Watermelon

A few days ago Hammad posted about choosing a watermelon. I thought I'd write up something from the Prophetic Medicine about them.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, The hotness of this substance (dates) neutralises the coolness of that (watermelon).

As we all know, the biggest constituent in a watermelon is water. Watermelon works as a cleanser for the stomach and intestines. It is beneficial to eat watermelon when it is warm, but if cold, it’s better to have it with some ginger to offset the harm.
It should be eaten before meals, otherwise it will cause nausea. Some doctors say that when eaten before meals, it “cleanses the stomach and removes ailments”.

Watermelon has always been a good source of vitamins A and C, and provides potassium and fiber.

Scientists indicate that watermelon contains high levels of lycopene-an antioxidant that may help the body fight cancer and prevent disease. Lycopene is found only in red watermelon varieties. In fact, it gives watermelon its red colour, thus, the redder the watermelon, the more lycopene it contains.

It is fat-free, yet delivers 100 percent on the critical energy component found in functional foods.
And watermelon is a very popular base for smoothies! :)