According to experts, watermelons are not a good alternative to munch on at night and may cause certain health issues - Watermelons are not digestion friendly when it comes to consuming it at night and may cause irritable bowel syndrome and other problems, making your stomach upset the next day.
Best time to eat watermelon
The Ayurveda expert suggests you to have it in morning between 10 am to 12 pm as breakfast or between breakfast and lunch. Dr Bhavsar says one can even have it as an evening snack post lunch before 5 pm. She cautions against having watermelon at night or with meals.
Watermelon is a natural diuretic which helps increase the flow of urine, but does not strain the kidneys (unlike alcohol and caffeine). Watermelon helps the liver process ammonia (waste from protein digestion) which eases strain on the kidneys while getting rid of excess fluids.
However, one must also be aware of the possible side effects of watermelon. Overconsumption of this healthy fruit may cause nausea, bloating, diarrhea, cardiovascular disorders, spiked sugar levels in the body, and lower blood pressure way too much. It also may cause fatigue and loose stools in some.
It has been proven that excessive potassium intake can lead to cardiovascular problems like irregular heartbeat, weak pulse rate, and more. If health experts and nutritionists are to be believed, ideally, one can consume between 100 to 150 gms of watermelon a day.
Watermelon is already rich in water and consuming more water on top of that can cause bloating and even dissolve the digestive juice present in the stomach. According to Ayurveda, this can disrupt the regular digestive process and even upset the balance of chakras in the body.
While hydration is important for the body, overeating watermelon may cause water intoxication. Also known as over hydration, this condition can deplete the body's sodium content and cause swelling in the legs, exhaustion and weak kidneys in extreme cases.
Yes, watermelon can help you lose belly fat. However, you should know that no food is going to make you lose weight in only one spot. Watermelon can help you lose belly fat by helping you lose weight all over your body.
Watermelon
Watermelon contains an amino acid called citrulline. The body converts citrulline to arginine, and this helps the body produce nitric oxide, a gas that relaxes blood vessels and encourages flexibility in arteries. These effects aid the flow of blood, which can lower high blood pressure.
The ones you might not even think of as fruit! Olives and avocado naturally contain no sugars. Rhubarb, lime and starfruit have some sugar, but only a half gram per half cup. Lemons, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries and watermelon offer only about 2 to 3 grams per half-cup serving.
Watermelon has 92% water content. While it does solve your hydration blues in peak summers, having it at night can potentially make you take more trips to the bathroom, disturb your sleep. In some cases, watermelon, if not eaten in control can lead to the problem of water retention, causing swelling and overhydration.
Some foods are a bad idea to eat before bed — and not because of the calories. Certain foods can cause sleepless nights and digestive issues. Even healthy foods like tomatoes and watermelons should be avoided before sleeping.
While it may be tempting to work through half or more of an entire watermelon in one sitting on a hot summer afternoon, experts like Derocha say it's best to eat one cup at a time as a general recommendation, rather than an entire fruit outright.
Is it okay to eat watermelon every day? While it's technically safe to eat watermelon every day, it's best to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables for optimal nutrition. Also, any fruits like watermelon shouldn't make up more than 30 percent of your daily food intake.
Studies show that eating watermelon reduces the inflammatory marker CRP. It's also high in the carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin, which can reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It's also packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect against certain cancers and lower heart attack risk, says Dulan.
But here's the bad news: Watermelon can also bring on big-time bloating. That's because it's packed with fructose, a natural sugar that is tough on our GI system because it's hard for it to be completely absorbed. That causes gas, and sometimes an upset stomach in some people.
Combining the two could lead to digestive issues, toxic build up, vomiting or loose motions. Furthermore, watermelon is high in fluid content. Consuming milk (another fluid) after it can leave you with a heavy stomach.
As mentioned, anything more than 300 grams is too much watermelon in one go. The more you eat, the more likely you are to experience the associated risks. Watermelon is a high glycemic index fruit — its GI is 72 — meaning that it can raise blood sugar levels higher and faster than other fruits.
Watermelon naturally contains lycopene, which has lipid lowering properties, reducing total and LDL cholesterol. For those who aren't big on watermelon, consider adding apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits or even avocados to your diet.
Watermelons are the quickest when it comes to fruit digestion, as it only takes them 20 minutes to leave your stomach. Its cousins, melons, as well as oranges, grapefruit, bananas and grapes, will leave your stomach in about 30 minutes.
Good choices include oranges, blueberries, apples, avocados, and bananas, but there are many more to choose from. Fruits are an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, and they are high in fiber. Fruits also provide a wide range of health-boosting antioxidants, including flavonoids.