Eat more Watermelon!

If you live in an area that sells fresh watermelon make sure to buy 1, 2 or 3.
Why?
They (watermelon) can benefit your health in a number of ways.
What type of ways?
a) Detox Your Kidneys-
Concerned about your kidneys becoming more clogged as you get older?
Eat more watermelon. Loaded with potassium, a mineral that helps wash out
sodium and other toxins in your organs.
b) Heart Health-
Keep the heart youthful and running smoothly with more watermelon.
c) Blood Pressure-
Again, the mineral potassium, can help wash out sodium. Especially the sodium
that damages arteries and causes blood pressure to rise.
d) Sleep Aid-
Before reaching for a sleeping pill, 1/2 banana or a 1/2 cup of tart cherry juice, have
some watermelon an hour before bed. Watermelon has significant amounts of
magnesium, which improves the quality, duration and tranquility of sleep.
Consider it “homemade Ambien!”
e) Skin-
Concerned about the damage your skin is taking from being outdoors? (the Sun)
Eat more red produce (red grapefruit, guavas, tomatoes- cooked and watermelon).
Consider it Watermelon and other red foods- natural sunscreen.
Reread our old post about the foods that work like “sunscreen.”
f) Fight Off Infections-
Before taking Dr. prescribed medicines, see if changing your diet and eating more
watermelon can work like (or even better) than Dr. prescribed medicines.
g) Natural Pain Relief-
Before reaching for over-the-counter pain relief medicine, reach for watermelon.
The red fruit contains amino acids that dial down muscle-tissue inflammation
to help curb pain and stiffness.
Also read yesterday’s post, it’s all about tart cherries (and juice) that work like
and even better than over-the-counter pain medication. “Just say no to Aleve and
Ibuprofen.”

So now, you have 7 reasons why you should eat more watermelon, and to make sure
you follow up on your quest to eat more of it, here are 3 recipes that’ll help you use up
that watermelon that’s sitting in the refrigerator.

Recipe No. 1-
Coconut- Melon Pops!
If you buy Popsicles for the kids, start making your own, healthier popsicles.
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups of diced watermelon
5 1/2 Tbs. of sugar
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 can of canned coconut milk, Shake well before opening
6 kiwis, (also great for insomnia)
1 Tbs. of mini choc. chips
To make:
In a blender, puree the melon, 2 Tbs. of sugar and 2 Tbs. of lemon juice.
Divide among 10 popsicle molds. Sprinkle in chips; insert the sticks.
Freeze 3 hrs. gently stirring every 30 mins. In a bowl, whisk coconut milk
with 1 1/2 Tbs. of sugar; pour 1 Tbs. on top of each Ice pop. Freeze for 45
mins. In the blender, puree the kiwi and remaining sugar. Pour through a
mesh strainer; pour into Popsicle molds and freeze for 2 hours.
Calories per pop-140, carbs-20g, Prot-1g.
Important tip: Look for popsicle molds at Walmart, regular grocery stores
or a Dollar store.

Recipe No. 2-
Adult Watermelon Sorbet!
After the kids eat their “Insomnia pops” (watermelon pops) it’s time for
the adults to make a grownup dessert.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of sugar
1 Tbs. of Lavender flowers/ leaves
6 cups of watermelon chunks
1 lemon, Juiced
2 Tbs. of Vodka
To make:
In a heatproof bowl, combine sugar and 1/2 cup of water.
Microwave 1 mins. or until sugar has dissolved. Add lavender flowers;
let sit for 10 mins. Strain out lavender, reserving syrup. In a blender, puree
watermelon, syrup, 2 Tbs. of lemon juice and vodka. Pour into wide,
shallow container, freeze for 4 hours. Scrape with fork, and return to the
blender, puree until smooth. Serve immediately. Garnish with additional
lavender flowers, if desired.
Calories per bowl-200, Carbs-43g. Prot-1g.
Important tip: To make this dessert “kid-friendly” just leave out the lavender
flowers and alcohol.

Recipe No. 3-
Spicy-Raspberry-Melon Salsa!
Tired of store-bought salsa from a jar? If there’s any watermelon leftover,
use it to make your own homemade salsa.
Ingredients:
1 bunch of scallions, remove the ends
1 clove of garlic
1 jalapeno, remove the stems and seeds
1 cup of raspberries, (fresh or frozen)
1 cup of watermelon chunks
1 Tbs. of Agave nectar
To make:
In a food processor, combine garlic, scallions and jalapeno;
pulse until finely chopped. Add the fruit and agave; pulse several times
until chopped. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
You can serve this salsa on top of hotdogs, burgers, eggs, meatloaf,
pizza, veggies stir-fries, cut up fresh veggies, or as an appetizer-
place some cream cream cheese in a bowl along with some crackers
and salsa and allow guests to help themselves.
Calories per Tbs.-40, Prot-3g. Carbs-8g.

Sources:
* Farmers’ Market Magazine
* AllRecipes.com-popular blog
* America’s Test Kitchen, T.V. show on PBS
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