Let’s start with the fact that, having eaten too much watermelon, you can easily crash into a hospital bed. This berry easily accumulates various harmful substances, nitrates. As a rule, there are a lot of them in unripe watermelons. But even at the height of the season, you can run into a harmful delicacy.
«It is possible to reliably determine the presence of nitrates only by laboratory method,» experts say. «But there are some points that speak for themselves.»
Signs of «nitrate» watermelon:
too red, bright flesh, sometimes even with a purple tinge;
the fibers that go from the core to the crust are not white, but yellowish in hue;
the surface of the cut is smooth and glossy, and not coarse, as it should be.
About the benefits, harm and caloric content
The benefit is in the very composition of the striped. It’s rich:
magnesium,
potassium,
folic acid,
lycopene is a natural antioxidant that has an antitumor effect.
Watermelon has a powerful diuretic effect, which relieves swelling, so it is recommended to eat it, for example, for cystitis or cardiovascular diseases.
The downside of such benefits is a large amount of fiber and sugar: from 5 to 10 grams per 100—gram piece. This is an excessive load on the pancreas. So, first of all, watermelon in large quantities is contraindicated for people with gastrointestinal and pancreatic diseases, in particular, diabetics, as well as patients with atherosclerosis. No more than one such piece per meal.
In addition, like any other fruit or vegetable with bright colors, watermelon is a strong allergen. It can provoke a rash, redness of the cheeks and even an asthmatic attack.
There are disadvantages to the diuretic effect. Because of it, watermelon is contraindicated for adults and children with urolithiasis, kidney disorders.
«Watermelon is a wonderful drinking option. They can even feed a child with an intestinal infection, which is difficult to get drunk. That’s a lot of potassium. This is an excellent way of hardening and formation of local immunity of the nasopharynx, if there is a cold watermelon. So after a year, you can safely introduce your child to this wonderful berry.
But at the same time we must remember: watermelon is not a substitute for food. It’s sweet. Dessert. If a child eats a lot of sweets, he should move a lot.»
How much watermelon can I eat?
It helps to lose weight. But its uncontrolled eating can lead to weight gain.
«Its pulp really helps to blunt the outbreaks of hunger that torment people losing weight, but everything needs a measure. The serving volume is no more than 500 grams for adults and 400 grams for children. Otherwise, it will have the opposite effect. And it’s better to eat it after the main meal.»
Important!
For a one-year-old baby, a daily portion of watermelon should not exceed 50 grams. In two years, you can already have 100 grams, and in three — 150.
