Watermelon Benefits: An Unconventional Asthma Treatment?

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By D. Ellis

Reviewed by Quality Health's Medical Advisory Board

Next time you reach for a slice of watermelon, you may be interested to know

that this tasty treat may also provide a variety of health benefits, including

keeping your respiratory system functioning at its best.

Watermelon Benefits

Much attention has been paid in recent years to the miracle properties in

watermelon. In fact, the American Heart Association recently approved it as a

food worthy of its heart healthy check mark. Nonetheless, chances are you

wouldn't think of watermelon when you're looking to relieve your asthma

symptoms.

Some asthmatics do find that their symptoms improve when they eat this fruit.

When you make watermelon a staple of your daily diet, it can also bring a number

of other health benefits that can be equally significant.

Here are some of the wonders of watermelon:

* It can relax blood vessels.

* It can improve sexual function.

* It can improve heart health.

* It can lead to a stronger immune system.

* It can reduce the risk of serious asthma attacks.

* It can help prevent cancer.

* It can reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

How Watermelon Serves as an Asthma Treatment

If you wonder how this wonder food can do so many important things, it all comes

down to its ingredients. A study conducted by the Fruit and Vegetable

Improvement Center at Texas A & M credits watermelon benefits to naturally

occurring compounds called phyto-nutrients. These compounds work with the body

to release antioxidants into your system and in turn stop free radicals that

could cause cholesterol to oxidize and cling to your blood vessel walls thereby

triggering a range of serious health issues including asthma. Phyto-nutrients

also relax blood vessels and strengthen the immune system. Of course eating

watermelon isn't apt to replace your asthma medications completely, but may

lessen the number of asthma attacks, and/or decrease their severity, which will

in turn somewhat reduce your reliance on them.

Get the Most out of Eating Watermelon

When shopping for watermelon, you should look for one that's symmetrically

shaped with a healthy sheen and a yellow area underneath. Try hefting it up to

be sure it feels solid and also knock on the surface and listen for a deep thump

inside it. These are all signs of ripeness. An unripe watermelon will be

extremely hard with white or very light green underneath, and once picked, it

often will not ripen well. Uncut watermelons can be stored at room temperature

but once you slice into it, it must be refrigerated.

To keep your asthma symptoms in check, consider incorporating watermelon into

your daily diet in a variety of ways. For instance, eat larger pieces alone for

snacks and desserts, or add smaller cubes of it into salads and fruit bowls.

Remember that no matter how you slice it, watermelon is sure to be one of your

most delicious asthma remedies.

Sources:

National Watermelon Association

http://www.nationalwatermelonassociation.com/july_designated.php

National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB)

http://www.watermelon.org/assets/200000HeartHealthyrelease.pdf

Updated: June 16, 2010

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