There are probably no vegetables, fruits or berries in the world that overweight people do not try to use for weight loss purposes. Watermelon is no exception. Many sites claim that it helps to lose weight, cleanses the body of toxins, provides vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Is this true or false? Let us consider this subject.
Properties of watermelon
Watermelon is a treasure trove of vitamins and minerals that are extremely beneficial to your body. Have you come across such phrases while browsing the Internet? Probably yes. But watermelon is not really wealth. On the contrary, a small pond. It is low in vitamins and minerals. To get at least some of them in a daily dose, you need to digest a kilogram of watermelon.
Watermelon has a pronounced diuretic effect. Of course, fans of this product know that you can enjoy a good watermelon only not far from the toilet. Some sources claim that watermelon "washes the kidneys" with its diuretic effect and reduces the risk of urolithiasis. It is doubtful that you will be disappointed.
The buds are always "washed" without watermelon. With its help, there is a small chance to reduce the risk of developing urinary tract infections. But first, you have to eat watermelon every day for several years to see for yourself. Second, no one knows for sure whether watermelon can prevent urinary tract infections, as this information can only be obtained through clinical trials, which no one has done so far.
Benefits of watermelon for weight loss
Watermelon is a food product. Its nutritional value is low. It contains carbohydrates, but they are not many. Therefore, it would be foolish to say that watermelon contributes to weight loss. No, like other dishes, you can get even better. If you eat a watermelon by the kilogram, you will not see a slender figure.
Of course, watermelon does not burn fat. The more you eat it, the more round your stomach will be. However, if you consider watermelon as a dietary product rather than as a means of weight loss, you can find some indisputable benefits.
- Low calorie content.Of course, the fewer calories a food contains, the more appealing it is to obese people. Even 100 g of sweet watermelon is less than 30 kcal. It is smaller than most fruits or berries. Watermelon is less nutritious than some vegetables. After eating one kilogram of watermelon, you will not feel hungry, but at the same time your body will receive only 300 kcal.
- High water content.Why is this good? First, water provides watermelons in large quantities. When you eat it, you feel something in your stomach. Thus, even a short period of time satisfies hunger. Second, a person trying to lose weight should drink plenty of water, but often forgets about it. Lack of fluid in the body reduces the effectiveness of the diet. Along with watermelon, a person gets enough water.
Disadvantages of watermelon for weight loss
As mentioned above, watermelon has a very low energy value, which makes it a dietary product. However, it is important to remember that most calories enter the body through carbohydrates. In addition, they are simple sugars that are easy to digest and pose the greatest threat to your figure.
Watermelon contains glucose, fructose, sucrose. All of these carbohydrates are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and stimulate the release of insulin, which converts glucose into fat. Watermelon has one of the highest glycemic indexes of all fruits. This is his biggest shortcoming. This is one of the reasons why watermelons should not be used in large quantities.
Among the shortcomings, we note the lack of insoluble dietary fiber. Watermelon does not satisfy hunger for a long time. It fills the stomach only for a short time, because it usually consists of water, which quickly enters the intestine and then the blood. Watermelon contains very little fiber, which can form the required volume and retain fluid in the digestive tract.
Watermelon can be a fast food to eliminate appetite. The simple sugar contained in it enters the systemic circulation almost immediately and interacts with vascular receptors and boring appetite. However, the concentration of glucose in the blood quickly returns to normal, because the feeling of excitement passes quickly.
Step out
With watermelon, you can lose weight, but you can use it instead of other, higher-calorie foods. Watermelon should not be abused because it contains simple sugars and a high glycemic index. Its nutritional value is low, but consuming a lot of watermelon can bring you more calories. In addition, these calories enter the body with simple carbohydrates - the most dangerous foods for the figure.