The benefits of boiling watermelon seeds, and how you can do this yourself at home.
1. Watermelon is well known as a delicious fruit, but the seeds also have many health benefits which you may not be aware of.
2. Watermelon comes from the citrullus lanatus, a vine like plant originally from West Africa.
3. Many people often throw away the watermelon seeds which sit under the bright red flesh. This is
a mistake, for these seeds contain some wonderful nutrients and vitamins.
4. They contain healthy nutrients and minerals including iron, manganese, niacin, calcium,
magnesium as well as Vitamins A, B and C.
5. They are also rich in proteins including amino acids, tryptophan, glutamic acid, lysine and
arginine.
6. In order to get the health benefits that these seeds provide, you can make watermelon seed tea.
7. Simply crush 3 tablespoons of watermelon seeds with a pestle and mortar. Boil these in 1 litre of
water for 20 minutes and then sieve to remove the leftover seeds.
8. Allow the seed water to cool, and drink over the course of the day.
9. This tea is a diuretic, so you may have to use the toilet more often. This will cleanse the body of
toxins and clear urinary tract infections.
10. It will also reduce inflammation in the body from aching joints, toothache, back pain, menstrual
pain and more.
11. You can also simply chew and swallow the seeds whilst eating the flesh of the watermelon. The
fibre within will aid your digestion, and relieve constipation.
12. The seeds can also be roasted. Ensure the seeds are dry and spread them out on a tray. Bake for
10 minutes at 180°C.
13. These roasted seeds are wonderful for grazing and snacking throughout the day, and are
extremely good for your body.
14. Watermelon seeds are very low in calories, yet high in protein. This makes them perfect for
weight loss. I recommend eating at least 1 cup of seeds per day during a diet, or 1 litre of watermelon
seed tea.
15. This also helps to maintain a healthy nervous system, due to the magnesium content.
16. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids are contained within the seeds, which protect the
body from heart disease and strokes, by lowering cholesterol in the blood.
17. The folate within enhances brain function, helping you to have a longer attention span, and higher
clarity of thought.
18. The amino acids mentioned earlier, cause the hair to grow properly with strong roots and
strength.
19. You can also buy watermelon seed oil, and use this as a conditioner for your hair. This oil is often
extracted using a cold pressed method and is sometimes called Kalahari or Ootanga oil.
20. Drinking the tea will help those suffering with edema and water retention. You can also add a little honey to the tea to enhance the flavour.
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