Useful properties and contraindications of watermelon: what is treated with pulp, seeds and peels

23 August 2015 14:29

Tags: watermelons food products fruits berries  

4063

5

It's watermelon season. Almost everyone eats watermelon. And “not for profit’s sake,” but because it’s delicious! Let’s figure out why watermelon is useful besides its pleasant taste, what beneficial properties watermelon has, and whether it is possible to treat any diseases with watermelon. First, keep in mind that if you plan to buy a watermelon and enjoy the watermelon pulp to your heart’s content, try not to eat foods containing a lot of salt for 2-3 hours beforehand. You will need to go without chips, salted fish and nuts for about the same amount of time after finishing your watermelon meal. As you know, salt makes it difficult to remove fluid from the body. A watermelon containing a lot of juice can add stress to the body for those suffering from hypertension, heart disease, and simply cause swelling. Be careful when eating watermelon if you suffer from chronic intestinal diseases - watermelon can cause bloating. Doctors do not recommend eating watermelon for those suffering from diabetes, edema, or pregnant women in the last trimester.

0

See all photos in the gallery

Watermelon for hypertension:

Only 150 gr. Watermelon provides a person with a daily amount of a chemical element such as magnesium. In short, there is a lot of magnesium in watermelon. Magnesium is important for those who suffer from hypertension. In addition, watermelon helps remove cholesterol from the body, which is also important for vascular and heart diseases. Among the properties of watermelon, noteworthy is its ability to dilate blood vessels. These fruits help reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, as well as the transition of early stage hypertension to complicated hypertension.

The benefits of watermelon for the human body

The berry has great benefits. It replenishes the body's deficiency of iron, magnesium and other minerals. Contains a lot of liquid, therefore improves the quality and flow of milk during lactation. Every woman needs to take into account the benefits of watermelon for the body during pregnancy. Fruit pulp relieves swelling and helps remove excess fluid.

The benefits of watermelon for the intestines are based on the normalization of the organ’s functioning. The berry cleanses the cavity of toxins and toxins, and improves the nutrition of mucous tissue. Long-term use of the product helps improve the organic structures of the gastrointestinal tract in case of gastritis and ulcers.

The product is useful for diabetes, its components stabilize glucose in the bloodstream. The berry also removes harmful cholesterol along with urine. A natural antioxidant prevents aging and rejuvenates the body. The berry helps to survive psycho-emotional stress and eliminate stress.

Watermelon for kidneys:

Watermelon has beneficial properties, or rather, it has a unique property - it practically does not contain acids and salts. But watermelon is rich in alkali. This is the reason for the beneficial properties of watermelon for the urinary system. Why is watermelon useful? Nephrologists often recommend treatment with watermelon for those who are susceptible to the formation of urate or oxalate stones in the kidneys. Watermelon will also be useful during an exacerbation of nephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis. Doctors recommend consuming up to 2 kilograms of watermelon per day. You can try watermelon juice - for 2 glasses of juice, 1 teaspoon of honey. Watermelon has beneficial properties that can be described as strong diuretics. Moreover, these properties are stronger than those of any other plant products. It must be said that this applies not only to the pulp, but also to the crust. Watermelon rind is good for making a diuretic decoction. If you dry the watermelon rind in the oven, it can be stored for a very long time. The decoction is prepared as follows: dry watermelon rind is poured with water in a ratio of 1:10 and boiled for about 5 minutes. The finished broth is cooled and filtered. You should take it half a glass 3-4 times a day. A decoction of watermelon will also be useful for those suffering from gout and rheumatism.

0

Composition and calorie content

The juicy pulp of watermelon contains a large amount of microelements, macroelements, and vitamins. The berry is rich in folic acid. The calorie content of watermelon is only 27 kcal per 100 g.

The main components of the pulp are water, fructose, glucose, fiber and pectin. One berry contains about a thousand seeds, a quarter consisting of fat. The healing properties of watermelon seeds are due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and enzymes in their composition. The chemical composition is given in more detail in the table.

Table - Chemical composition of watermelon per 100 g

A cut watermelon can be checked for naturalness and the presence of dyes. Pour water into a glass, drop a piece of pulp into it, and stir. If the liquid turns pink, it indicates the use of chemicals. You should not eat fruits with an abundance of yellow veins in the pulp and a purple tint.

Watermelon for diabetes:

Can you eat watermelon if you have diabetes? As a rule, doctors advise people with diabetes to eat approximately ½ kilogram of watermelon per day. The fact is that the fruits of this plant contain fructose, which our body absorbs without unnecessary insulin costs. This should be done only in order to get all the vitamins we need during the season. If a person has type 1 diabetes, then during this diet it is worth giving up some carbohydrate-rich foods. If you are afraid of provoking a change in blood sugar levels, then you need to consume watermelon in parts - no more than two hundred grams, 3 times a day.

Delicious preparations

Many people are accustomed to enjoying the striped berry only in the fall, not realizing that watermelon can be used for homemade preparations. It makes delicious jam and honey.

Jam

Description. Watermelon jam seems a little sugary, so lemon is often added to it for sourness. For aroma, you can add spices - cinnamon, cloves.

Preparation

1. Watermelon pulp (400 g) is cut into cubes, seeds are removed.
2. Pour a glass of water and boil for half an hour.
3. Add 200 g of sugar.
4. Another 200 g of sugar is mixed with a quarter glass of water, juice and zest of one lemon.
5. Pour the syrup into the watermelon mass, stir, and simmer over low heat until thickened.
6. The jam is placed in sterile jars and sealed.

Watermelon seeds, beneficial properties:

Watermelon seeds also have a number of beneficial properties that make them comparable to pumpkin seeds. Watermelon seeds are used to prepare medicinal decoctions and are added as an ingredient to some dishes. Watermelon seeds contain fatty oil, similar in composition to almond oil. In some regions of Africa, watermelon seeds are included in soup recipes. The Chinese eat them fried. Watermelon seeds are also used in cosmetology - they are used to make facial skin soft and smooth. Watermelon seeds can be consumed toasted - just like the usual sunflower seeds. The oil contained in watermelon seeds is a rich source of beneficial substances, including microelements such as zinc and selenium, which play a significant role in maintaining men's health. These elements help prevent the development of prostatitis and prostate adenoma and have a beneficial effect on spermatogenesis. Watermelon seeds are a proven anthelmintic. They may well compete with pumpkin seeds. They are used like this: dried watermelon seeds are ground in a meat grinder or coffee grinder and mixed with milk in a ratio of 1:10 - this will be our medicine. Take 2 glasses twice a day (but not with meals).

How to choose and store watermelon correctly

The watermelon harvest begins in August. It is not advisable to buy watermelons that appear on store shelves before the specified date. To speed up the ripening of fruits, various fertilizers are used, so the berries accumulate dangerous substances.

Farmers almost always use nitrogen fertilizers. The plant processes the bulk of fertilizers. The residue accumulates in the peel. A small dose of nitrates is not dangerous. However, unripe fruits contain many harmful substances that the plant did not have time to remove. Therefore, you should not buy early watermelons if you are worried about your health.

Often, watermelons are contaminated due to various contaminants on the peel. If you cut into a poorly washed fruit, pathogenic microorganisms will get into the pulp and cause it to go away. In melon fields, watermelons lie on the ground, so the skins need to be washed thoroughly. A sign of a good watermelon is a green and shiny rind. There should be a small spot on the side left after contact with the soil. It should be a little brown or yellow. Buy watermelons with dry stems. Pay attention to the sound the watermelon makes when you click your fingernail. A ripe watermelon sounds loud.

You can store a whole watermelon for 2-3 weeks at room temperature. To extend storage time, it is recommended to place the fruit in a cool place and hang it from the ceiling. It will remain fresh even after several months. However, it will lose nutrients. After cutting the berries, cover the pulp with a plastic bag or cling film to prevent chapping. Place in the refrigerator. You can store the product for up to 4 days.

Thus, watermelon is a valuable source of amino acids, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Low-calorie fruits contain a lot of fiber. The pulp is often used by cosmetologists to improve skin health. And the beneficial properties of the product are studied by medicine. With moderate consumption of watermelon, there is an improvement in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and digestive organs. An additional benefit is the prevention of chronic diseases.

Watermelon for weight loss:

Watermelon can help you lose weight, but this method of losing weight is not suitable for everyone. Contraindications for it are congenital anomalies of the urinary tract, serious renal disorders, peptic ulcers and urolithiasis, and intestinal adhesions. This method is contraindicated for those suffering from diabetes. By including watermelon in our diet in certain quantities, we can get rid of a couple of extra pounds. It is required to avoid food as much as possible for 2 days and eat watermelon pulp (in the ratio of 2 kg of pulp per 10 kg of weight). You can also include a couple of slices of black bread in your diet. During this diet, among other things, our kidneys are cleansed. By the way, this kind of diet cannot be called a hunger strike, since the daily amount of watermelon is quite large. A strict diet using watermelon requires complete exclusion of food, but such unloading for the body should be carried out for no more than 3 days. No matter how rich watermelon is in vitamins and other useful substances, vitamins, it cannot completely replace food.

Use of watermelon in medicine

Official medicine considers the use of only watermelon seeds. An oil extract is made from the seeds, which helps treat various kidney diseases. Thanks to its diuretic properties, the drink cleanses the kidneys of sand. However, you can use the medicine only after receiving medical advice. The doctor must determine the absence of contraindications and prescribe the exact amount of medication for daily use.

Watermelon pulp is widely used in folk medicine in various countries. It is considered healing due to its diuretic properties. Many traditional healers claim that regular consumption of watermelon helps remove excess fluid, reduce swelling, and treat cardiovascular diseases. In Chinese medicine, watermelon is considered a cooling agent that can heal the body from all diseases.

A decoction of the peels helps heal wounds. And the seeds are brewed as a drink.

Watermelon for face:

The pulp and juice of watermelon fruits can be used as ingredients for cosmetic face masks. Watermelon, as a cosmetic product, is suitable for any skin type. If you have dry facial skin, then before applying watermelon masks you should lubricate it with olive or corn oil. By wiping dry, lacking elasticity, facial skin with a cotton swab moistened with watermelon juice (you can also use just a piece of pulp for this), you tone it well. Watermelon face mask. The watermelon pulp is cut and the juice is squeezed out of it (through gauze). Moisten a gauze napkin (5-6 layers) with the resulting product and place it on the face. Keep for 15-20 minutes. After that, the facial skin is rinsed with water at room temperature, dried and a nourishing cream is applied to it. Watermelon perfectly tones the facial skin, cleanses and prevents sagging.

0

Medicinal and dietary properties

Lycopene is a pigment that gives watermelon pulp its red color and has a positive effect on the body, being:

• Antioxidant - thanks to lycopene, capillaries and blood vessels are strengthened, free radicals are neutralized.
• An antibacterial and antifungal agent, therefore watermelons normalize the microflora of the stomach and intestines and improve digestion.
• Fat burner - lycopene has a high ability to break down fats, fights excess weight, lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, which prevents arteriosclerosis and obesity.
• Antidepressant - improving the general condition of the body has a positive effect on the psychological status.

Citrulline is an amino acid found in watermelon juice and pulp that improves blood circulation and reduces blood pressure.

High iron and electrolyte content helps prevent:

• anemia;
• seizures;
• heart diseases;
• arteriosclerosis;
• Alzheimer's disease.

ethnoscience

Suggests using all parts of the fruit : seeds, juice, pulp and rinds.

• Tinctures of crushed watermelon seeds are used to treat colds and are used as an anthelmintic.
• The juice is used for gargling for sore throats, making tonics and lotions for the face for acne.
• Dried and crushed peels are the basis for decoctions and tinctures with a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.
• For 1st degree burns, you can make a compress from a thin slice of watermelon pulp.

Just 300 grams of watermelon pulp contains about 20% of the daily requirement of vitamins A and C, and a glass of fresh watermelon juice after training will improve muscle regeneration.

Watermelon for weight loss

This fruit is, without a doubt, healthy; there is hardly any competitor to watermelon in terms of dietary properties .

• The dense pulp and voluminous structure of the fruit creates a feeling of fullness for a long time, with minimal calorie content. The fruit is suitable for second breakfast, afternoon snack or even lunch.
• The rather sweet taste of the berry will help you replace sweets and cakes with natural and healthy desserts, which include watermelon.
• Fiber and enzymes improve digestion and intestinal function.
• The high electrolyte content improves kidney function and eliminates swelling, which also reduces weight.

More details about the watermelon diet in the video: