There are probably no vegetables, fruits or berries in the world that overweight people would not try to use for the purpose of losing weight. Watermelon is no exception. Many websites say that it helps to lose weight, cleanse the body of toxins, supply it with vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. Is this true, or fiction? Let's ponder this topic.
The nature of watermelon
Watermelon is a treasure trove of vitamins and minerals that provide incredible benefits to your body. Have you come across such a phrase while surfing the Internet? Possibly Yes. But really, watermelon is not a treasure. Instead, small puddles. There are few vitamins and minerals in it. To receive at least part of it in a daily dose, watermelon needs to be absorbed in kilograms.
Watermelon has a significant diuretic effect. Of course, fans of this product know that you can enjoy a good watermelon only if you are not far from the toilet. Some sources claim that due to its diuretic effect, watermelon "rinses the kidneys" and reduces the chances of urolithiasis. Had to disappoint you - this is unlikely.
Buds are always "washed" without watermelon. There is a small possibility that with its help you can actually reduce the risk of developing urolithiasis. But, first, to be sure of this from your own experience, you need to eat watermelon every day for several years. Second, no one knows for sure whether watermelon prevents urolithiasis, as this information can only be obtained during clinical studies, which have not yet been conducted.
The benefits of watermelon for weight loss
Watermelon is a food product. It has little nutritional value. It contains carbohydrates, though not much. Therefore, it is foolish to say that watermelon contributes to weight loss. No, you can also be better off it, just like from other foods. If you eat a watermelon in kilograms, you will not see a slim figure.
Of course, watermelon does not burn fat. The more you eat it, the more round your stomach will become. But if you consider watermelon not as a way to lose weight, but as a nutritional product, you can find some undeniable advantages.
- Low calorie content.Obviously, the fewer calories contained in food, the more appealing it is to obese people. Even sweet watermelon contains less than 30 kcal per 100 g. This is less than most fruits or berries. The nutritional value of watermelon is lower than some vegetables. After eating a kilogram of watermelon, you may not feel hungry, but at the same time, only 300 kcal will enter your body.
- High water content.Why is this good? First, water provides a large amount of watermelon. When eating, the feeling of something in the stomach. Thus, he satisfies his hunger, even for a short time. Second, someone trying to lose weight needs to drink a lot of water, but often he forgets about it. Lack of fluid in the body causes a decrease in the effectiveness of the diet. Along with watermelon, one receives a sufficient amount of water.
Disadvantages of watermelon for weight loss
As mentioned above, watermelon has a very low energy value, which gives us a reason to call it a nutritional product. But keep in mind that most calories enter the body with carbohydrates. Moreover, it is a simple sugar that is easily digested and poses the greatest threat to your body.
Watermelon contains glucose, fructose, sucrose. All of these carbohydrates are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulate the release of insulin, which converts glucose to fat. Watermelon has one of the highest glycemic indices among all fruits and berries. This is his biggest weakness. And this is the only reason why watermelons should not be eaten in excessive quantities.
Among the disadvantages, we also noted the low insoluble dietary fiber content. Watermelon can not satisfy hunger for long. It fills the stomach only for a short time, as it is mostly composed of water, which quickly enters the intestines, and then into the blood. There is very little fiber in watermelon, which can produce the required amount and retain fluid in the digestive tract.
Watermelon can be a quick snack to kill your appetite. The simple sugars contained in its composition almost immediately enter the systemic circulation, interact with vascular receptors and dull hunger. But the feeling of satiety quickly passes, because the concentration of glucose in the blood quickly returns to normal.
Production
With the help of watermelon, you can lose weight, but only if you use it instead of other foods that are higher in calories. You should not abuse watermelon, as it contains simple sugars and has a high glycemic index. It has a low nutritional value, but consuming watermelon in large quantities can give you a lot of calories. Moreover, these calories will enter the body with simple carbohydrates - the most harmful nutrients for the figure.