Definitely Eat Watermelon in Summer

Watermelon is a fruit that people like for its juicy taste and sweetness. In summer, it not only quenches thirst but also remedies the lack of water in the body. According to Ayurveda, watermelon has a cooling effect, making it a summer fruit. However, nowadays this fruit is available all year round, and people like to eat it in every season. But in summer, both its demand and crop are very high. That's why, being easily and cheaply available everywhere, people of all classes definitely eat it as a fruit. Some eat it on an empty stomach in the morning, some with breakfast, some in the hot afternoon, and some drink its juice or smoothie. The point is, there is no better option than watermelon to keep the body refreshed, beat the heat, and quench thirst in summer.

A large, dark green on the outside and deep red on the inside watermelon is usually sweet and juicy in taste. However, some watermelons are bland in taste, light red in color, and less juicy. But the more watery, juicy, red, and sweet a watermelon is, the more packed with nutrients it will be. This pulpy, juicy fruit also contains a lot of small black or brown seeds, which are as nutritious as its pulp.

Since it's available in all seasons, you can eat it in any season, but in the summer, watermelon is very beneficial for health. This is because this juicy fruit, full of water and fiber, is very effective in providing relief from physical problems like heatstroke, sunstroke, dizziness, dry mouth, dehydration due to heat, and increased blood pressure in summer. Being a delicious summer fruit, you can eat as much of it as you want in summer. It will give you plenty of freshness, coolness, and nutrition. But eating it at the wrong time or in excess can also have many disadvantages. So, let's learn about the benefits of consuming watermelon, as well as the right time to eat it and the harms it can cause.

Benefits of Eating Watermelon

1. Watermelon contains up to 92 percent water. Therefore, if it is eaten in sufficient quantity, there is no dehydration, i.e., lack of water, in the body due to heat. If this fruit is eaten once a day in any form, its juice, i.e., liquid, keeps the body hydrated throughout the day.
2. Watermelon is rich in nutrients like fiber, vitamins A, B, and C, potassium, magnesium, iron, and anti-oxidants, which cure many health-related problems of the body.
3. The color of watermelon is deep red, which is why it is rich in a substance called lycopene. Lycopene is a type of vitamin A that works as a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Lycopene not only prevents cancer from developing anywhere in the body but is also helpful in enhancing the beauty of the skin and hair. That is, it benefits most parts of the body.
4. Watermelon is also rich in electrolytes, which, along with remedying the lack of water in the body, also replenishes essential minerals. It also protects the body from heatstroke and sunstroke caused by excessive heat and keeps the body cool.
5. Due to the abundant water content and fiber found in watermelon, it is also used as a weight-loss diet. This is because the liquid and fiber content in it makes the stomach feel full for a long time and also provides energy, which helps in weight loss along with diet control.
6. Along with the watermelon, its seeds are also very beneficial. They contain many nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper. The seeds are dried, the shell is removed, and the white kernel or 'migi' is extracted from inside, which is sweet and tasty to eat. They are used in making many delicious dishes, gravies for dishes, and sweets.
7. After removing the red pulp of the watermelon, the white part attached to the green rind, which is part of the rind, is also rich in nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, potassium, magnesium, and carbohydrates. These rinds are usually fed to animals as fodder, but nowadays they are widely used in the food industry. The tutti-frutti used in ice creams, cakes, fruitcakes, pastries, buns, and breads is made from this white part of the watermelon.
8. Watermelon not only enhances health but also beauty. Due to its high water content, it is very beneficial for skin cells, muscles, teeth, hair, and skin. It works to hydrate and moisturize the entire body by increasing the flow of water and energy in the body. Due to these properties, it is used not only for consumption but also externally in beauty products like creams, face packs, and as sunburn protection.

Know the Right Time and Disadvantages of Eating Watermelon

1. Some people like to eat watermelon on an empty stomach in the morning, but one should avoid eating it on an empty stomach in the morning because due to its high fiber and water content, it causes indigestion, gas, and acidity in the body on an empty stomach. You can eat it in limited quantities with breakfast in the morning.
2. The best time to eat it is after breakfast and before lunch, from 11 am to 2 pm, because at this time the digestive fire in the body is very strong, and it is easily digested, helping to increase appetite.
3. One should avoid eating watermelon in the evening or at night because it contains a lot of natural sugar along with fiber, and at night, when the digestive process is very slow, it becomes difficult to digest, which can cause stomach-related problems at night or the next day.
4. One should also avoid eating too much watermelon at once just for the taste, because eating it in large quantities can cause problems like stomach pain, cramps, and diarrhea due to over-hydration.
5. Diabetic patients should also avoid eating watermelon because a very sweet watermelon can suddenly raise the sugar level. Yes, if diabetic patients want, they can eat less sweet or bland watermelon in small quantities.
6. One should not drink water after eating watermelon because it already has a lot of water content. If you eat a full stomach of watermelon and then drink water on top of it, you may face problems like indigestion, loose motion, gas, and bloating in the stomach.
7. You can keep a whole, uncut watermelon in the fridge for two to three weeks, but do not use a cut watermelon after keeping it in the fridge for more than a day or two because bacteria start to grow very quickly in its juice, which, when consumed, can cause a lot of harm to the body.