The striped green fruit, which ripens depending on the region in late July or mid-August, has long been a symbol of summer. Contrary to popular belief, watermelon is not a fruit at all, but a berry. . . But this in no way negates its positive qualities and beneficial effects on the body.
The history of watermelon dates back to ancient Egypt, where people already knew about this culture and actively cultivated it. Historians claim that there is evidence for the consumption of watermelons as early as the 20th century BC. So, watermelon seeds were found in the buildings of the dynasty of the pharaohs, which ruled in the 20-18 centuries BC. As you know, the Egyptians believed in the afterlife and placed whatever could be useful to them in the graves of their rulers. This included food, especially watermelons. Watermelon seeds have even been found in the tomb of the legendary Tutankhamun. In addition, watermelons were also often depicted on the walls of tombs and in ancient medical treatises. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, watermelon originated from the male seed of the god Set.
Watermelon diet for weight loss and cleansing
The answer to the question of whether it is possible to eat watermelon while losing weight is obvious - it is possible and necessary. And not just because watermelon is a low calorie product.
The calorie content of watermelon per hundred grams is only 38 calories.
The fact is also that the pulp, as well as the juice of watermelon, has diuretic, choleretic and laxative properties, which allows you to remove from the body not only toxins and toxins, but also excessliquid and, as you know, our bodies are mainly made up of water. And since many of us today consume increased amounts of salt and other foods that retain water, water is retained in the body, which contributes to weight gain.
Watermelon allows you to rid the body of excess fluid, while cleaning the intestines, kidneys and blood vessels. Therefore, watermelon for weight loss is the very first remedy, especially in the summer season. In summer, because the temperature around us is high, we spend less energy and, therefore, we are less hungry. Therefore, the watermelon diet is an excellent choice for weight loss in the summer.
Watermelon is slightly less than completely water, so it is easily absorbed, which has a beneficial effect on the body.
As for the vitamins in watermelon, this berry is also not lagging behind other plant products.
As part of a watermelon:
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- sodium;
- phosphorus;
- material;
- folic acid;
- ascorbic acid.
And many other useful ingredients - this is what watermelon can give us.
Watermelon diet for weight loss: pros and cons
What are the general advantages and disadvantages of the watermelon diet? First, let's talk about the downsides. This is especially true for the watermelon diet in the form of a mono diet. Eating watermelons on their own is a good cleaning practice, but it is contraindicated for people with weak kidneys, because with such a diet the kidneys work at full capacity, because watermelon, as already mentioned above, has adiuretic effect. In addition, a mono-diet of watermelon is contraindicated for people with urolithiasis: kidney activity can lead to stone removal processes. The presence of stones larger than 4mm in diameter can be a big problem. Therefore, the question "Is it possible to eat watermelon on a diet? " For each one is decided individually.
Benefits of the watermelon diet
Now let's talk about the benefits of the watermelon diet. The most important benefit of the watermelon diet is not even to lose weight, but to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins. Besides the diuretic and choleretic effects, watermelons also have antiviral, anti-inflammatory and laxative properties. Watermelon pulp gently stimulates intestinal motility, which allows it to get rid of accumulated toxins.
To get rid of toxins and toxins that have accumulated over many years, one eaten watermelon will not be enough. Therefore, regularity is an important condition for successful cleaning.
If you regularly organize fasting days for yourself, eating only delicious watermelon, it will be a very effective method of cleansing the whole body, which will give a good result.
There is also great news for people with diabetes: watermelon does not contain complex sugars, so no insulin is produced when consumed. This means that it is completely safe for diabetics.
In addition, watermelon contains mineral salts, which help normalize the water-salt balance in the body.
Well, another big plus: watermelon contains antioxidants which rejuvenate our body and start the process of tissue regeneration.
Watermelon diet menu
The watermelon diet menu is simple. If there is a goal to lose weight or cleanse the body, it is enough to eat only watermelons for several days. You can eat one to two kilograms of watermelons per day. However, if you crave more volume, you don't have to deny yourself, but you have to be in tune with your well-being.
How long a watermelon diet can last is an individual matter. But you should not eat watermelons on their own for more than a week, especially if your usual type of diet does not include regular consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits in large quantities. If the body is simply not used to assimilating such foods, and an unprepared person practices the mono-watermelon diet for a long time, it can lead to severe exhaustion.
Delicious watermelon and strawberry smoothie
One of the sweetest options on the watermelon diet is a watermelon and strawberry smoothie. This tasty and healthy drink can please not only yourself, but also your friends and relatives.
To cook you will need:
- 2-3 medium-sized watermelon wedges;
- 1 cup of fresh strawberries
- a few lemon balm or mint leaves;
- a slice of lime or lemon;
- half a glass of water.
Reviews of the watermelon mono-diet can be found to be different, and this is due to the very type of food that is characteristic of a person at any given time. If the diet before switching to a diet was dominated by animal products and refined unnatural foods, then such a diet can quickly lead to exhaustion, so it should not be practiced for a long time.
When is the best time to buy a watermelon
Now the most important question: when to buy watermelons and how to choose them so as not to hurt yourself with a poor quality product? On average, it is recommended to do this at the beginning, and even better in the second half of August. Although the sale of watermelons begins, sometimes, already in June. Watermelons sold in June and July are either imported or grown in greenhouses, with all the delicacies in the form of various fertilizers and other chemicals.
Don't buy watermelons in the middle of summer. The best time to buy watermelons is early or mid-August.
How to choose a ripe watermelon: revealing the secrets
Buying a watermelon is a responsible business. To buy a good watermelon, you have to know how to choose it carefully.
- First of all, the weight of the watermelon is important. Don't take too small and too big. The former are probably not ripe and the latter are full of chemistry. It is better to buy a watermelon with an average weight of 5-8 kg.
- The skin of a ripe watermelon is always tough and shiny, and the stripes are shiny. If not, the watermelon is not yet ripe or is already overripe.
- When typed, the watermelon should make a ringing tone - this means it is ripe.
What about nitrates?
Now on nitrates: unfortunately you can only find out their presence by cutting a watermelon. If the pulp is purple and the veins yellow, the watermelon is poisoned with nitrates.
The pulp should be bright red and the veins are white, such a watermelon is a pure product and can be safely consumed without harm to health.
Watermelon is great for those looking to lose weight. In addition, watermelon is harmoniously suitable for any type of food - it is literally a vitamin complex to saturate our body with useful substances. For example, just 150 grams of watermelon will give our body a daily dose of magnesium. And above all, this delicious berry is an excellent summer dessert, sweet and healthy.
Watermelon and melon are the best options for getting rid of harmful candy at least in the summer. At the same time, it is important to remember that any product can be harmful if abused. There is such a saying: “Too much eating - means poisoned. ” And even the healthiest foods can lead to health problems if we overeat. Therefore, eating a ten-pound watermelon alone at one time is not the best idea.