In case you needed another reason to enjoy a juicy, delicious slice of watermelon, now you have one: today is National Watermelon Day. Ice-cold watermelon is a wonderful and nutritious treat on a hot summer day. It is over 90 percent water, so it’s a wise snack choice on hot days.

A fun fact about watermelon is about half a century ago, watermelons were round. This shape made them very hard to stack and they rolled around during the rough ride from farm to market. They were also soft. All the bumping and rolling made them crack and bruise.

During this time, a plant breeder named C. Fred Andrus set out to develop a better watermelon. He came up with the first sweet melon that could be stacked due to its oblong shape. This new breed of watermelon also resisted the most serious watermelon diseases of the day. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, there are more than 1,200 varieties of watermelon grown worldwide.

Watermelon is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s an excellent source of Vitamin C, which is a major antioxidant. It has a high Beta Carotene concentration, thus offering a fair amount of Vitamin A. Both Beta Carotene with vitamin A help support good eyesight and prevent glaucoma.

The meat or pulp of watermelons is usually pink or red. Those colors indicate lycopene content, which is an antioxidant that may minimize cancer risks. Plus, watermelon offers abundant amounts of the minerals potassium and magnesium. Potassium is important for cardiovascular h
ealth and brain health and helps the kidneys eliminate kidney stone forming calcium as well as assists with the body’s fluid retention. So take the time to savor a slice or 2 or 3 of tasty watermelon on National Watermelon Day.