Health Benefits Of Watermelon Seeds

WHEN you think of the health benefits of watermelon, the seeds probably do not come to your mind.

You probably think of the sweet, juicy pulp without considering the seed as being good too. The fact is, watermelon seeds whether wet, dry or roasted make a great snack. The United States Department of Agriculture has listed different nutritional components of the seeds.

The seeds are very rich in protein. A cup of dried watermelon seeds contains more than 30 per cent proteins, which is the 61 per cent of the daily-recommended dose. The proteins in the seeds consist of amino acids, tryptophan, glutamic acid, lysine and arginine. Medline Plus states that some health conditions may benefit from additional arginine.

Some of the health benefits of arginine include; regulating blood pressure and treating coronary heart disease. Mineral found in the seeds is magnesium.

According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, magnesium helps to regulate blood pressure and the metabolism of carbohydrates, which has a beneficial effect on blood sugar level. Other important minerals in watermelon seeds are phosphorous, iron, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese and zinc.

The most surprising thing about watermelon seeds is the amount of fat they contain. A cup of the dried seeds contain 51 per cent fat. Other categories of deposits in the seeds are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-6 fatty acids.

The American Heart Association reports that mono and polyunsaturated fats reduce blood cholesterol, while omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood pressure.