Watermelon Mint Smoothie
Happy Labor Everyone! As we wind down the summer
this Labor Day, many of us are cooking up and serving up our favorite summer
time favorites! And one of those summertime favorites is watermelon.
Watermelons are a beautiful fruit/vegetable. Yes they are both a fruit and a
vegetable. Watermelons can be traced back to the c
ucumber, squash and pumpkin family, known as the Cucurbitaceae family. They are sweet like fruit and they are bright, juicy, and weigh in at only 46 calories per cup! Making this summer food a great choice in slimming the waistline.
What you may not know is that watermelon is much
more nutrient dense than you might have realized. According to the USDA
watermelon contains about 20% of your Vitamin C and about 17% of your Vitamin A
daily requirements per serving. They are high in fiber and potassium. That’s
not all. Did you ever wonder where
watermelon gets its beautiful color? The bright red or pink color comes from the
antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene is a red carotenoid pigment that gives red
fruits like tomatoes and watermelon their color. However, lycopene does much
more than just give watermelon its color. Lycopene has been linked to immune
health, and in reducing cancer and heart disease. That’s not all! Watermelon
contains the amino acid L-Citrulline. The research suggests that L-Citrulline
can improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure. L-Citrulline has been known
to improve diabetes, erectile dysfunction, alzheimer’s, dementia, muscle
soreness, fatigue, muscle weakness, heart disease, and sickle cell disease.
Recipe
Waterelon
Fresh mint leaves
Ice (optional)
Directions
Blend the watermelon until smooth. If desired strain the watermelon through a strainer to remove the pulp. Remember much of the fiber is in the pulp, but you will still get the nutritional value in the juice too! I like to switch it up and drink it with the pulp some days and with the pulp on others. Add fresh mint leaves. Refrigerate for up to three days.
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