Super Antioxidant & Fat Burning Smoothie with Watermelon, Chili & Lime

One of the most classic detox schemes is the watermelon diet, in which for 2 days (or more) you eat and drink just watermelon and water. Watermelon is really beneficial for our health! This exotic, tasty and refreshing summer fruit, is high in vitamins A and C, which makes it a powerful antioxidant and helps neutralize free radicals that can lead to inflammation, general sickness and chronic illnesses such as stroke and heart attack. Beta-carotene, which gives watermelon its beautiful pink color, works against many types of cancer, and in particular colon cancer. Watermelon is also very rich in “lycopene”, a very beneficial carotenoid also found in tomatoes, which too is very effective in fighting cancer. The high water content of watermelon is, partly, what gives its fat burning benefits, helping to make your metabolism work more efficiently.  Fresh watermelon, or the tea made from its seeds, has been used in traditional and alternative medicine as a natural remedy for treating kidney or bladder problems.

When choosing a watermelon look at the color of the skin; it should be brightly colored and not too shiny or dull. Many employ the thump test, that is you thump on the top of a watermelon with your finger, and if you hear a dull thud, then it means the fruit should be ripe. But the best option is weight. A ripe, sweet watermelon should feel heavy for its size.

This is a very effective detox-smoothie  recipe, loaded with vitamins. I added some chili pepper in it to make it more interesting in taste and add to it all these magnificent benefits that chilies are known for (read here for the health benefits of chilies). If you can’t find fresh chilies you may add some cayenne pepper instead. I used a juicer to avoid the hassle of removing the seeds but if you ‘ve got the time and patience you can remove the seeds and make it in a blender adding ice too for a more thick-frozen result!

So here is the recipe:

4 big slices of watermelon cut in smaller chunks

1 fresh chili pepper / 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (you may add more if you like it more spicy)

Juice of half a lime

Ice

Blend well and enjoy a spicy taste of summer!!!

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