Summertime means juicy, delicious watermelon. From refreshing watermelon/ginger juice to watermelon salads, I can never get enough of this summer treat.
When juicing your melon, don't cut your nutrition short by discarding the rind. Take a peeler and discard the green layer then put the rind through the juicer to get every last bit of B6 and Vitamin C. A lessor known factoid about watermelon rind is that it contains citrulline. The March 2011 edition of the "Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture" suggests that the citrulline in watermelon rinds provides an antioxidant effects which protect helps to protect from free-radical damage. Additionally, citrulline converts to arginine, an amino acid vital to the heart, circulatory system and immune system. Researchers from Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center theorize that watermelon rind might relax blood vessels and have a role in treating erectile dysfunction - BOW CHICA BOW WOW!!
And on that note.........here's a great recipe for a fantastic Watermelon Cucumber Salad. The sweetness of the melon and tangy bite of balsalmic are fantastic together!
Salad
Several bunches of fresh greens
1C cubed watermelon
1/2 cucumber, cubed
2T shaved red onion
2T chopped pecans
Toss salad and top with dressing below
Dressing
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Whisk together in a small bowl.
