The Summer Superfruit You Should Be Eating

As seen on June 19th, 2013 on:

written by The Nutrition Twins,

Despite the fact that a cup of ice cream or soft serve can set you back nearly 500 calories, frozen treats tend to dominate summer cravings. But, believe it or not, a cool, refreshing, waistline-friendly sweet treat exists. And this mythical-sounding indulgence also helps keep your skin looking radiant. Best of all, this magical superfood is inexpensive and available in abundance at your grocery store. It’s watermelon.

A cup of watermelon or watermelon sorbet (see recipe below) can satisfy your sweet tooth for a cool 45 calories. As a bonus, its high water and potassium content help you look svelte by fighting bloat, and keep your skin hydrated, preventing it from becoming sunken and weathered.

And thanks to hefty amounts of beta carotene and lycopene, watermelon protects skin from sun spots and premature wrinkles. Beta carotene doubles as an anti-inflammatory, so it will help tame any swelling you get from too much sun exposure. Watermelon also contains the antioxidant vitamin C, which helps produce collagen, the compound that gives skin its youthful elasticity, and mops up free radicals that harm the skin, making it stronger.

Enjoy the superfruit raw, whip up sorbet (instructions below), or try one of these 16 creative watermelon recipes.

Watermelon Sorbet (45 calories)

Ingredients:

1 cup watermelon, cut into small cubes, frozen
1 cup water

Directions:

Cut watermelon into small cubes (if they are too large they will be difficult to blend). Put them in a sealable bag and place them in the freezer. (We suggest keeping lots of these in the freezer so you can have sorbet at your fingertips).
Add watermelon and water to blender and mix until the concoction has a smooth, sorbet-like consistency.
OPTIONAL: We often add a dash of cocoa powder or zest of a lemon or lime.
Remove from blender and enjoy!

NOTE: You may need to add a little extra water as you blend, if so just add some slowly until you get the desired consistency.

For recipes to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, check out our upcoming book The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure: 100 Tantalizing Recipes for Health, Energy and Beauty.

TELL US: What’s your favorite way to eat watermelon?

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