The Summer Fruit- Femina

The watermelon is the perfect answer to the rising mercury, says Benita Sen

To match the scorching heat, most summer fruits help you cool down and glow from within. Take the watermelon, for instance. It can do wonders to your health and your skin.

Watermelons Are Good For You
Watermelons are great antioxidants that help fight free radicals. And while that battle is on, the fibre ensures toxins are scrubbed out of your system, leaving you literally glowing with health.
Says banking executive Sneha Sharma, one of those few women with naturally wow skin, "In summer, I treat myself to watermelon five days a week. It's filling and a great start to the day. My grandmother would say, taken with breakfast, it helps protect you from the heat."

The fruit is excellent to fill you up in summer, without adding anything sinful, since it is about 90 per cent water. That makes it one of the best rehydraters for your skin. A bowl of watermelon every morning starts a summer day off with close to no-fat, high fibre goodness that is rich in Vitamins A and C and reasonable quantities of iron. That makes it excellent for all-round health, although it does have a bit of sugar.

Choosing The Right Watermelon
It is easy to pick one, when the fruit is well in season.
Choose a firm and heavy fruit, free of cracks, bruises or soft spots. A heavy watermelon promises to be juicy. Look for the dark green variety. It should ideally be dull, rather than shiny and the underbelly should have a pale yellow colour. A spot of yellow on one side is good; since that assures you that it has been ripened naturally and has yellowed where it touched the hot ground. There should be a melon-like smell or fragrance.

Next, thump the watermelon with your knuckles. If it sounds hollow, you can be sure it will taste sweet.

Avoid watermelons that are very hard, white or very pale green in colour on the underside, indicating immaturity. An immature watermelon will be slightly acidic.

The thumb rule is: Do not allow the fruit seller to stick a knife into it to prove its hidden credentials. If you must be particular about the colour of the pulp, be particular to clean the surface before it is cut, carry your own knife and a clean plastic bag or cloth to wrap the melon in immediately.

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