It would seem, what use can there be from a watermelon, because its pulp is 90% water? We are ready to prove that this beautiful berry has enough valuable properties. Now is the time to appreciate them, so get ready in the next month to diversify your usual diet with watermelon.
Diet product
Watermelon is one of the lowest calorie foods (only 38 kcal per 100 grams), and if included in your daily diet, you can effectively control weight and even lose weight. With a couple of extra pounds, which are caused by excess water, watermelon can easily cope, because it perfectly removes fluid from the body. Another property useful for fighters with extra pounds is fast satiety. Agree, three or four slices are enough to feel full.
It is recommended to keep a cut watermelon in the refrigerator for no more than two days: a capricious berry tends to lose its taste during prolonged storage and accumulate bacteria.
True, how quickly it comes, just as quickly it is replaced by a feeling of hunger. And here you need to be careful: nutritionists do not recommend eating more than 1.5 kg of sweet pulp per day ─ this can lead to indigestion and even diarrhea. It is optimal to practice fasting, strictly "watermelon" days, no more than once a week, and the rest of the time ─ dilute the main menu with watermelon (including especially strict diets), focusing on an afternoon snack or late dinner.
Antidepressant
The very sight of a watermelon wedge brings a smile and raises the mood, because in our opinion watermelon is summer, a wonderful refreshing taste and a childishly bright anticipation of joy and pleasure. However, the point is not only in pleasant associations, but in scientifically substantiated facts. 100 grams of watermelon pulp contains up to 60% of the daily value of magnesium, which is an excellent antidepressant. This microelement soothes irritated nerves, relieves stress and anxiety symptoms, relaxes, and also produces the necessary hormones (of course, first of all, seratonin) to improve sleep and solve problems with concentration.
Note to skeptics: watermelon also contains the amino acid citrulline, one of the valuable properties of which is the ability to improve mood.
Cleansing
The diuretic properties of watermelon are well known (it is unlikely that anyone would think of "saturating" them at night), so do not forget one more point: detoxification. Watermelon pulp perfectly cleanses the body, relieving it not only of excess water, but also of toxins and toxins. To make not only the kidneys, but also the intestines work more actively ─ and this is already a direct way to a visible improvement in the condition of the skin ─ supplement the watermelon diet with fiber (for example, eat 2-3 tablespoons of steamed bran every day or supplement each meal with vegetables with high fiber content - carrots, cabbage, celery).
Watermelon detox: Eat a few wedges of pulp one hour before your main meals (or substitute watermelon and fresh vegetable salad for one for lunch or dinner) for 7-10 days.
The liquid contained in the pulp of the watermelon will cause the fiber to swell, and the constant bile formation will push the food lumps outward along with the mass of "harmfulness" absorbed from the intestinal lumens. Of course, in the active cleaning mode, the consumption of everything fatty, spicy and sweet should be strictly limited, and the cooking method is as easy as possible (stewing, steaming).
Sports nutrition
Folic acid is a supplement that no "pregnant" diet can do without. And all because, in addition to participating in the synthesis of blood cells and the formation of strong immunity, it regulates the production of proteins and is directly related to the process of cell division. This is why watermelon juice, which contains enough of it, is very popular with athletes: it miraculously stimulates the development of muscle mass. The watermelon menu is held in high esteem by both professionals and those who simply devote a lot of time to giving the body relief. By the way, recent studies have shown that the amino acid L-citrulline contained in watermelon helps to quickly remove lactic acid from the body that accumulates in muscles during physical exertion. Note for fitness adepts: adding relaxation exercises with a cup of watermelon pulp,you will more effectively release muscle tension and reduce the time to recover.
Aphrodisiac
It is not for nothing that watermelon is called one of the most natural substitutes for Viagra: it contains significant amounts of lycopene, beta-carotene and citrulline ─ substances that well stimulate sexual desire and relax blood vessels, activating blood circulation in the pelvic organs.
Watermelon added to the list of such "non-trivial" aphrodisiacs such as carrots, wormwood and aloe juice. True, it is distinguished from them by a much more attractive taste and romantic entourage.
Heightened sensations are not the only bonus of watermelon delight. A significant plus is also the absence, unlike "chemistry", of any significant side effects (excluding jogging to the toilet, of course). The disadvantage, alas, is also significant: in our latitudes, the period of validity of this "natural product" is extremely limited. Therefore, the next month and a half, while melons and gourds abound with ripe fragrant watermelons, we advise you not to waste time.
Photo: Getty Images
Related materials
- Watermelon diets: types, benefits and risks
- Unexpected recipe: watermelon gazpacho
- 12 fruits you must definitely try this summer
- Billionaires: what the 20 richest women in the world look like from the Forbes 2020 list