Watermelon seeds make a great snack when they have been dried and roasted, and while their nutritional value is limited, it is worth taking note of. NutritionData.com, a website that reports nutritional information from the United States Department of Agriculture, lists several important nutritional components of watermelon seeds.
Protein
Watermelon
seeds are very high in protein, with 1 cup of dried seeds containing
30.6g, which is 61 percent of the daily recommended value. The protein
in watermelon seeds consists of several amino acids, one of which is
arginine. While the body produces some arginine, the Mayo Clinic states
that there are times when people need to take in additional arginine.
Some of the health benefits of arginine include regulating blood
pressure and treating coronary heart disease. There are several other
amino acids that make up the protein in watermelon seeds, including
tryptophan, glutamic acid, and lysine.
Vitamins B
Watermelon
seeds are also loaded with several of the B vitamins. The American
Cancer Society reports that B vitamins are necessary for converting food
into energy and other important bodily functions. The most prevalent B
vitamin in watermelon seeds is niacin, with 1 cup of dried watermelon
seeds containing 3.8mg, which is 19 percent of the daily value. Niacin
is important for maintaining the nervous system, digestive system and
skin health. Other B vitamins in watermelon seeds include folate,
thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid.
Minerals
Minerals
abound in watermelon seeds. Magnesium is the most abundant mineral,
weighing in with 556mg, or 139 percent of the recommended daily value,
in 1 cup of dried seeds. According to the National Institutes of Health,
magnesium helps regulate blood pressure and the metabolism of
carbohydrates, which has a beneficial effect on blood sugar as well.
Other important minerals in watermelon seeds are phosphorous, iron,
potassium, sodium, copper, manganese and zinc.
Fats
The
most surprising thing about watermelon seeds is the amount of fat they
contain. In 1 cup of dried seeds, there are 51g of fat, with 11 of those
being saturated fat. The other fats are monounsaturated fats,
polyunsaturated fats, and omega-6 fatty acids. The American Heart
Association reports that mono and polyunsaturated fats reduce blood
cholesterol, and omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce high blood
pressure.
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