, magnesium deficiency also results in lower levels of fatty acids on the skin. This reduces elasticity and moisture and creates the perfect condition for dryness and inflammation."
"In a 2007 study cited in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," magnesium was discovered to help reduce inflammation caused by an excess amount of C-reactive protein and E-selectin. E-selectin is produced when skin sustains any type of injury, including those created by acne-causing bacteria invading the skin. The presence of E-selectin results in acne inflammation. Magnesium reduces E-selectin's effects and prevents the inflammation."3
So now that we know more about the benefits of watermelon, let's partake in this national day! 🍉🍉🍉
References
1. http://chriskresser.com/nutrition-for-healthy-skin-part-1/
2. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/vitamin-c-benefits
3. http://www.livestrong.com/article/182614-magnesium-for-skin-care/
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