The end of summer - the beginning of autumn - the time for green striped fruits with bright flesh. Many, having waited for a treat, eat it without restriction, without thinking about how the body will react to the product. But watermelon has contraindications for use, so you should limit its amount when eating. We will discuss further the standards that are harmless to health.

Did you know? In Australia, in the city of Chinchilla, a watermelon festival takes place every year.

Calorie content and chemical composition of watermelon

Summer fruit is valued for its rich vitamin composition. Watermelon contains:

• Vitamin PP: 0.2 mg;
• beta-carotene: 0.1 mg;
• vitamin A: 17 mcg;
• Vitamin B1: 0.04 mg;
• Vitamin B2: 0.06 mg;
• Vitamin B6: 0.09 mg;
• Vitamin B9: 8 mcg;
• vitamin C: 7 mg;
• Vitamin E: 0.1 mg;
• vitamin PP (niacin equivalent): 0.3 mg;
• calcium: 14 mg;
• magnesium: 12 mg;
• sodium: 16 mg;
• potassium: 110 mg;
• phosphorus: 7 mg;
• iron: 1 mg.

The nutritional value:

• proteins - 0.7 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 5.8 g;
• dietary fiber - 0.4 g;
• water - 92.6 g;
• calories - 27 kcal.

Important! Watermelons contain nitrates, so they should be carefully administered to pregnant women at a later date.

Effects on the human body

The substances contained in the fetus are capable of affecting the human body. How exactly - we will understand further.

How useful?

• The beneficial effect of watermelon:
• strengthens the immune system;
• fights colds;
• relieves fever;
• may be a prophylactic against cancer;
• has a diuretic effect;
• treats cystitis, nephritis;
• normalizes the digestive system;
• relieves gastritis;
• cleanses the body of harmful substances;
• relieves headaches;
• contributes to weight loss;
• supports the heart and blood vessels;
• participates in the process of blood formation;
• may be a prophylactic against Parkinson's disease;
• promotes the elimination of kidney stones;
• facilitates the course of gout;
• uplifting.

Important! If in the section the pulp of the fetus is not red, but with a purple tint, then it was greatly fertilized with nitrates.

• Besides:
• saturates the body with vitamin C;
• is an antioxidant;
• contains a large amount of fiber.

Possible harm and contraindications

• Without harm in moderation, the product can be consumed by people who do not have:
• problems with the digestive tract;
• urolithiasis;
• digestive system disorders.

Rate of use

Every day, an adult can eat no more than 500 grams of watermelon pulp. When building a diet based on the fetus as a dietary product, you can consume no more than 1.5 kg per day. How much to eat on a diet at a time of pulp, everyone decides on their own. In the children's diet, watermelon pulp can be present only from two years. At this age, the child can eat 80-100 g of pulp per day. Children 4-6 years old can be given 150 g per day.

What happens if you overeat a watermelon?

What will happen if you eat the fruit in excess of the norm? The main component of the berry is water, as well as fiber. If you use a few pounds of fruit at a time, you can feel the saturation. But it does not arise from the fact that the food is nutritious, because the calorie content of the fruit is very small. Saturation will provide fiber, which, saturated with moisture, swells in the body.

Important! If the pulp of the fetus causes an upset stomach, which manifests itself as severe diarrhea, then dehydration is possible.

Getting into the stomach in large quantities, it begins to stretch its walls, which in turn press on neighboring organs. This creates discomfort, especially felt by women in position. Excessively eaten flesh can cause nausea, upset stomach, and frequent urination. Watermelon eaten in large quantities will also be bad for people with kidney problems. Overload of this organ in the best case is manifested by edema, in the worst - by its refusal.

How to choose a good product?

Watermelon - the fruit is always welcome. As soon as this delicacy appears on the shelves, many try to immediately purchase it, delighting their loved ones. But it’s better not to rush. For a product to benefit, you need to buy it at a certain time of the year and be able to choose the right one.

The selection rules are as follows:

1. The culture ripens in August, so it is not advisable to acquire fruits earlier than this month, as they will be grown in an accelerated way, which means they contain a lot of nitrates. And his taste is unlikely to be saturated.
2. It is better to buy the product at points located near the fields on which the crop grows. If this is not possible, then it is more advisable to go to the market for the purchase, rather than to the supermarket, since the latter buy the melon unripe so that it can be preserved longer.
3. From the fruits of one variety, choose a medium-sized specimen. Ideal weight - 6-10 kg.
4. In a ripe product, the stripes on the peel are contrasting, and the skin is firm and shiny to the touch. A yellow spot must be present for small varieties no larger than 5 cm, and for large varieties no more than 10 cm.
5. Watermelons “girls” have a flat bottom and a wide circle in the place where the flower was. They contain few seeds and are sweet. Fruits are “boys” with a convex bottom and a small circle, less sweet.
6. If, when tapping with the bones of the fingers of the hand, a loud sound is heard, then the flesh is porous and the fruit is ripe.
7. An edible treat will have a moderately yellow, dry, but not overdried peduncle (tail).

If you have no health problems, drinking watermelon in excess of the norm can only cause discomfort. If there are contraindications, in addition to discomfort, a number of side effects may occur. In this regard, it is better to divide a large fruit into a large family or use it in smaller portions.