Health Benefits of Watermelon

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus is a plant specie in the family Cucurbitaceae.

This delicious, appetising fruit is good for you especially during hot summer days.

Nutritional values	Health benefits
93% of watermelon is water	Prevents dehydration
Low calorie and	good for weight watchers. So you are consuming a good volume of food with low calorie content
high fibre content
Minerals : potassium	Lowers blood pressure prevents heart attack and stroke.
magnesium	is  essential for calcium absorption maintaining healthy bones ,prevents osteoporosis
Vitamin C	is an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage from free radicals
Vitamin A	Alfa –carotene and beta –carotene are turned into vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A and C are important for skin and hair health.
Carotenoids; lycopene	maintains healthy eyes and protects against age-related macular degeneration. Lycopene with vitamin C are  anti-inflammatory  antioxidants
Vitamin B1   thiamine
B5   pantothenic acid
B6

Watermelon cake:

 Cut a circular thick slice of watermelon and top it up with different cubed fruits and berries and serve it sliced as a cake.

Health Benefits of Basil

Ms H

The word of basil comes from the Greek word of Basileus  (king), so it is also called kings of herbs or royal herb. This healthy, culinary  herb belongs to the family of  Lamiaceae. Basil is the common spice of the Mediterranean diet.

Nutritional values:

Basil contains dietary fibre, protein, essential minerals: sodium, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, vitamins: vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine and vitamin B₆.

Health benefits:

·      Basil is wealthy in antioxidants, prevents damage caused by free radicals in liver, brain and heart.  Helps to fight cancer.

·      The leaves and the oil have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, so eating a tasty salad helps to reduce the bacteria and viruses as well.

·      Basil has anti-inflammatory property, which makes it suitable to treat arthritis.

·      Basil helps to prevent the harmful effects of aging.

·      It promotes cardiovascular health.

·      It acts as an adaptogen so combats stress.

You can see the wide plate of health benefits of basil, which can be used as leaves, tea or oil.