During younger years, many children are jokingly told not to eat the seeds from inside a watermelon as this would cause the fruit to grow within their stomach. This, of course, was just an old wives tale. When it comes to eating a watermelon, most people consume only the flesh and throw the rest away. The truth is, the entire watermelon is edible, including the rind and the seeds. The seeds are especially good to eat as they offer various nutritional benefits.
Protein
The protein content of watermelon seeds are one of the main benefits. Just 1 cup of dried watermelon seeds contains over 60 percent of the recommended daily value of protein. The protein consists of a number of amino acids, such as arginine. According to MayoClinic.com, even though some arginine is naturally produced by the body, there are some circumstances when people should take additional arginine, particularly those who are undergoing treatment for coronary heart disease or have high blood pressure. Other amino acids that are contained in the protein include lysine, glutamic acid and tryptophan.
Vitamins A and C
Watermelon seeds provide a source of vitamin A, also known as beta-carotene, and vitamin C, both of which are antioxidants. According to the National Cancer Institute, the antioxidants in watermelon seeds have been found to prevent cancer causing cellular damage, although more human testing is necessary. The National Cancer Institute also recommends eating food rich with antioxidants, which includes watermelon, seeds and all.
Energy
Watermelon seeds contain the B vitamins that the body uses to produce energy. According to the ranking system of the World's Healthiest Foods, watermelon and its seeds provide a good source of potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium and vitamin B1. These vitamins provide your body with plenty of fuel to burn. This is also beneficial for those who are looking to lose weight as the additional energy may also fuel your metabolism and help you during your work out sessions. Another benefit for those who are looking to lose weight is that watermelon has a calorie count lower that many other fruits. One cup of the watermelon and seeds contains just 48 calories.
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