This summertime superfood is so beneficial for your heart and metabolic health that you might want to consider eating it year-round.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE Only 6.8 percent of U.S. adults have optimal cardiometabolic health, while an estimated 47 million have cardiometabolic disorders.
Watermelon contains L-citrulline and L-arginine, which are nitric oxide (NO) precursors. NO helps relax blood vessels and widen arteries.
Consuming watermelon juice attenuates reductions in heart rate variability (HRV) after high sugar consumption—low HRV is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.
Compared to people who don’t eat watermelon, those who do have healthier quality diets and increased nutrient intake.
Among overweight or obese adults, eating watermelon led to greater satiety, including lower hunger, food consumption and desire to eat, and greater fullness, compared to eating low-fat cookies. Only 6.8 percent of U.S. adults have optimal cardiometabolic health,[1] while an estimated 47 million have cardiometabolic disorders that increase their risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.[2] Risk factors for cardiometabolic disease include high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, elevated fasting blood sugar, dyslipidemia, and elevated triglycerides.[3]…