Watermelons are really refreshing during the hot summer days, they help keep you hydrated and are filled with amazing antioxidants. You can add them to your smoothies, salads, and water or simply eat them as a snack during the day. But is watermelon smoothie good for weight loss? Let’s find out!
If you have been using the internet to find weight loss recipes, you must know by now that there are tons of misinformation. I personally have had a terrible experience with yoyo diets for as long as I can remember so I know how frustrating it is. That said, there are a lot of fat-burning foods that work and watermelon is on the list.
Is Watermelon Smoothie Good For Weight Loss?
Yes! Drinking a watermelon smoothie daily can help you lose weight by keeping you hydrated and reducing oxidative stress. You see, research shows that oxidative stress has been linked to weight gain and obesity and watermelons contain a good amount of antioxidants.
Antioxidants help rid the body of harmful toxins so that it functions properly. Eating antioxidant-rich foods, fruits, and vegetables daily can improve your overall health and promote weight loss. Just make sure that you go for low-calorie instead of calorie-dense foods.
Watermelons are also rich in dietary fiber and as you may know, fiber helps promote healthy digestion, keeps you regular, satiated, and promotes weight loss. 1 wedge of watermelon contains 1.1 grams of dietary fiber which is 4% of the daily recommended value.
Antioxidants in Watermelon Smoothie
So watermelons contain a healthy dose of vitamin C, lycopene, and amino acids. These are powerful antioxidants that keep your body healthy and promote longevity. A single wedge of watermelon 1/16 in or (286 g) contains:
- Vitamin C: 23.2 mg (38% of DRV)
- Lycopene: 9-13 mg (50% of DRV)
- Amino Acids: 11 amino acids combined with 46% DRV
Amino acids in watermelon:
Amino acids are responsible for making your body function properly, they help with sleep, help your body absorb nutrients better, improve tissue repair, prevent your body from losing muscles, improve your mood and increase your energy levels. (great for weight loss)
- Tryptophan – 7%
- Threonine- 7%
- Isoleucine- 4%
- Leucine- 2%
- Lysine- 8%
- Methionine- 2%
- Cystine- 2%
- Phenylalanine- 5%
- Tyrosine- 4%
- Valine- 3%
- Histidine- 2%
Vitamin C & Weight Loss
Studies show that people who have vitamin C deficiency tend to store fat more than those with an adequate amount of vitamin c levels. This is because vitamin c helps you burn 30% more fat during a simple workout like walking or doing common chores around your home.
As you can see above, watermelon contains vitamin c therefore drinking a glass of watermelon smoothie before a workout can help you burn more fat.
Lycopene & Weight Loss
Lycopene is an antioxidant that is responsible for reducing oxidative stress and free radicals from the body. When consumed regularly, it helps prevent premature aging of cells, and cell damage and promotes healthy weight loss. Watermelons contain 40% more lycopene than red tomatoes so it is definitely great for weight loss!
Calories In 1 Cup Of Watermelon Smoothie
1 Cup of pure watermelon smoothie or juice contains only 71 calories and a whole wedge of watermelon contains a little over 80 calories. So you see, this is a very low-calorie fruit that you can eat a lot without gaining weight. Besides, watermelons contain over 92% of water content!
Weight Loss Watermelon Smoothie Recipe
Here is my personal favorite watermelon smoothie recipe for weight loss that you can make in less than 5 minutes! This smoothie consists of other fat-burning ingredients that are also low in calories.
Ingredients:
- 1 wedge of watermelon (seeds removed)
- 1/2 a large ripe frozen banana
- 1 teaspoon of chia seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup of ice (optional)
Preparations:
Add all of the ingredients above into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth, drink it right away to get all the essential nutrients. If the smoothie is too thick, go ahead and add in some almond milk or water until you have the right consistency.
That’s it!