Is it possible to eat watermelon on an empty stomach and in what cases problems may arise

Is it possible to eat watermelon on an empty stomach? There is no consensus on this matter. Let us consider in detail all the arguments for and against, and at the same time we will study the composition and properties of the fruits of this melon crop, the harm and benefit to the body, and the possibility of consuming watermelon on an empty stomach.

Composition and properties of watermelon

Watermelon fruit pulp contains 92.6% water, from 5 to 13% easily digestible carbohydrates (sucrose, fructose, glucose), 0.68% pectin fiber, ash, organic acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Watermelon contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iodine, sulfur, chlorine, zinc, fluorine, manganese, aluminum, boron, and other micro- and macroelements necessary to maintain biochemical and physiological processes of life.

Pulp and seeds ripe watermelon is used as a medicinal raw material because they:

• have a diuretic and restorative effect;
• enhance peristalsis of the large intestine;
• reduce body temperature during fever;
• suppress the activity of the inflammatory process;
• activate liver functions;
• increase bile secretion;
• normalize metabolism;
• activate blood circulation.

Calorie content and BZHU

100 g of fruit pulp contains 27 kcal, 0.7 g of proteins, 0.1 g of fat, 5.8 g of carbohydrates.

Harm and benefit

Watermelon is a valuable food product that, when consumed frequently, provides the body with some vitamins, micro- and macroelements:

1. Vitamin A (retinol) slows down the aging process, takes part in the formation of new cells, increases the protection of mucous membranes, serves as an antioxidant, and reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
2. Vitamin E supports normal activity of the gonads, protects against the formation of free radicals, and ensures metabolism in the heart muscle.
3. B vitamins: thiamine is necessary for proper heart function, maintaining the health of the nervous and digestive systems; riboflavin ensures oxidation processes, regenerates and restores body tissues, and normalizes energy metabolism; choline serves as a good prevention of atherosclerosis, reduces changes in the brain in older people; Pyridoxine is responsible for the metabolism of proteins and fats, the absorption of unsaturated fatty acids, and reduces cholesterol levels.
4. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has a general strengthening effect on the walls of blood vessels, increases the elasticity and strength of small capillaries, and participates in the formation of antimicrobial immunity.
5. Calcium important for healthy bones and teeth, normal blood clotting.
6. Potassium and magnesium improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, regulate the acid-base balance in the blood, make the skin elastic, and maintain muscle tone.
7. Aluminum affects reproductive ability.
8. Zinc participates in the synthesis of hormones.
9. Iodine necessary for normal potency, increases resistance to various diseases.

Watermelon has a beneficial effect on vision, reduces muscle pain, removes waste and toxins, and improves blood formation.

For reference. Nutritionists suggest that overweight people lose weight on a watermelon diet.100 g of edible part contains 27 kcal, practically no fat, but a lot of carbohydrates and protein. Due to the presence of fiber in the composition, long-term saturation is ensured, and diuretic properties allow you to get rid of swelling by removing excess fluid from the body.

Is it possible to eat watermelon on an empty stomach: arguments for and against

Despite the fact that healthy people can eat watermelon on an empty stomach, nutritionists recommend against doing this. The fruit pulp contains amino acids that irritate the mucous membrane, which can subsequently cause discomfort and pain in the stomach.

For breakfast, it is better to give preference to more nutritious and gentle food, so that in the morning you will be filled with energy for the whole day. The ideal time for watermelon is lunch (meal at noon) or 2-3 hours after lunch.

In what cases can pain occur when eating watermelon on an empty stomach?

Appearance stomach pain after watermelon on an empty stomach it is possible for various reasons. This is the consumption of nitrate pulp or too large portions, combination with other products, the presence of urological diseases and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Bad watermelon

When choosing fresh watermelons at the market or in a store, you cannot be sure of their naturalness and health benefits for the body. When grown on an industrial scale, chemicals and growth stimulants, fertilizers, and pest control agents that are toxic to the human body are used.

Nitrate pulp is harmful to health, provokes poisoning, local allergic reaction in the form of skin rashes, itching, peeling, Quincke's edema.Therefore, the ideal option is to use watermelon from your own harvest or one that is guaranteed to be grown in compliance with all standards.

When purchasing a watermelon in a store or at the market, it is important to correctly assess its quality, paying attention to its appearance, color, aroma, taste, and storage features. A healthy watermelon can be of different shapes, but it is large and light, has bright contrasting stripes, a yellow earthen spot on the side, a dry tail, a shiny surface without dents or cracks on the rind, and makes a booming sound when tapped.

In cross-section, the structure of a ripe natural watermelon is grainy and pink. If the flesh is red, even and smooth, You can't eat this kind of watermelon.

Advice. Experts recommend buying watermelons during their ripening season in nature - from mid-August to the end of September. Typically, early varieties contain nitrates to accelerate growth and fruit ripening, an excess of which is toxic to humans and can cause oxygen starvation of cells and a decrease in hemoglobin.

Binge eating

The daily norm for an adult depends on the patient’s age, the presence of concomitant diseases and varies between 500–700 g of pulp (200–300 g per meal). For some urological diseases, such as pyelonephritis and cystitis, on the recommendation of a specialist, the daily norm is increased to 2–2.5 kg of watermelon per day.

The watermelon diet involves eating fruit pulp at the rate of 1 kg per 10 kg of human weight. It is difficult to determine how much of a product may cause nausea, heaviness in the stomach, vomiting - everything is purely individual.

Gastrointestinal diseases

Watermelon on an empty stomach can worsen the course and prognosis of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Fruit pulp contains high doses of ascorbic acid, which has an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa. Subsequently, the ulcer opens, increasing pain in the epigastric region and under the xiphoid process of the sternum.

Organic acids have been found in watermelons, which can stimulate the flow of blood into the abdominal cavity in people prone to bleeding. Due to its diuretic effect, watermelon should not be eaten on an empty stomach in case of diarrhea, as additional loss of fluid will worsen your well-being and pose a health risk.

Due to its ability to increase urine output, watermelon should not be eaten on an empty stomach by people with gallbladder diseases in the acute stage. Active outflow of urine in the presence of stones in the gall bladder or bile ducts can provoke their movement and the appearance of sudden acute pain.

Wrong combination

Watermelon is incompatible with any products, including fruits and berries. It is consumed separately, not washed down with water, milk or other drinks, since it consists of 93% water.

Watermelon should not be combined with salty foods. Salt retains fluid in the body, and fruit pulp increases urination, which leads to the formation of edema.

Eating watermelon with baked goods can cause increased gas formation and stomach pain.

Precautions and contraindications

Watermelon is contraindicated for people with individual intolerance.

It is recommended to limit the consumption of fruit pulp or reduce the portion in the presence of diseases and pathological conditions such as:

• diabetes;
• prostate adenoma;
• colitis;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• diarrhea;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
• predisposition to abdominal bleeding;
• renal failure;
• urolithiasis and cholelithiasis;
• recent surgery on the digestive organs.

Child nutrition experts do not recommend introducing watermelon into the diet of children under 3 years of age due to the likelihood of the presence of toxic nitric acid salts in the composition. To be sure of the quality of the fruit, it is necessary to check the nitrate content with a special device.

Conclusion

Only healthy people can eat watermelon on an empty stomach and only in limited quantities. However, the risk of irritation of the gastric mucosa and the occurrence of pain and discomfort cannot be completely excluded. Watermelon is ideal for a snack two hours after breakfast or lunch.

Regardless of what time of day you consume fruit pulp, it is important to choose a natural product without nitrates.