Warm watermelon = healthy skin.

It wouldn’t be summer without the taste of cool, fresh watermelon. On a hot summer day, nothing tastes better.

But did you know that a new study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, has found that eating watermelon at room temperature is actually better for you?

The study finds that watermelons stored at room temperature retain more of their antioxidant and nutritional effects by analyzine levels of carotene in several types of red watermelons which were stored at various temperatures for 14 days.

Scientists found that watermelons stored at room temperature demonstrated increased [tag-tec]lycopene[/tag-tec] (up 40%) and increased beta carotene (up 139%) compared to ones stored in the fridge.

Watermelon is a rich source of lycopene, in fact, it’s got the highest levels of lycopene among any fresh fruit or vegetable. Tomatoes come in second.

So how does this relate to having good skin….? I’m glad you asked!

Watermelon’s lycopene and beta carotene are powerful, natural antioxidants which have been linked to significant health benefits; among them fighting cancer and preventing sun-caused skin damage.

So, this summer, remember that warm watermelon=healthy skin.