The benefits of watermelon juice and how to prepare it correctly at home

Watermelon juice is practically no different from the watermelon itself. It has the same chemical composition and combines well with other fruit juices, which expands the range of its healing effects, improves taste and enhances the healing effect. You can also preserve the juice and drink it at any time of the year.

Next, we will tell you how to properly prepare and consume a watermelon drink, in which cases it benefits the body, and when it can cause harm.

Watermelon juice as a source of health

Watermelon consists of 90% water; during the season, you can drink its juice every day - it quenches thirst well. Regular consumption of watermelon juice has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, heart and kidney function. It has a positive effect on the health of the eyes, liver and lungs, relieves muscle pain, strengthens bones and improves blood formation.

Composition and properties

Watermelon pulp contains from 5 to 13% easily digestible sugar in the form of glucose and fructose. During storage, sucrose additionally accumulates.

Among other components of the biological composition, the following are determined:

• pectin;
• proteins;
• alkaline substances;
• ascorbic and nicotinic acids;
• macroelements: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium;
• iron;
• vitamins of groups A, B, C, E, H, PP.

Watermelon juice, if consumed regularly, has the following properties:

• diuretic - increases the rate of urine formation, which helps reduce the amount of fluid in tissues and neutralize swelling;
• choleretic - improves liver function, enhances bile formation and secretion of bile into the duodenum;
• anti-inflammatory - inhibits inflammation, protects tissues and organs from the destructive effects of radicals;
• antipyretic - reduces high body temperature, preventing fever;
• laxative - enhances the peristalsis of the large intestine, removes poisons and toxins from the gastrointestinal tract, facilitates the process of defecation;
• restorative - restores the reduced activity of immune system cells, increases the body’s resistance to the effects of adverse external and internal factors;
• tonic - increases endurance and performance, leading to a sense of well-being.

Calorie content and BZHU

Watermelon is classified as a low-calorie product: 27-38 kcal per 100 g (depending on the variety). Nutritional value per 100 g is: proteins - 0.6 g, carbohydrates - 5.8 g, fats - 0.1 g. Fruit pulp contains up to 92.6% water.

Benefits and harms

Watermelon is a source of a large number of micro- and macroelements, vitamins, and active biological components.

The fruit pulp contains lycopene. Its benefit to the body lies in its ability to suppress inflammation and activate the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it is a powerful antioxidant and an effective preventative against cancer of the digestive organs. Scientists are developing drugs for cancer based on lycopene.

Watermelon is included in diet menu. Fruit pulp has a mild laxative effect, removes toxic substances from the body, and reduces the volume of fluid in tissues. Plant fiber cleanses the digestive tract well, normalizes metabolism, lowers cholesterol levels, improves digestion and quickly provides a feeling of fullness.

Iron and macroelements have a beneficial effect on the general condition and functioning of the hematopoietic, digestive, cardiovascular systems, and endocrine glands. The content of alkaline substances corrects and restores the acid-base balance, which is why watermelon juice is recommended to be taken in case of acid-base balance disorders.

Watermelon juice is used in therapeutic nutrition for stones in the gall bladder and urinary tract, as a diuretic and laxative for acute and chronic liver diseases, gastrointestinal pathologies. The juice will benefit those who suffer from constipation, nephritis, and pyelonephritis. When consumed, the flow of urine increases, and the sugar and water in the pulp are easily absorbed and do not create additional stress on the kidneys.

Watermelon or its juice is recommended for anemia. It replenishes iron deficiency in the body, prevents the occurrence of anemia or alleviates its symptoms. Watermelon is useful for pregnant women at all stages: it provides the body with folic acid, which is so necessary for the normal development of the fetus in the womb.

The anti-sclerotic abilities of vitamin C and folic acid determine the use of watermelon pulp for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system. They improve microcirculation, activate tissue metabolism, reduce the risk of blood clots or reduce their size, and stop their increase.

Reference. With regular consumption of watermelon juice, you can notice improvements in your skin and overall well-being. Vitamin A stimulates tissue growth and renewal, refreshes and moisturizes the skin.

Like all products, watermelon has a “other side of the coin”. It has the ability to accumulate nitrates in the pulp of fruits. Sometimes its use can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain. Children experience dyspeptic symptoms in the form of heartburn, belching, and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.

How to properly squeeze juice from watermelon

First, let’s learn how to choose the right watermelon in order to prepare not only tasty, but also healthy juice.

The biological ripening period of watermelon begins in mid-August; you should not consume it earlier, since there is a high probability of containing nitrates. The fruits should be bright and regular in shape, the top layer should be shiny, without a matte coating, with a dry stalk and a clearly defined striped pattern, without cracks, dents, stains or scratches. Through microcracks, especially if fruits are stored along polluted roads, infections, carcinogens and other toxic substances penetrate.

After cutting, pay attention to the pulp: the natural pulp has grains, pink or red, juicy and sweet in taste. If it is smooth and purple in color, this indicates that the watermelon was grown with nitrates and should not be eaten, especially by children.

Advice. Experts recommend buying watermelons near the field where they were grown or at the market. Ideally, the fruit should weigh from 6 to 10 kg: large fruits are often oversaturated with saltpeter, and small ones are usually immature.

There are several options for making watermelon juice at home.Let's consider three main ones: using a juicer, blender and manually.

In the juicer

Cut the peeled and seeded watermelon slices into small pieces of arbitrary size and pass through a juicer. Pour the drink into a glass, add ice, and optionally add mint sprigs and lime. The juice is ready to drink. It is not stored for long, 2-3 hours at a temperature of 3 to 6⁰C.

For a juicer, you can use the unpeeled fruit pulp of watermelon along with the seeds. This drink will bring more benefits to the body, since most of the vitamins are contained in the crust, and the seeds are rich in fatty acids.

Using a blender

Peel the watermelon and remove seeds, cut into small cubes, about 2x2 cm, carefully pour into the blender bowl, and beat until smooth. If desired, add a few tablespoons of powdered sugar or honey. To get a thicker and immediately chilled drink, beat the fruit pulp with ice cubes.

Reference. Watermelon goes well with lemon juice and mint. To prepare this drink, add the juice of one lemon and 5-6 sprigs of mint to the blender bowl for two medium watermelon slices. Also, its taste is in harmony with raspberries and pomegranate.

Manually

Wash the ripe fruit, peel it, cut the pulp into small pieces. It is better to use a kitchen sieve to separate the liquid. Place the pulp in a sieve and grind with a masher or spoon until pureed.

Wrap the remainder in gauze folded in several layers and squeeze out the juice. The drink is best consumed chilled; to do this, you need to let it brew in the refrigerator or add a few ice cubes.

How to drink

Adults drink 200-400 ml of watermelon juice half an hour before meals or between meals. The nutritionist recommends the daily intake individually, taking into account the general condition health, age, concomitant diseases and contraindications.

IN children's menu Watermelon pulp or its juice is included after the child reaches one year. At the age of 2-3 years, they offer a small piece at a time or 20-50 ml of juice.

Watermelon juice recipe for the winter

Ingredients for 5 liters of juice:

• 8-9 kg of pulp;
• 2 tsp. without a slide of citric acid;
• 250-300 g sugar.

Preparation:

1. Peel the watermelon, remove the seeds, cut into small pieces.
2. Pour the fruits into a clean metal container, add sugar and citric acid, mix.
3. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. After boiling, let stand for another 4-5 minutes.
4. Sterilize jars and lids and pour out the juice. Place the inverted jars in a warm place, wrap them in a blanket, and leave for 1-2 days until completely cooled.
5. Store the juice in the cellar, or if it is unavailable, in a dark and cool place. It is advisable to use the preparations in the winter, before the onset of the new season.

Advice. Jars can be sterilized in various ways. It is convenient to do this in the oven, since you can put many cans there at once. To do this, they need to be thoroughly washed with baking soda and, together with the lids, placed in a cold oven upside down. Set the temperature to 120 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Another way to prepare watermelon juice for the winter is using a juicer. Cut the peeled watermelon into slices, remove the seeds, and transfer the pulp to a mesh colander. Pour water into the bottom pan and place on the stove.When the water boils, place a pan on top to collect the juice, then a colander with fruit pulp, cover with a lid. Pour the prepared juice into jars and preserve.

Side effects and contraindications

There are a number of diseases and pathological conditions for which experts recommend refusing or limiting the consumption of watermelon juice. These include:

• sugar diabetes 1-2 types;
• kidney stone disease during exacerbation;
• diseases of the pancreas and prostate glands that occur in severe form;
• allergies for one or more components;
• intolerance to lactose, fructose, sucrose;
• pancreatitis;
• diarrhea;
• formation of large stones in the gall bladder and bile ducts.

To get the maximum benefits without harm to your health, you should drink watermelon juice in moderation. Side effects in the form of swelling can occur if you mix watermelon with pickles, as salt retains fluid in the body. Watermelons grown with nitrates can cause harm: this can lead to poisoning, intestinal upset in the form of diarrhea, heartburn, heaviness and pain in the stomach.

Conclusion

Watermelon juice is tasty and healthy. It quenches thirst well and quickly saturates the body. Due to its low calorie content and the presence of a large number of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, it is included in the dietary and therapeutic menu. This juice is useful for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive and urinary systems.

You can prepare watermelon juice and make preparations for the winter at home. However, you will only get health benefits if you buy a natural fruit that does not contain nitrates.