WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER: Here’s How to Choose the Yummiest Watermelon.

Watermelon…  Yum!  It’s not just a summer favorite.  It’s actually a secret weapon for protecting your good health.

Here’s how it helps us, and how to choose it:

It’s 92% water, so eating it helps us stay hydrated.  It’s especially helpful, both before and after a workout.  

Watermelon left at room temperature is packed with more antioxidants than one stored in the fridge.

It makes us feel good!  Watermelon is loaded with vitamin C, and vitamin B-6, which our bodies use to manufacture the mood balancing brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine.

Watermelon is high in cancer-fighting lycopene!  That’s an anti-oxidant and nutrient, which also helps your heart.  

Did you know that it is rich in L-citrulline?  That’s an amino acid, which helps improve blood flow (like Viagra, L-citrulline increases blood flow to the sexual organs, without any negative side effects).

Here’s how to pick the best one: 

Whether you choose a round, oval, or elongated watermelon, make sure it has a symmetrical and uniform shape – without bumps or cuts.

Watermelon with seeds is sweeter than seedless.

When you’re choosing a watermelon, go for the one that feels the heaviest for its size.

Turn around the watermelon and look for a yellow spot, which suggests it reached peak ripeness on the vine.  Avoid those with a white spot.

Try tapping a watermelon with your hand or fist.  A ripe one delivers a deep sound.  An overripe melon sounds hollow or flat.

A ripe watermelon should have a firm rind, that doesn’t give to pressure, and is not easily scratched.

A watermelon’s tail is a piece of stem, which remains attached after harvesting.  A dry stem usually indicates a ripe watermelon.

Damaged or spoiled watermelons may not be safe to eat.  Some signs you should pay attention to include dark spots, rind injuries, and a rancid odor.