Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture say cold watermelon is less nutritious than watermelon served at room temperature. They say the warmer melon has more nutrients.

The scientists found that watermelons continue to produce nutrients even after they've been picked and that cooling them slows down the process.

They found that watermelons stored at 70 degrees had substantially more nutrients, up to 40 percent more lycopene, which may prevent heart disese and some cancers, and 50 percent to 139 percent extra beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.