Four Tasty Reasons To Love Watermelon In The Summer

July is National Watermelon Month, a fitting celebration for the oversized fruit that both hydrates and satisfies us on a hot summer day. Over four billion pounds of watermelons grow each year in 49 of the 50 U.S. states, making it one of our nation’s most popular foods. Of course, the entire world has long enjoyed the juicy fruit for many generations — watermelon seeds were even found in ancient Egyptian tombs dating back thousands of years.

Curious for more watermelon trivia? Here are four tasty reasons to lug home the massive fruit and slice up some watermelon cubes for dinner tonight.

It’s water rich

Just as its name hints at, watermelon is full of water – 92% to be exact! And you can get about 20% of your daily fluid needs from the foods you eat. So enjoying this fabulous fruit can help you reach your four to six cup fluid goal each day, making it an excellent choice for hydration pre or post-exercise.

Watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamin C

The only way for humans to get Vitamin C is to consume it! Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds, keeps gums and teeth healthy, and helps the body absorb iron more easily. Most adult men and women need 75-90 mg of Vitamin C per day; even more if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. The great news is that two cups of watermelon provides 25% of your day’s worth of the Vitamin C you need in just 80 calories.

It will last the entire week

If you’re into meal (or snack) prepping for busy work weeks, watermelon is a wonderful choice as you can cut and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to five days! (P.S. If you find you’ve got too much of that delicious red watermelon flesh leftover, cut it into cubes and freeze on a lined cookie sheet. Frozen fruit is great for smoothies and cocktails later!)

It is entirely edible, rind and all

Did you know that a watermelon’s rind is also edible? Don’t let any of it go to waste! You can try the rinds pickled for something savory and crunchy, just like you would cucumbers. Using up one whole watermelon can save about 5 pounds of food waste from ending up in a landfill!