Are there any vitamins in watermelon and what kind?

Fragrant watermelon is a classic summer treat. The crunch of a ripe berry being cut opens your appetite and lifts your spirits. The huge fruits, green on the outside and bright red on the inside, are loved for their fresh, incomparable aroma and juiciness. Watermelons are not only tasty, but also healthy: the composition makes the product an indispensable aid for many diseases and weight loss.

From the article you will learn what vitamins and nutrients are contained in watermelon pulp, whether watermelon contains iron, zinc, manganese and other trace elements, and how the berry affects men's and women's health.

Chemical composition

Pleasant taste and juicy pulp of striped berries explained by its rich chemical composition:

1. The basis of watermelon is water (85–90%), it contains a lot of fructose, glucose and sucrose (from 5 to 13%), there is pectin and fiber (0.5%).
2. It contains more than 13 vitamins necessary for the human body.
3. Saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, which have high biological activity, supply the body with energy, provide mechanical protection and thermal insulation, remove cholesterol, and prevent cardiovascular diseases.
4. Macroelements (potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus and chlorine) and microelements (aluminum, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine) even in small quantities ensure the harmonious functioning of the whole organism.
5. Flavonoids - plant polyphenols - have antioxidant properties and neutralize free radicals.

And also in fresh watermelon many essential and non-essential amino acids, important for protein synthesis:

• valine - responsible for nitrogen metabolism in cells;
• isoleucine - regulates blood sugar levels, participates in the synthesis of hemoglobin and protein in the liver, the production of growth hormone, regenerates tissue;
• phenylalanine - promotes blood circulation, participates in the formation of insulin;
• threonine - regulates the metabolism of proteins and fats, prevents fatty liver, strengthens the immune system;
• citrulline - eliminates ammonia and nitrogenous waste from the blood.

Vitamins and minerals

The vitamins contained in all parts of the watermelon are of particular value: the human body is not able to synthesize them on its own.

Vitamins in pulp:

Many people don’t think about what vitamins are contained in watermelon rind and throw it away. In addition to those listed above, it contains beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A). It is responsible for the health of the sex glands and has antioxidant and immunostimulating properties. With a lack of carotene, the functioning of the genitourinary system and brain is disrupted, and pain sensitivity increases.

Many micro- and macroelements contained in watermelon are even more valuablee, because they are rare, and without them the body begins to malfunction:

Due to its composition, watermelon is often used for preventive and rehabilitation purposes. people suffering from diseases of the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, and vitamin deficiency.

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Calorie content

Calorie content of watermelon low, despite its high sugar content. This is explained by the fact that the pulp consists of 90% water, which has no calories. Therefore, 100 g of fresh delicacy contains only 27 kcal.

Interesting! There are more than 1,200 varieties of watermelon in the world, which are grown in different climatic conditions, which means they contain unequal amounts of fructose and sucrose. On average, 100 g of sugar berry contains up to 35 kcal.

During heat treatment, the calorie content of the product increases due to added sugar or honey. Yes, 100 g canned berries are 30 kcal, juice - more than 35 kcal.

Can it be used for weight loss?

Watermelon added in the diet due to its low calorie content:

• it is used as the basis of a mono-diet - in this case, the daily norm of the delicacy should not exceed 2.5 kg (2000–2500 kcal);
• the pulp is combined with other low-calorie foods (rye bread, chicken breast, zucchini, etc.).

Important! In pursuit of an ideal figure, exhausting themselves with “quick” diets, many forget that when losing weight, beneficial substances are “washed out” of the body. Watermelon saturates with vitamins and microelements.

Fiber in the fruit improves gastric motility, promotes the removal of toxins and fluids. These features allow a person who is losing weight to “lose” several kilograms of excess weight.

Glycemic index

The glycemic index (GI) of any product indicates the speed of its digestion and release of glucose.

Watermelon GI is 60–70 units - this is a relatively high figure.

Reference. The higher the GI, the faster foods are broken down, sugar enters the blood, and the pancreas begins to produce insulin. This hormone suppresses glucose, and the person experiences hunger again. High GI foods are not suitable for weight loss.

Due to its high water content The sweet berry does not lead to excessive consumption of carbohydrates that saturate the body, therefore it is indicated in dietary nutrition.

Useful properties of watermelon

Due to the large amount of vitamins and microelements, watermelon is consumed as a preventive and therapeutic agent for many diseases:

• lycopene normalizes blood pressure, improves blood flow, has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels, prevents the development of cancer cells (products with it are prescribed during recovery from chemotherapy);
• calcium is indicated for people with high bone fragility;
• vitamin A prevents degenerative processes in the organs of vision, improves hair follicles;
• Vitamin C improves immunity, improves overall well-being, and is involved in the production of collagen, which is responsible for the health of the skin;
• B vitamins increase vital energy and the level of resistance to negative external factors;
• water rich in vitamins and microelements cleanses the kidneys, removes toxins, and fiber cleanses the intestines;
• the complex of all components of watermelon fights obesity.

The undoubted benefits of watermelon make it one of the most useful dietary products.

Benefits for men

Many people do not know the fact that watermelon is extremely beneficial for men:

• lycopene and citrulline contained in the berry restore and enhance sexual potency. Their action is similar to medications that increase a man’s sexual activity, but has no side effects;
• for men involved in strength sports, watermelon will help in building muscle mass, and also after training as a means of removing lactic acid from the body;
• Treatment of prostate adenoma will be more effective if you consume watermelon pulp 3-4 times a day for 2-3 weeks or drink 2 tbsp. watermelon juice per day (2 weeks).

Benefits for women

Watermelon also solves women's problems:

• substances contained in the seeds stop uterine bleeding;
• watermelon pulp is used as a cosmetic moisturizing and rejuvenating mask: it is applied to gauze and then to the face for 25–30 minutes;
• watermelon with rye bread helps you lose weight without harming your health (consume 2 kg of dietary product per 10 kg of body weight per day for 4–6 days).

Watermelon is also good for pregnant women as a fortified and mineralized product.

Gynecologists watermelon is prescribed to expectant mothers:

• in order to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and prevent constipation;
• to relieve stress, insomnia, normalize the functioning of the nervous system;
• to remove toxins and excess fluid from the body, to combat swelling;
• to saturate the body with vitamins and microelements.

It is important for breastfeeding women to consume watermelon in small quantities., since pulp increases the risk of diarrhea in children.

Important! Freshly squeezed berry juice is useful for chronic liver and kidney diseases, urolithiasis of the gallbladder, cystitis in women and urinary incontinence in children.

The benefits of fresh watermelon have been proven by many studies. and use in traditional and folk medicine.

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Possible harm and contraindications

Despite its enormous benefits, watermelon can also cause harm to humans. This is due to chronic diseases or an acute course of the disease, when eating the fetus causes an outflow of fluid, and with it, medications. Excessive consumption of striped berries causes diarrhea, vomiting, heaviness in the stomach, and worsens the general condition of a person.

Important! When purchasing, choose a whole, uncut and uncracked fruit, as due to its high sugar content in the open air, fermentation processes quickly begin in it, which often cause poisoning.

List of diseases for which watermelon is excluded from the diet or eat it carefully:

• disorders of the gastrointestinal tractaccompanied by diarrhea, cramps and vomiting;
• the presence of large stones in the kidneys and bladder: a large amount of fluid can provoke the movement of stones, which will lead to intense pain and the need for surgical intervention;
• disturbance of urine outflow, colitis.

Watermelon is capable of accumulating nitrates, especially if it was fed with chemicals for rapid ripening. When watermelons are consumed early (in May–July), severe poisoning with these substances often occurs.

Conclusion

A ripe watermelon is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals contained in the pulp, rind and seeds. Its regular use in the summer replenishes the body's lack of nutrients and strengthens the immune system.

Despite the high glycemic index and the amount of sugars, the berry is low in calories, consists of 90% water, and therefore forms the basis of many dietary diets. The fruit is equally valuable for men and women. In case of certain diseases, it is eaten with caution.