Watermelon - A Hero or A Villain?
Cravings are weird, one time you're lying in pain on the floor, the next moment you're wishing to stick your face on a watermelon? Smelling ghostly watermelon, then i've sent my vassal on a quest to buy watermelon and had to write about it until they come to satisfy me. Well then, so what is so good about this huge fruit?
Well, watermelon contains a variety of nutrients, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C. It’s also relatively low in calories.
Here are the nutrients in 1 cup (152 grams) of raw, diced watermelon:
- Calories: 46
- Carbs: 11.5 grams
- Fiber: 0.6 grams
- Sugar: 9.4 grams
- Protein: 0.9 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Vitamin A: 5% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin C: 14% of the DV
- Potassium: 4% of the DV
- Magnesium: 4% of the DV
Watermelon is also a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that may improve exercise performance.
Plus, it boasts antioxidants, including vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin E, all of which are beneficial for your health in watermelon as well as other food sources.
These compounds help combat free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may damage your cells if they accumulate in your body. Over time, this damage may lead to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
About 100 g or 1 cup of watermelon provides 91.4 g of water; thus, consuming it is a very effective way to increase your daily water consumption. Moreover, due to its high water density, watermelon is a low-calorie fruit that is useful in maintaining weight.
Studies show that asthma is caused by the presence of free radicals in the body. Several review studies found that consuming lycopene-rich foods, such as watermelon, reduced oxidative stress. It also helped reduce symptoms of asthma including airway smooth muscle contraction and mucus hypersecretion.
Not only these health benefits but the taste? Incredible. It's a juicy, refreshing fruit that is perfect for a hot summer day. Its flavor profile is sweet and subtly tart, with a crisp and crunchy texture. A combination of strawberries, honeydew melon, and cucumber, with a hint of lime. Divine.
But is it all great and nice? What if watermelon's have a dark side? When consuming watermelon, keep these things in mind:
- While it is alright to have up to 2 cups of watermelon or one glass of watermelon juice, overconsuming it can cause a buildup of nutrients such as lycopene and potassium. A large quantity of potassium can disrupt your electrolyte balance and kidney function. A large amount of fiber obtained from overeating watermelon can also cause digestive distress such as bloating, diarrhea, and nausea.
- Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) highly recommends not drinking water for at least 30 minutes after consuming watermelon. While there isn’t any scientific evidence to back this claim, it is better to avoid having water after its consumption as some people report developing a sore throat or cold.
- When you consume large quantities of watermelon, bacteria that are present in the gut will ferment the excessive amount of sugar, leading to discomfort and indigestion. Furthermore, the fruit’s beneficial effect on blood sugar will be negated, causing a spike in blood glucose and insulin levels instead.
Quite the clown.