Home
Newsletter
Events
Blogs
Reports
Graphics
RSS
About Us
Support
Write for Us
Media Info
Advertising Info
Watermelons

Watermelons produce more nutrients after being picked, but not if refrigerated

Monday, July 31, 2006 by: NewsTarget
Tags: watermelons, fresh fruit, health news


Most Viewed Articles
https://www.naturalnews.com/019816_watermelons_fresh_fruit.html
Delicious
diaspora
Print
Email
Share

(NewsTarget) Refrigeration may make food last longer, but it can reduce the nutritional benefits of some foods, according to a USDA study.

Penelope Perkins-Vazie and Julie Collins of the association's South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, Okla. tested several popular varieties of watermelon for levels of carotenoids -- a nutrient that can repair damage from the sun, chemicals, and everyday living -- and the antioxidant lycopene, which may help prevent heart disease and some forms of cancer.

The watermelons were stored for 14 days at 41, 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The researchers found the fruit actually produced more nutrients after picking, even though the watermelons were selected by commercial growers as "fully ripe when harvested."

However, the study also showed that chilling slowed this process. Watermelons stored at room temperature (70 degrees) contained up to 40 percent more lycopene and 50 to 139 percent more beta-carotene, which the body transforms into vitamin A.

While most people turn to refrigeration to increase the life of perishables, the researchers wrote that watermelons were the exception. "The usual shelf life for watermelons is 14 to 21 days at 55 F after harvest," they wrote. "At refrigerated temperatures, like 41 degrees, watermelon starts to decay and develop lesions after a week."

###


Receive Our Free Email Newsletter

Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.


comments powered by Disqus



Natural News Wire (Sponsored Content)

Science.News
Science News & Studies
Medicine.News
Medicine News and Information
Food.News
Food News & Studies
Health.News
Health News & Studies
Herbs.News
Herbs News & Information
Pollution.News
Pollution News & Studies
Cancer.News
Cancer News & Studies
Climate.News
Climate News & Studies
Survival.News
Survival News & Information
Gear.News
Gear News & Information
Glitch.News
News covering technology, stocks, hackers, and more