Monday, September 1, 2014

Watermelon Mint Smoothie!

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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