The Vitamins in the Root of a Watermelon

Fruits and vegetables contain important natural antioxidants that help to keep your body functioning properly, according to Fruits & Veggies - More Matters. Consuming adequate amounts of certain fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and its root, will allow you to meet your daily recommended amount to improve your immune system and help protect your body against disease. The root of the watermelon fruit contains powerful vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that assist in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and some cancers. The fruit is also naturally low in calories, which helps to prevent obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Consult your health-care provider for complete information about the vitamins in watermelon root.

Vitamin C

The root of watermelon is rich in antioxidants including vitamin C, which may help to reduce the inflammation that causes asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer and arthritis, according to the World's Healthiest Foods online. Watermelon root is a strong source of vitamin C, which travels through the body to neutralize free radicals that may cause damage. The vitamin C content is effective in decreasing the inflammation that often results in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and contributes to joint damage. Vitamin C may effectively reduce the risk of heart disease, airway spasms from asthma, and colon cancer.

B Vitamins

In addition to containing high amounts of beneficial antioxidants including vitamin C, the root of the watermelon fruit is also rich in various B vitamins, according to the World's Healthiest Foods online. The B vitamins are necessary for energy production, and watermelon is especially high in vitamin B6 and vitamin B1. The vitamin B6 present in the root of watermelon also serves various benefits for the brain, as your body requires vitamin B6 to convert amino acid L-tryptophan into serotonin.

Vitamin A

Watermelon root is also rich in essential vitamin A, which provides the body with numerous health benefits. According to Onlinegardenertips.com, vitamin A is important in helping the eyes to see various shades of color. It also helps repair body cells and contributes to the formation of healthy bones and tissues. Ingesting watermelon root regularly is especially beneficial for people with vision problems, as the vitamin A is immediately delivered to your body due to the fruit's ability to instantly convert into energy.

Benefits of Dragon Fruit

The dragon fruit is a plant that is also called pitahaya or pitya fruit. It comes from a cactus called the dragon fruit cactus plant, which only blooms at night. This fruit typically grows in tropical, dry or subtropical environments, and is not widely grown in the United States. The fruit can be eaten fresh or dried, and both forms are full of nutrients and health benefits.

Fiber

According to NaturalFoodBenefits.com, dragon fruit is a good source of fiber, with nearly 1 g of fiber for every 100 g of fresh dragon fruit. When dragon fruit is dried, the fiber content rises even more, with 10 g of fiber or more found in 100 g of the dried fruit, depending on how much water the dried fruit has. Eating the skin of this fruit adds to the fiber content--just make sure the skin is free of mold and dirt.

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Cholesterol and Fats

Dragon fruit has low amounts of cholesterol, and has minimal amounts of fats that raise cholesterol levels, states the Diabetic Life Diet website. The cholesterol in dragon fruit comes from the many seeds that are in the fruit, sometimes thousands of seeds in one piece of fruit. When you eat dragon fruit, the seeds are extremely small and diffused throughout the fruit, so it is impossible to remove all of the seeds prior to eating. These seeds add fat and protein to the fruit, but the majority of fat in the seeds is the good kinds of fat called monounsaturated fat.

Vitamins and Antioxidants

The dragon fruit is chock-full of vitamins, including vitamin C and antioxidants. The amount of vitamin C in each fruit can vary, depending on soil nutrients and differences in dragon fruit cacti, but the website Dragon Fruit Pitaya Fruit estimates that approximately 50 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement can be met by eating 100 g of dried dragon fruit or 1 kg of fresh dragon fruit. Other nutrients in dragon fruit include carotene, phosphorus and vitamins B1, B2 and B3, according to Agriculture Business Week. Antioxidants help destroy free radicals in the body, which are molecules that may cause cancer, cardiovascular issues and other health problems.

Effects on Diabetes

Dragon Fruit Pitaya Fruit notes that the fruit can help control glucose levels in some people with Type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, it is best to talk to your doctor about the possible health benefits of dragon fruit.