"When you taste it, you understand what angels eat" - this is how Mark Twain spoke about watermelons.
What is a watermelon? One camp of botanists considers it the largest berry, while another classifies it as a member of the pumpkin family. Watermelon has many health benefits.
Doctor of the HappyDerm medical center Lyudmila Artyushkevich spoke in detail about the benefits of watermelon, its main properties and contraindications.
What do you need to know?
Watermelon consists of 90% water. Its pulp contains virtually no proteins or fats, but it is rich in quickly digestible carbohydrates. This fruit is ideal for quenching thirst on a hot day without harming your figure. They say that a piece of watermelon can quench your thirst as well as two glasses of water.
Watermelon contains a small amount of vitamins, but the richness of minerals compensates for this. The high content of magnesium promotes normal absorption of calcium, sodium and potassium, which has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and skeletal systems.
The red flesh of watermelon contains a high content of antioxidants that fight free radicals, slow down the aging process, resist the development of cancer, reduce the likelihood of heart disease, stabilize blood pressure, have an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthen the immune system.
Watermelon contains soft dietary fiber that promotes healthy digestion and stimulates intestinal peristalsis.
The high water content makes watermelon an excellent remedy for diuretic and choleretic therapy. Watermelon juice can cleanse the liver and kidneys of toxins and waste.
In what cases should you refrain from eating watermelon?
The best time to eat watermelons is August and September. Before this period, accelerated ripening of the fruit can be caused by chemical additives, which will entail the risk of poisoning.
It is important to remember that watermelons grow on the ground and require careful processing before consumption. It is not advisable to buy damaged or cut fruits, and you should avoid storing cut watermelons outside the refrigerator for a long time.
People suffering from chronic kidney disease or diabetes should eat watermelon in moderation. This also applies to healthy people, because excessive consumption will not bring anything good.
