Watermelon – Ellen's Fruit of the Month

The season for the sweetest best quality watermelon is summer
What are the benefits? Watermelon is a great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. High vitamin C intake can reduce severity of osteoarthritis and asthma attacks. A cup of watermelon provides 24.3% of the daily value for Vitamin C. Pink watermelon also contains lycopene which has been associated with reduced cancer risk and antioxidant properties. Lycopene has been studies extensively with humans and has been found to protect against many cancers such as prostate, breast and lung cancers.
How do I pick my watermelon? For whole melons, look for one that is heavy and a rind that is relatively smooth. One side of the melon should have an area that is a distinctively different color from the rest of the rind. This colored area is known as the “underbelly” and it’s the spot on the watermelon that rested on the ground during ripening. If this coloring does not exist it could mean that the melon  was harested prematurely. For melon slices, there should be an absence of white streaks and deep colored seeds.
How do I store my watermelon? Once cut, watermelon slices should be refrigerated and covered in plastic to keep from absorbing other odors.
How many calories? In 1 cup of watermelon there is about 46 calories, 9.5 grams of sugar, and 0 fat.
Recipe Idea: Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves (via FoodNetwork)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/watermelon-salad-with-mint-leaves-recipe/index.html
Read more here: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31