Ever wonder what makes that beautiful, bright red color of everyone’s favorite summer fruit? Aside from giving watermelon its great signature color, lycopene also helps stock this fruit with many nutritious benefits.
Lycopene is one of the carotenes and a member of the carotenoid family. Also known as a phytochemical and primarily associated with tomatoes, it has strong antioxidant properties and known associations between intake and risk of cancer. Lycopene also offers a wide range of benefits in helping maintain cardiovascular and prostate health and recent research suggests it may play an important role in keeping vision healthy by preventing cataracts and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). According to researchers, watermelon contains higher levels of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable, providing 15 to 20 mg per 2-cup serving.
What’s your favorite way to eat watermelon this season? Comment and share with us below!
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