Pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis is a serious disease that requires strict adherence to diet and a complete rejection of alcoholic beverages. However, very often you want to treat yourself to delicious, aromatic and healthy fruits, such as watermelon. Is it allowed to eat a watermelon with this disease and what are the norms of its use, let's figure it out.

The chemical composition and calorie content of watermelon

Watermelon is a pumpkin fruit of a grassy annual plant of the Pumpkin family. It is considered the largest berry, the shape of which can vary from a regular ball, an oval to a cube. According to the culinary classification, watermelon is considered a fruit.

By the number of useful components among fruits, the described fruit occupies a leading position. Its chemical composition is represented by vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins:

• Group B (B1, B2, B6, B9): take an active part in energy metabolism, improve and normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, relieve insomnia, and help reduce stress;
• vitamin e: possesses pronounced antioxidant properties, prevents the rapid aging of the body, participates in the regeneration of cells, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails;
• vitamin H: normalizes blood coagulation, takes part in the work of the kidneys, liver, urogenital system, allows you to neutralize the effects of poisons and chemicals;
• vitamin PP: regulates blood cholesterol, maintains the required level of glucose, fights free radicals;
• ascorbic acid: strengthens the immune system, helps to produce collagen, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, increases the protective functions of the body.

Minerals:

• potassium: regulates acid-base balance, activates the work of many enzymes, improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
• calcium: strengthens musculoskeletal tissue, is responsible for blood coagulation, normalizes hormones, is required for transmission of nerve impulses;
• magnesium: activates collagen synthesis, interacts with many enzymes, provides the most important metabolic processes, normalizes the nervous system;
• iron: transports oxygen to blood cells, prevents the risk of anemia, has a positive effect on metabolism, takes part in blood formation processes;
• phosphorus: it is necessary for bone formation, participates in energy cellular metabolism, takes part in many physiological processes, regulates acid-base balance in the body;
• sodium: necessary for the functioning of the kidneys, liver, responsible for the transport of amino acids and glucose to blood cells, stores minerals in the blood, protects cells and tissues from dehydration.

In addition, the berry contains water, fiber, dietary fiber, mono- and disaccharides, organic acids, starch. It has a low calorie content, where 100 g of pulp accounts for only 25–27 kcal.

BZHU fruit:

• proteins - 0.6 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 5.8 g.

Did you know? Surprisingly, Africa is considered the birthplace of watermelons. The fruits are relatives of pumpkin, zucchini and even cucumber.

Is it possible to eat a watermelon with pancreatitis

The rich chemical composition of the berry determines its high healing qualities and invaluable benefits for the human body. Watermelon in traditional medicine is prescribed for use in many diseases, in particular, pancreatitis. But you need to eat fruits, observing several important rules.

The benefits of consumption

Inflammation of the pancreas is a fairly serious ailment, which often takes on a chronic form. It is allowed to enjoy a juicy and fragrant berry only when the disease is in remission.

• The use of the fetus in this period has a number of positive qualities, because it:
• low-calorie, can be used in diet food;
• contains antioxidant substances that relieve inflammation, fight free radicals, cleanse the body;
• possesses diuretic properties, which helps to improve the functioning of the urinary tract and the genitourinary system;
• is one of the main sources of folic acid, which improves protein processing, takes part in the process of cell division;
• serves as a supplier of magnesium, necessary to improve the functioning of the neuromuscular system, regulate heart rhythm, and prevent the formation of stones in the kidneys and urinary ducts
• quenches thirst with fever.

In the phase of remission, the maximum permissible dose of consumption of the solar fetus is considered to be 1.5 kg, depending on the well-being of the person and his individual needs.

It is better to consume fruit raw, as part of salads and cold desserts, drink watermelon juice.

Harm

• If the sweet berry is improperly consumed during inflammatory processes in the pancreas, it can cause significant harm to humans:
• a single use of watermelon in large volumes can provoke severe pain in the abdomen, lead to the development of severity, increase the load on the pancreas;
• increased peristalsis of the gallbladder can provoke the movement of stones, which, with large sizes, can become stuck in the ducts and provoke the development of obstructive jaundice. When the duct located at the entrance to the intestine is blocked, stagnation of pancreatic secretion can occur and, as a result, the development of the most dangerous disease - pancreatic necrosis;
• uncontrolled eating of watermelons with pancreatitis can provoke nausea, severe diarrhea, increased flatulence and intestinal colic, which significantly enhances the unpleasant sensations in case of an ailment.

Features of use

Thanks to its balanced vitamin-mineral composition, watermelon is a component of many therapeutic diets. However, it should be consumed in strictly dosed portions, only after a complete examination of the body and professional advice.

Important! Some prefer pickled watermelon, however, with pancreatitis, eating such a dish is extremely undesirable, as it can provoke an exacerbation.

With exacerbation

It is strictly forbidden to use watermelon in any form in the phase of exacerbation of the disease, since it can cause serious harm to the human body. When inflammatory processes take place in the pancreas, it is imperative to abandon the consumption of any fruits, berries and vegetables in their raw form.

Watermelon in its composition has dietary fiber, which, during an exacerbation of the disease, can enhance the formation of gases in the intestine, thereby provoking digestive problems, the development of acute diarrhea, and severe pain in the digestive tract.

The consumption of watermelon in acute pancreatitis will only exacerbate the problem and lead to increased inflammatory processes, the appearance of intestinal colic, diarrhea.

In chronic pancreatitis

After the strong pain in the stomach stops, nausea, diarrhea disappears, the general condition of the body normalizes, doctors allow watermelon to be added to the daily menu. It is allowed to consume berries in raw, boiled form, as part of salads, juices and compotes.

They begin to consume berries with 1 tablespoon of pulp at a time, gradually increasing the dosage to 200 g. It is allowed to eat up to 1-1.5 kg per day in the absence of an adverse reaction from the body. It is very important to consume the berry at room temperature, not from the refrigerator.

Did you know? The world's largest watermelon was 159 kg. Berry was grown by American farmer Chris Kent in 2013. The 61.4 kg fruit grown by Russian vegetable grower Igor Likhosenko in 2009 was the record holder for weight on the Euro-Asian continent.

With cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is a disease in which inflammation of the gallbladder occurs, which is the most important organ of the abdominal cavity to perform vital functions. As with exacerbation of pancreatitis, eating watermelon during the acute phase of cholecystitis is prohibited.

Delicious fruit is allowed during the period of stable remission.

In this case, several rules should be observed:

• eat fractionally, in small portions;
• at a time, use no more than 250 g of pulp;
• add vegetable oils and a sufficient amount of liquid (from 1.5 liters of pure water) to the diet.

If there are stones in the gallbladder, it is better to abandon the consumption of berries, so as not to provoke the movement of stones along the ducts and their blockage.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to practice fasting days or cleaning methods on a watermelon in the presence of any chronic gastrointestinal pathologies.

Norms of use

As mentioned above, the rate of consumption of watermelon in pancreatitis can vary from 150 g to 1.5 kg per day. At the same time, eating fruit is possible only with a stable phase of remission of the disease.

The pulp should be eaten, starting with small dosages, gradually increasing the portion to be comfortable for the body. It is allowed to include the fruit in reasonable quantities in salads, desserts, make juices or preserves. You can not consume the berry in a pickled or salted form, and also at one time to eat 1-2 kg of pulp.

How to choose a good watermelon without harm to health

The benefit of consuming watermelon a person can get only by eating a high-quality, natural fruit. Watermelons have the ability to accumulate harmful substances and toxins, which is why it is not recommended to buy berries grown close to the highway, roadway, chemical plants, in areas polluted with toxins.Experts when choosing a watermelon are advised to be guided by the following rules:

1. Grade. You should not give preference to varieties with early ripening, because very often to accelerate the ripening process, the berries are “stuffed” with chemicals. The best time to buy fruit is considered the end of August - the beginning of September.
2. The size. It is necessary to choose berries of medium size, weighing 5-7 kg. If the weight is small, then there is a risk of acquiring an unripe fruit, if large - then, most likely, the fruit was grown with the use of nitrates.
3. Appearance. You should pay attention to the appearance of the berry: it should have a clearly defined watermelon pattern, smooth, shiny and fairly dense peel, a completely dry tail. The presence of a green ponytail indicates that the berry is not ripe.
4. Sound. One of the best methods for checking the ripeness of a watermelon is considered to be light tapping on its surface: if the sound is booming, the fruit is ripe, if the deaf is not ripe, it is ripe, ripped ahead of time.

You can determine the quality of a watermelon at home using several simple methods:

• put a little watermelon pulp in a glass of water: if the liquid has acquired a saturated pink color - watermelon with nitrates, if the water has become cloudy with a slight shade of pink - the fruit is grown without the use of chemistry;
• place a whole watermelon in a large container with water: if the berry pops up - it is without chemistry, if it drowns - the fruit was grown using chemical preparations.

Watermelon is a juicy, aromatic and healthy fruit, which has not only excellent taste, but also excellent healing properties. However, before including it in the menu, people with pancreatitis should definitely consult a doctor, do not eat berries during the period of exacerbation of the disease and follow a clearly defined consumption pattern.