8 Amazing Health Benefits of Watermelon

Summer is the time to indulge in fresh, succulent juicy melon when they are in season and deliver an array of nutrients, vitamin and minerals. It is also incredibly hydrating (up to 92% water!) and is naturally low-fat. Make this melon a part of your daily diet and you will reap amazing benefits that range from improving cardiovascular health to nourishing your eyes and revving up your immune system. Read on to discover 8 amazing health benefits of watermelon!

Cardiovascular & Bone Health

The lycopene in watermelon is especially important for our cardiovascular health and is now being recognized as an important factor in promoting bone health. Consuming large amounts of watermelon has also been correlated with improved cardiovascular function because it improves blood flow via vasodilation (relaxation of blood pressure). Dietary lycopene (from foods like watermelon or tomatoes) reduces oxidative stress which normally reduces the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts (the two major bone cells involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis) – this means stronger bones for those consuming lycopene-rich foods. Watermelon is also rich in potassium which helps to retain calcium in your body, resulting in stronger bones and joints.

Reduces Body Fat

The citrulline in watermelon has been shown to reduce the accumulation of fat in our fat cells. Citrulline is an amino acid which converts into arginine with help from the kidneys. When our bodies absorb citrulline it can take the step of converting into arginine if so required. Citrulline, when consumed, has the ability to (through a series of steps) block the activity of TNAP (tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase) which makes our fat cells create less fat, and thus helps prevent over-accumulation of body fat.

Anti-inflammatory & Antioxidant Support

Watermelon is rich in phenolic compounds like flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids. The carotenoid lycopene in watermelon is particularly beneficial in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals. The tripterpenoid cucurbitacin E is also present in watermelon, which provides anti-inflammatory support by blocking activity of cyclo-oxygenase enzymes which normally lead to increased inflammatory support. Make sure you pick ripe watermelons, because they contain higher amounts of these beneficial phenolic compounds.

Diuretic & Kidney Support

Watermelon is a natural diuretic which helps increase the flow of urine, but does not strain the kidneys (unlike alcohol and caffeine). Watermelons helps the liver process ammonia (waste from protein digestion) which eases strain on the kidneys while getting rid of excess fluids.

Muscle & Nerve Support

Rich in potassium, watermelon is a great natural electrolyte and thus helps regulate the action of nerves and muscles in our body. Potassium determines the degree and frequency with which our muscles contract, and controls the excitation of nerves in our body.

Alkaline-forming

Watermelons have an alkaline-forming effect in the body when fully ripe. Eating lots of alkaline-forming foods (fresh, ripe, fruit and vegetables) can help reduce your risk of developing disease and illness caused by a high-acid diet (namely, meat, eggs and dairy).

Improves Eye Health

Watermelon is a wonderful source of beta-carotene (that rich red hue of watermelon = beta carotene) which is converted in the body to vitamin A. It helps produce the pigments in the retina of the eye and protects against age-related macular degeneration as well as prevents night blindness. Vitamin A also maintains healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, and mucus membranes.

Immune Support, Wound Healing & Prevents Cell Damage

The vitamin C content in watermelon is astoundingly high. Vitamin C is great at improving our immune system by maintaining the redox integrity of cells and thereby protecting them from reactive oxygen species (which damages our cells and DNA). The role of vitamin C in healing wounds has also been observed in numerous studies because it is essential to the formation of new connective tissue. The enzymes involved in forming collagen (the main component of wound healing) cannot function without vitamin C. If you are suffering from any slow-healing wounds, up your intake of vitamin C heavy fruit!

Source: live love fruit
Read more at http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2013/07/8-amazing-health-benefits-of-watermelon.html#bQeKiaj2YgtTODpf.99 

Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods

Bread. Cheese. Wine. Beer. Coffee. Chocolate. Most people consume fermented foods and drinks every day. For thousands of years, humans have enjoyed the distinctive flavors and nutrition resulting from the transformative power of microscopic bacteria and fungi. Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods is the first cookbook to widely explore the culinary magic of fermentation.

"Fermentation has been an important journey of discovery for me," writes author Sandor Ellix Katz. "I invite you to join me along this effervescent path, well trodden for thousands of years yet largely forgotten in our time and place, bypassed by the superhighway of industrial food production."

The flavors of fermentation are compelling and complex, quite literally alive. This book takes readers on a whirlwind trip through the wide world of fermentation, providing readers with basic and delicious recipes-some familiar, others exotic-that are easy to make at home.

The book covers vegetable ferments such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and sour pickles; bean ferments including miso, tempeh, dosas, and idli; dairy ferments including yogurt, kefir, and basic cheesemaking (as well as vegan alternatives); sourdough bread-making; other grain fermentations from Cherokee, African, Japanese, and Russian traditions; extremely simple wine- and beer-making (as well as cider-, mead-, and champagne-making) techniques; and vinegar-making. With nearly 100 recipes, this is the most comprehensive and wide-ranging fermentation cookbook ever published.


You can view the book details here: http://amzn.to/Uk5m3F

The Juicy behind Juicing & Smoothies

Juicing and smoothies are all the rage these days. It is claimed by many that they can help with a variety of health problems and increased well-being.  I know personally for me this is absolutely true!  When I went on a one months juicing rampage, boy did I feel a million bucks!  There’s so much debate out there as to whether juicing or smoothies are the way to go, so I took it upon myself to do a little research…..Personally for me, I love my juicer and my seven juices a day and will fight anyone to the floor who tries to take my juicer away – but both juices and smoothies have great health benefits – Lets take a look at the ‘Juicy behind juicing and smoothies’.   

Juicing

• Nutritional Value:Raw juices are full of phytonutrients – vitamins, minerals, enzymes and water.  Because juicing removes the insoluble fibre it is said that this concentrated glass of nutrition is able to enter straight into the cell very fast as it bypasses the digestion.  It’s the insoluble fibre that prevents the sugars and nutrition from being absorbed quite so quickly.  This super shot of pure nutrition supports the immune system, is thought to help prevent cancers and help with degenerative disease.
• May aid with Depression:There are many vitamins and minerals that support the nervous system and help to induce well-being and calm – some of these being, iron, magnesium, calcium, folic acid and potassium.  There is reason to believe that due to these nutrients being in such potent form that it helps the fight against depression and anxiety.
• Faster Absorption: As stated above, the reason for this is that the insoluble fibre is missing from the juice.  Because of this the juice can move straight through the cell wall and into the cell, infusing it with all the goodness it needs.
• Liver Cleansing & Detox: Juicing is great at this because since it’s missing it’s fibre and enters through the cell wall, not only does it supply the cells in the liver with high potent phytonutrients, but also pulls the toxins straight out of the cell.
• Variety: You can mix as many varieties of fruits and vegetables in one juice as you please!  Yum!  Getting all this nutrition in with food or sometimes even with a large smoothy can be more difficult because the fibre fills you up to the brim!
• Weight Loss: It is claimed that one of the reasons is down to the detoxifying and cleansing effect on the liver.  Some sources say that the liver has over 500 functions in our body and a sluggish liver that is struggling to process and function will prevent you from losing any weight.
• Increased Life-Force: It’s believed my many pro-juicers that you are consuming the life-force of the plants and fruits which is responsible for giving increased energy.  Plants are full of energy and live enzymes.  Unfortunately, enzymes are extremely fragile and killed very easily through temperature.  It only takes 105oF for enzymes to be killed so the friction caused by many blenders can destroy them before you get a chance to drink them.
• Longevity: Some say that  due to the increased concentration of free-radical fighting phytonutrients and increased consumption of enzymes, juicing has a role in anti-ageing.
• Healing: Since juicing takes the focus and energy off digestion, the body can concentrate on toxin removal and healing. 

Smoothies

• Stabilises Blood Sugar: With smoothies, they DO contain both the insoluble and soluble fibre.  Therefore, the absorption rate will be a lot steadier and slower as it has to pass through digestion.  This can have a gentler impact on people who suffer from Hypoglycemia. 
• Satisfying:  Smoothies can have a more satisfying and comforting feeling.  They make you feel fuller for longer because the fibre takes a lot longer to be digested.
• Regularity: Again, the good old fibre in the smoothies help as ‘bulk’ to keep regularity.
• Complete Meal: Smoothies are considered a ‘complete meal’ since they contain all the components needed.  You can always add anything else you like to smoothies - super-foods, algae’s or protein powders for example.
• Reasonable Cost: Compared to juicing, smoothies are more cost effective.  Smoothies use up far less ingredients ‘per glass’ than does juicing.
• Nutritious: Smoothies are still using fruits and vegetables which are very high in nutrition, they may not be quite as ‘potent’ as juices, but still very high to have many health benefits.

Finally, I am going to leave you with a yummy little recipe that is known to have ingredients (nutrition) that help support depression.  It comes from one of my favourite books called “Raw Juices Can Save Your Life” by Sandra Cabot M.D. – Enjoy, and let me know what your favourite smoothies/juices are and why…..

Until next time…..Be healthy, be well, be happy……

JUICE  FOR  DEPRESSION

2 Large Spinach Leaves

2 Stalks Celery

2-3 Romaine Lettuce Leaves

1 Medium Beetroot & Tops

1 Cup Grapes or 1 Medium Carrot

1 Tomato

Dash of Tabasco (optional)