The benefits of gourds have long been known. This is a tasty and rich in vitamin and mineral compounds product that is loved not only by adults, but also by children. About what useful properties and whether there are harmful ones, about the features of use with a diet for weight loss, about the general description and characteristics, about contraindications and the rules for choosing a ripe and high-quality watermelon will be discussed in this article.

Description and characteristics of watermelon

Familiarity with the main object of this article should begin with a review of its chemical composition and calorie content, which will help to better understand what is the benefit or harm.

Chemical composition

Chemical indicators of watermelon fruit are reduced to three main ones. So, 100 g of the product contains 0.6 g of proteins, 0.1 g of fat, 5.8 g of carbohydrates. In addition to these characteristics, the chemical composition is described by vitamins: A, B1, B2, B6, B9, C, E, H and PP; minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and sodium. The lion's share of the fetal mass is occupied by dietary fiber and water.

Important! Watermelon diet of any kind can be used no more than five days in a row. Otherwise, the achieved effect can be lost, or even scored in excess of the starting indicators. It is also recommended that you consult with your doctor about the possibility of using such a weight loss system based on watermelon.

Calorie Watermelon

If we talk about how many calories are in a watermelon, then for every 100 g of the product there are about 23-25 ​​kcal, depending on the sweetness of the berry.

Watermelon Properties

Due to such a rich variety of vitamin and mineral compounds, watermelons have a high degree of usefulness, but there is also a downside that can be harmful.

Benefit

Answering the question of how useful this type of melon culture is, it should be noted a large number of undeniable positive properties.

• These include:
• general strengthening of the immune system and its saturation with nutritional compounds;
• normalization of metabolic processes;
• digestion improvement;
• helps to eliminate toxins and toxins;
• rich in folic acid, necessary for the full and healthy functioning of the genitourinary system;
• normalization of the gastrointestinal tract;
• cleansing of the kidneys, urinary canals, bile and liver;
• the presence of fructose makes watermelon an excellent product for patients with diabetes;
• helps to lower cholesterol in the blood;
• enhances the process of blood cell regeneration;
• has a strengthening effect on the walls of blood vessels and the integrated work of the cardiovascular system;
• it is possible to use losing weight in the diet, as the product helps to normalize and stabilize weight;
• promotes the production of hormones of happiness, reducing stress and tension.

Possible harm

• In addition to the undeniable beneficial effects on the body, watermelon berries have a number of dangers, which are summarized in the following list:
• the structure of the fruit of this melon culture is predisposed to the active absorption of nitrates, which, in high concentrations, are hazardous to health;
• high sugar content makes it impossible for diabetics to consume them in uncontrolled proportions (one or two slices are acceptable, but abuse can lead to serious consequences);
• with kidney diseases, such a berry is also unacceptable, because it will cause a strong diuretic effect and the active leaching of sand and stones, which can only exacerbate the problems;
• with individual intolerance, watermelon can cause an allergic reaction.

Features of the use of watermelon when losing weight

In addition to the general restoration and maintenance of the health and working capacity of the human body, watermelons can also be used as a good way to lose weight. Diet options for this gourd are presented later in the article.

1 diet option

With this diet, you will lose weight quite effectively, but your body will not starve, as you will have five meals to make your digestion work better.

This diet option includes:

1. Breakfast: coffee or tea without sugar, three servings of pineapple.
2. Snack: one medium watermelon.
3. Lunch: tomato salad, grated carrots and green onions. Grilled fish fillet. Watermelon.
4. Snack: one medium watermelon.
5. Dinner: vegetable soup, grilled chicken breast. Watermelon.

Important! One diet for a full result may not be enough. Therefore, to emphasize your silhouette, you must go in for sports daily and drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.

A prerequisite for a successful diet is that you should not eat eggs, cereals, dairy products, sugar or fatty foods. To make a difference in the diet, you can alternate fish with lean meat of turkey or rabbit, fruits and vegetables can also be changed. After eating, you can’t go to bed so that metabolic processes proceed under the most effective conditions.

Diet option 2

In the second version, we bring to your attention a fully developed set of watermelon diet menus for days and meals.

Monday

Breakfast:

• a cup of coffee or chicory with a sweetener;
• 2 pieces of biscuit cookies;
• natural or flavored yogurt, low fat and sugar free.

Snack: watermelon.

Dinner:

• grilled beef fillet;
• a plate of boiled broccoli, although it can be replaced with another vegetable;
• natural or flavored yogurt, low fat and sugar free.

Snack: watermelon.

Dinner:

• grilled fillet of European salt or hake;
• plate with artichokes fried with garlic;
• natural or flavored yogurt, low fat and sugar free.

Did you know? Watermelon pulp is 92% water. Therefore, answering the question of whether it contributes to quenching thirst, one can safely answer that this is a wonderful refreshing agent that can saturate the body with moisture twice as good as an ordinary glass of water. In addition, due to the presence of salts of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium, watermelon berries help maintain optimal moisture levels in the body and reduce the likelihood of dehydration.

Tuesday

Breakfast:

• coffee with skim milk without sugar;
• 1 wholemeal toast with light cheese.

Snack: watermelon.

Dinner:

• 1 dish of cauliflower or other cooked vegetables;
• 2 baked chicken legs or fried brisket;
• natural or flavored yogurt, low fat and sugar free.

Snack: watermelon.

Dinner:

• vegetable soup;
• 1 large slice of fish baked with lemon;
• natural or flavored yogurt without sugar and flavorings.

Did you know? The peel of the watermelon berry is also edible and has a high content of healthy vitamins, minerals and trace elements. In China, watermelon peels are fried or stewed, as well as marinated and grilled. A light snack in the Middle East is considered to be slightly dried and fried in a dry pan melon seeds.

Wednesday

Breakfast:

• coffee with skim milk or without sugar;
• 1 wholemeal toast;
• 2 slices of turkey or 2 rings of sausage ham.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• fried squid or a slice of fish;
• grilled mushrooms with garlic and parsley or vegetable salad;
• natural or flavored yogurt without sugar and flavorings.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• 1 grilled turkey fillet;
• 1 salad of tomatoes, onions, asparagus and cucumbers;
• natural or flavored sugar-free yogurt.

Important! Roadside watermelon trading is officially banned. Gourds only have a few hours to absorb the heavy metals contained in car exhausts. Therefore, do not buy watermelons in roadside collapse.

Thursday

Breakfast:

• coffee with skim milk or without sugar;
• 2 whole grain bread toasts with light cheese.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• 1 beef steak or grilled beef;
• 1 cup cooked brown rice;
• natural or flavored fat-free yogurt without sugar.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• mashed vegetables;
• scrambled eggs stuffed with asparagus or spinach;
• natural or flavored sugar-free yogurt.

Friday

Breakfast:

• coffee with skim milk or without sugar;
• 1 wholemeal toast;
• 1 slice of turkey or ham sausage.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• 1 grilled chicken breast;
• 1 bowl of zucchini and / or mashed carrot;
• natural or flavored yogurt, low fat and sugar free.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• a dish of mashed leeks with a small amount of striped cheese;
• a slice of fried hake with garlic, parsley and spices;
• natural or flavored yogurt, low fat and sugar free.

Saturday

Breakfast:

• coffee with skim milk and sugar free;
• 2 biscuit cookies.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• 1 can of tuna;
• a fresh vegetable salad;
• natural or flavored sugar-free yogurt.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• lettuce, tomato, onion and asparagus salad;
• several slices of boiled turkey;
• 150 g of Burgos cheese.

Sunday

Breakfast:

• coffee with skim milk and sugar free;
• slice of whole grain bread with light cheese.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• 2 slices of boiled or fried hake;
• plate of salad: tomato, lettuce, onion and carrots;
• two tablespoons cooked chickpeas;
• natural or flavored sugar-free yogurt.

Snack: watermelon pulp.

Dinner:

• French omelet with two eggs stuffed with asparagus;
• 1 slice of bread;
• natural yogurt low in fat or sugar.

During this diet option, it is also recommended to consume a large amount of water in the range of 2-2.5 liters per day.

Can I eat a watermelon at night with weight loss?

Theoretically, the use of watermelons after 6 pm is permissible, because its useful properties do not depend on the time of day. The negative side here is more likely to be inconvenience, because if you eat a watermelon berry at night, then after processing the liquid will be asked outside, which will not contribute to a sound and full sleep. Depending on the volume of watermelon pulp eaten, you can run to the toilet more than once, but several times a night. If you are comfortable with this inconvenience, then you can safely eat watermelons in your evening diet.

Contraindications to the use of watermelon

In addition to useful and harmful properties, a complete picture of the product helps to make a list of contraindications for use.

It is not recommended to use watermelons in the following cases:

• individual intolerance and allergy;
• with prostate adenoma disease;
• with congenital malformations of the urinary system;
• in the presence of kidney stones;
• with colitis;
• with diarrhea or dysbiosis;
• with atherosclerosis.

You should also adhere to the rules and carefully eat these fruits of melons in diabetes.

How to choose a ripe watermelon

It makes no difference whether you buy watermelon in a supermarket, in a market, or even in a Bedouin in the desert. In all cases, it is necessary to know certain rules for choosing a ripe, fresh and high-quality representative of melons, so as not only not to harm your body, but also have a positive effect on it.

Recommendations for choosing the perfect watermelon are listed:

• the fetus should not have visible damage to the skin, such as scratches, cracks, holes or cuts;
• the skin color should be monophonic, but on the one hand, where the surface of the berry is in contact with the ground, the skin color must be yellow, which will indicate its ripeness;
• the best time to buy watermelon is August-September;
• you should choose a medium-sized fruit, since in large berries, most likely, the permissible nitrate indicator is exceeded;
• when tapping the peel, the fetus should not ring, as this will be a sign of its immaturity;
• the tail must be dry;
• watermelon cannot smell fresh grass if it is ripe;
• It is recommended to make a purchase in the morning, because in the evening watermelons wither in the summer heat (the rule is for those who make a purchase in the market).
• if possible, put the watermelon in water, if it is ripe, it will pop up.

Guided by the information provided in this article, you can correctly choose and use one of the most delicious berries, called watermelon, with benefit. And for those who wondered how much watermelon there is to lose weight, two diet options were given that will help to cope with the tasks for balancing weight.