Chilled Watermelon: A Cool Treat for a Hot Day

Watermelon is a delicious, hydrating summer food. It’s also full of amino acids and trace minerals that make it great for your body, and the best way to enjoy it on hot days (besides eating it frozen) is by serving it chilled. Here are two ways to serve chilled watermelon to your guests this summer—one savory and one sweet—to help beat the heat!

What is Watermelon

Considered a superfood, watermelon is also rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It contains important nutrients like vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and amino acids like lysine and arginine. One cup of watermelon delivers about half of your daily recommended dose of vitamin C; it’s also high in fiber content as well as an excellent source of immune-boosting vitamin B6 (pyridoxine).

Where Is It Grown

The popularity of watermelons is likely due to their high concentration of vitamins and other minerals, but they are also rich in carbohydrates, which provide energy to humans. While researchers haven’t determined exactly why watermelons work so well with human health, one study concluded that antioxidants called anthocyanins may be responsible for these benefits. Anthocyanins are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can aid in weight loss.

Health Benefits

Watermelon is good for your gut health. Our intestines are home to several hundred species of bacteria, including both friendly and unfriendly bacteria. Eating healthy foods like watermelon can help improve our gut health by adding probiotics and prebiotics to our system. Chrono CrossFit recommends adding watermelon to your diet because it’s one of these nutrient-dense foods that are also low in calories and high in nutrition, making it a tasty way to add healthy things into your system without gaining weight.

How Can I Eat It?

Try using your frozen watermelon as a healthy substitute for ice cream or to quench your thirst. You can also use it to help clear out toxins and other nasty substances from your system. Simply add some lemon juice and cayenne pepper to make an immunity-boosting detox water drink! Follow these steps to do so: Slice up watermelon into chunks. Add them along with fresh lemons, cayenne pepper, and some mint leaves into a pitcher of cold water.

Is Frozen Watermelon Healthy?

Frozen watermelon is great in smoothies and frozen drinks. It contains essential amino acids like arginine, citrulline, glutamine, and aspartic acid. Frozen watermelon is also high in fiber content. Its fiber content not only helps you feel full faster but it also keeps your gut healthy and running smoothly. People often ask me what my detoxification practices are; one of my favorite ones is to drink a smoothie made with frozen watermelon in it before breakfast.

Should I Freeze My Own Watermelon?

This is one of those questions that makes Dr. Joe Esposito cringe. He’s all about making sure people know how to be fit and healthy and enjoy their lives, but it still feels like he’s stuck playing off of out-of-date nutritional tropes when it comes to frozen treats. What I really try to focus on is real, whole foods—and most fruits fit that bill just fine, he says. So why does he still advise against freezing?

Do I Need to Remove the Seeds?

One of my favorite ways to eat watermelon is by putting it in my blender and creating a delicious, icy concoction. However, when I do so, I find myself wondering whether I should scoop out all of those little black seeds or leave them intact. Dr. Joe Espostio says that it’s best to leave them in unless you have medical concerns such as colitis or irritable bowel syndrome—these conditions can cause discomfort when eating fiber-rich foods like watermelon.

How Can I Preserve Fresh Fruit Longer?

Canning and preserving fresh fruit is a great way to enjoy summery fruits year-round. If you’re not into canning, consider freezing your fresh fruit for up to a year. One of my favorite ways to chill out in hot weather is by eating chilled watermelon. My secret? I freeze it! Find out how you can do it, too!