The Medical Freedom Channel

“That ice-cold watermelon may be refreshing, but it can be less nutritious than watermelon served at room temperature, US Department of Agriculture scientists reported last week. Watermelons stored at room temperature deliver more nutrients than refrigerated or freshly picked melons, they reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Penelope Perkins-Veazie and Julie Collins of the USDA’s South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, Okla., looked specifically at carotenoids — antioxidants that can counter the damage caused by sun, chemicals, and day-to-day living. Watermelon is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that makes watermelons and tomatoes red and may help prevent heart disease and some cancers.” (07/31/06)