Eat watermelons in a healthy way.
The watermelon season continues in September. And this is an occasion to remind about the benefits and contraindications that all fans of watermelon diets and fasting days should know about.
Watermelon is an annual herb of the pumpkin family, which includes pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, melons and watermelons. But unlike cucumbers, zucchini and melons, in watermelons the bones are located in the thickness of the pulp. Therefore, the fruit of a watermelon looks more like a berry than a vegetable. Some experts call watermelons false berries. And in translation from the Turkic watermelon means «donkey cucumber». Nevertheless, the homeland of watermelons is by no means Asia, but Africa.
The Egyptian pharaohs, ancient Romans and Greeks also feasted on watermelons. In the 10th century, watermelon came to China, and together during the Crusades, watermelons came to Europe. In Russia, watermelons have long been a «royal berry» — they were grown especially for the august persons. It is known that on October 18, 1725, Catherine I issued a decree according to which the highest dignitaries of the Russian Empire were gifted with watermelons. The most valuable and largest gift «five watermelons of Astrakhan» Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp. His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov received two watermelons. But the value of the berry. Certainly, not only in her “noble” origin.
Why is watermelon useful?
Watermelons contain a large amount of nutrients, vitamins, here are just the main ones:
- Vitamins A and E are antioxidants that are beneficial for the health of the skin and eyes.
- Vitamins B1, B6, B9 are necessary for the nervous system, brain function, reproductive function, metabolism.
- Vitamin C — stimulates collagen production and maintains youthful skin, strengthens blood vessels, and helps fight oxidative stress.
Watermelons contain a lot of fiber, pectin, essential amino acids, macro- and microelements. Watermelons help alkalize urine and help prevent salt deposition and the formation of sand and kidney stones. But this property of a watermelon has a beneficial effect only if a person does not yet have kidney problems. (Why — read on — author's note). It is useful to eat watermelon for gout, arthritis, since alkaline compounds also prevent the deposition of salts in the joints. Watermelon stimulates the digestive system, choleretic function of the liver, and has a beneficial effect on blood composition. And if you suffer from dehydration, then watermelon is the best ambulance.
What you need to know about watermelon diets
There are approximately 38 calories in 100 grams of sweet pulp. This makes watermelon a hit on fasting days, there are also mono-diets, when, in an effort to lose weight, people eat only watermelons. But maintaining such a mono-diet for more than two days is harmful.
- It should be understood that by eating watermelons, you can only lose water — by stimulating urination.
- If you do watermelon fasting days too often, more than once every five days, you run the risk of provoking an increase in appetite.
- Do not eat large quantities of watermelon at night. At night, a person must sleep, receive melatonin and burn fat — only at this time can we part with body fat. If you gorge on watermelon, this process will be interrupted: the bladder will quickly overflow. Therefore, if there is a watermelon, then no later than seven in the evening and no more than 200 grams.
The watermelon diet is categorically contraindicated for people who have:
- Renal failure
The amount of fluid consumed for these patients is important. Therefore, if you have kidney disease, then before feasting on watermelon, you should ask your doctor how much you are allowed to eat.
- Urolithiasis
Can cause kidney stones to move, which can lead to blockages and even ruptures of the urinary tract. Such patients do not always have time to be taken to the operating room. For the same reason, it is strongly discouraged to «clean» the kidneys with a watermelon.
- Diabetes
Watermelon contains a lot of sugars. Therefore, again, patients with diabetes mellitus must ask the attending physician when, how and how much watermelon can and can be consumed at all.
What watermelons can you eat and how to do it correctly
Watermelon absorbs well the substances with which it comes into contact, therefore, the fruit should not have any dents, soft spots, darkening and damage, especially cracks. At the point of sale, watermelons should not lie on the ground — only on special stands.
- The watermelon should be washed with soap and then cut. Cut watermelons are stored only in the refrigerator. You shouldn't try watermelons in the market.
- Watermelons, which have a sour smell and are at least slightly spoiled, are not eaten — pathogenic bacteria develop rapidly in the pulp of watermelons.
- Although the peels of watermelon are considered edible and you can make candied fruits or jam from them, today you should not do this — nitrates accumulate in the peel, in the white layer. It is possible to check a watermelon for the content of nitrates with a high degree of accuracy only in a special laboratory. Home nitrate meters cannot always give a reliable result, since the needle inserted into the fetus must be sterile.
You should know that nitrate poisoning can manifest itself both immediately and gradually. The weakened body will react to poisoning with vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes abdominal pain and even fever. But even in people with good health, nitrates, accumulating, can cause symptoms of intoxication — weakness, decreased resistance to infections. Therefore, it is worth buying watermelons only at certified points of sale. Weight, appearance of a watermelon can not always indicate the presence or absence of nitrates in the fruit. There are varieties that are distinguished by high weight, early or late ripeness, and others, and very different characteristics.