WEEKLY ARTICLE
 
  

Watermelon: A Non-Guilty Summer Pleasure 

As we head home to South Florida, I would say that we are in the thick of it here in South Florida. And in most other parts of the country and world as well.

The heat and humidity actually hit us like a brick wall as soon as we got off of the plane in Miami.

Of course they keep the airports and airplanes freezing cold almost everywhere we have ever been.

And in contrast to the frigid temps on the overseas flight from Europe back to Miami, we were met with salt laden humidity inside the Miami airport, despite the attempts to keep it cool via the A/C system.

We were somewhat prepared for the hot temps that we encountered during some of our travels and most definitely upon our return to Miami due to our secret weapon: Watermelon.

Watermelon is the go to food throughout the Mediterranean (and all of Europe), where they are very keenly seasonally aware interestingly enough.

So even before we left for our summer adventure, I knew that watermelon would be my food of choice during our trip for several reasons.

1. It would make a very fine dessert food for me, and would help me to avoid the temptation of far less healthy sweets to satisfy my unabashed sweet tooth. (I am happy to report it worked!!),
    
2. It would keep me cool and hydrated while traipsing around sightseeing in the summer heat due to its naturally cooling energetic quality.
   
   And,
    
3. It was readily available and easily accessible throughout       our travel region.

Watermelon beats out tomatoes as a "high lycopene food".

Lycopene is a carotenoid phytonutrient (think vitamin A / beta carotene), which is especially important for cardiovascular health.

And the most up to date research is revealing that lycopene is important for bone health as well.

Other foods containing high concentrations of lycopene are pink grapefruit and guava.

But the highest concentrations of lycopene are found in watermelon, and it is the perfect food for the summer season.

While tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and guava are often consumed in less than whole form, usually in juices, pastes, and jams, watermelon is almost always consumed as a fresh whole food, making it the perfect seasonal source of this important nutrient.

Food scientists have compared the nutrient content of flesh from different parts of the watermelon, and discovered that impressive concentrations of all of the nutrients were present throughout the fruit.

It is important to note that recent research has shown that the biggest jump in the overall nutrient content within a watermelon occurs when the flesh of the watermelon turns from white to pink, jumping even further as the flesh continues to ripen from pink to red.

So please always search for the reddest, fully ripest watermelon to get the most in nutritional content and benefit, remembering that the entire watermelon is flooded with nutrients at that time, not just the red flesh.

Here at Wholly Macro, we love to juice the whole entire watermelon: seeds, skin, white rind, and juicy red flesh.

On its own, it makes a thick and delicious cooling and thirst quenching drink.

But it can also be combined with many other fruits, vegetables, herbs, and elixirs to make any number of beautifully colored healthy summer drinks.

Some of our favorites are:

Carrot - Watermelon

Watermelon - Rose

Watermelon - Fresh Basil

And Watermelon - Mint

There are many ways to enjoy fresh watermelon. Be creative, and discover your own favorites. Or simply enjoy a lovely slice at the end of a meal as the perfect summer dessert.

Please always buy organic watermelon so that it's beautiful juicy flesh is not coursing throughout with toxic chemicals.

And please stop eating watermelon well before any sign of a cool down in the outside temperature.

Be aware of the seasons.

Watermelon is a very cooling food, perfect for the heat of the summer, but very ill suited for changing seasons and cooler weather.

While found in great abundance during the summer, watermelon naturally becomes much more difficult to buy as Fall approaches.

Please respect the wisdom of Mother Nature and reserve watermelon as the non-guilty, highly nutritious summer pleasure that it is!

And please don't forget one of Wholly Macro's favorite gems of wisdom:  

While a moderate serving of fresh watermelon promotes health and balance, an over indulgence can do just the opposite.

Again, be aware of your own body. If you are feeling too cool, especially during the heat of summer, watermelon may not be your best food choice.

Please seek the advice of an experienced nutritionist or preferably a macrobiotic counselor if in doubt.

May health, happiness, and prosperity be your unavoidable natural state and your ongoing daily experience.

Gayle and Jaime / Wholly Macro