This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
Watermelon is popular in the United States. Many people enjoyeating it on a hot, summer day. Watermelon has a hard outer skin anda soft area on the inside. About ninety-three percent of the fruitis water. Most watermelons have many seeds. However, some are grownto have no seeds.
American scientists are studyinghow watermelon influences human health. They are finding that it hasvitamins, minerals and other chemicals important for good health.
Watermelon contains the vitamins A, B-six, C and thiamin. It alsocontains potassium. Watermelon also is one of the few foods thatcontain large amounts of lycopene (LIE-ko-peen). Lycopene is a redchemical found in some plants. It also is present in tomatoes, redand pink grapefruit and guava.
Many studies have shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetablesreduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. Scientists have foundthat lycopene in the diet reduces the risk of some cancers. Lycopenein fat tissue has been linked with a reduced risk of heart attack.
Until recently, most lycopene studies have involved tomatoes.However, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service arestudying lycopene levels in watermelon. They want to learn how wellthe human body breaks down and uses lycopene.
Agricultural Research Service scientists in Oklahoma grew andstudied thirteen kinds of watermelon. They measured the amounts oflycopene in the melons. The scientists found that the watermelonswithout seeds generally had more lycopene. Tests also showed thatwatermelon had as much or more lycopene as uncooked tomatoes.
Two years ago, Agricultural Research scientists in Marylandorganized a nineteen-week study to identify the health effects oflycopene. For the study, twenty-three adults ate a controlled dietand drank watermelon juice during three treatment periods. Later,the people received either watermelon or tomato juice. The studyfound that both liquids increased lycopene levels in the blood.
In the United States, there is interest in selling watermelonjuice. A company in California is making an all-natural version ofthe product. It is selling watermelon juice in California andOregon.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.