This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Need Some Electrolytes? Skip Gatorade and Try This

It may surprise you, but watermelon is packed with nutrition and can be a great way get some electrolytes back into the body.

Summertime may be coming to an end, but there's still plenty of time for some refreshing watermelon as it is the perfect choice for a snack, side dish or dessert. And not just because it tastes so wonderfully sweet, but because it's actually quite good for you, too!

Watermelons are a great source of vitamin A, which helps in keeping your eyes healthy, vitamin C, an immune booster, and B vitamins including B1 and B6. B1 is important in energy metabolism and supports the nervous system. B6 is important in brain function. Watermelon is rich in electrolytes, including potassium, which means it's a great replenisher for the body. Potassium also helps with feelings of anxiety, irritability and stress.

They are also a good source of pantothenic acid, biotin, magnesium, and dietary fiber.

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Watermelon is the most abundant edible natural source of L-citrulline which converts to L-arginine in the body. L-arginine is an amino acid necessary in the formation of nitric oxide, which is essential to a healthy blood pressure and regulation of vascular tone.

The pulp of watermelons tends to be pink or red indicating high levels of lycopene. They actually contain the highest concentrations of lycopene of any fruit or vegetable. Lycopene is a popular carotenoid due to its antioxidant capacity and some studies have shown evidence that increased consumption of lycopene-containing foods may reduce the occurrence or progression of prostate cancer.

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

So as summer is winding down, make sure to take advantage of some delicious, fresh watermelon. It turns out they are actually among the 15 most clean of non-organic fruits and vegetables as well. Look for the ones with the seeds, as seedless are genetically modified.

Try this tasty and healthy watermelon drink recipe on for size. Cheers!

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Eureka-Wildwood