Fresh watermelon is rich in disease fighting lycopene, one of the SuperNutrients so important to long-term health. Some experts believe that it may even prove to be a richer source of lycopene than tomatoes. Lycopene is a carotenoid, a powerful antioxident. A number of studies have demonstrated that lycopene may help lower the risk for prostate, breast, digestive tract, cervical, bladder and lung cancers.

Lycopene is most easily absorbed by our digestive systems when foods containing lycopene are consumed with a little fat. So try to eat watermelon as a dessert after a meal. Or, if you have it as a snack, add a couple of crackers with peanut butter.

Include chunks of watermelon in any salad or as a salsa on fish (see the recipe on page 305 of The SuperFoodsRx Diet). You can even use watermelon as a meal starter - Check-out our recipe for cold fruit soup on page 292 of The SuperFoodsRx Diet).

There are some ways to help you get a good watermelon from the store. I’ve found that if a watermelon is symmetrical, creamy yellow (not white) where it sat on the ground, has a black sugar ring around the stem, is heavy and vibrates when you thump it with your palm, then you have a terrific watermelon. I don’t think the seedless watermelons taste as good as the ones with all those black seeds. So go pick out a great watermelon to kick off your summer!