Watermelon is a Chinese herb! The red and white fruit, rind, seeds and juice all have a specific action on the body. Generally, watermelon cools the entire system and enters the Heart, Stomach and Urinary Bladder channels. The white part of the fruit next to the rind has the most cooling effect. In addition to eating watermelon because it’s delicious, here are a few more reasons to eat it and drink it’s juice:
 

> Re-hydrates the body and prevents heat stroke
 

> Reduces heat-induced puffiness and edema
 

> Since the cooling nature of watermelon positively affects the Heart, and is high in lycopene and vitamin C, there is a calming effect, quelling anxiety and reducing blood pressure
 

> Helps to move and digest food – we’ve all experienced the feeling of food “just sitting there” especially at the height of summer heat
 

> Great for constipation, so avoid watermelon if experiencing loose stool or diarrhea (and call your acupuncturist!)
 

> Promotes urination and helps to regulate the urinary bladder, it is a diuretic, so avoid watermelon if there is excessive or uncontrolled urination.
 

Watermelon is best eaten at room temperature. Chinese medical theory suggests that all foods be eaten at room temperature, or cooked, since food is more easily digested when eaten closer to the temperature of our own system, 98.6. It is the inherent thermal temperature of foods that help to cool the system down during the heat of summer, not refrigeration!
 

If you are interested in reading about tasty and unusual recipes using watermelon, here is a link:
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/feature/ideal/Beating-the-heat-with-a-versatile-summer-treat/shdaily.shtml?utm_source=WWB+7.20.17+v1&utm_campaign=WWB+7.20.17&utm_medium=email