Water-melon (Tarmuj)

It is a trailing fleshy vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to tropical Asia but grown in many warm countries for its edible fruit. It has solitary yellow flowers 7.5 to 10 centimetres (3 to 4 inches). wide; hairy oval leaves that are heart shaped at the base and a melon-shaped or cucumber shaped fruit 20 to 38 centimetres (8 to 15 inches) long. Each green fruit has whitish waxy covering and contains fat, white seeds about half inch long.

Water-melon juice is a very favourite and refreshing drink in hot summer months. It subsides pitta, keeps the body cool and calm. It prevents sun­stroke and heat-stroke. It is a tonic, digestive and rejuvenative.

Benefit and uses of Water-melon.

• Watermelon contains is 90% water, 50 calories, and vitamin C, has just a trace of fat without cholesterol.
• Watermelon is not only great on a hot summer day, this delectable thirst-quencher may also help quench the inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis.
• Most benefit of watermelon is that it contains high levels of lycopene--an antioxidant that may help the body fight cancer and prevent disease
• Watermelon is fat free, nutritionally low in calories and considered an ideal diet food, and is high in energy, making it a great energy boost.
• Watermelon contains no cholesterol of dietary significance and only a small amount of fat. It is an important source of potassium and may micronutrients.