BENEFITS OF WATER MELON SEEDS

When you think of the health benefits of water melon, the seeds don’t probably come to mind. You possibly think about the sweet, juicy pulp, with the seeds as an afterthought. Yet, water melon seeds make a great snack when they have been dried and roasted. Again their nutritional value is unlimited.

PROTEIN

Water melon seeds are very high in protein, which consists of several amino acids, one of which is arginine.  Some of the health benefits of arginine include regulating blood pressure and treating coronary heart disease. There are several other amino acids that make up the protein in water melon seeds, including tryptophan, glutamic acid and lysine.

B- VITAMINS

Water melon seeds are also loaded with several of the B-vitamins. These vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy and other important bodily functions as reported by the American Cancer Society. The most prevalent B-vitamin in water melon seed is niacin, which is important for maintaining the nervous and digestive systems, and skin health. Other B-vitamins in water melon seeds include folate, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B₆ and panthothenic acid.

MINERALS

Minerals abound in watermelon seeds. Magnesium is the most abundant mineral. According to the National Institute of Health, magnesium helps to regulate blood pressure and the metabolism of carbohydrates, which has a beneficial effect on blood sugar as well. Other important minerals in water melon seeds are phosphorus, iron, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese and zinc.

FATS

The most surprising thing about water melon seeds is the amount of fat they contain; such as monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids. The America Heart Association reports that mono and polyunsaturated fats reduces blood cholesterol and omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood pressure.