Watermelon can cool you down and lower your blood pressure, but 7 types of people should be cautious when eating it

In the scorching summer, a piece of ice-cold watermelon is the first choice for many people to beat the heat. This fruit, native to Africa and also known as cold melon, summer melon, and water melon, not only has its English name "Watermelon" literally translated as "watery melon", but also has a variety of varieties in Taiwan, such as large red watermelon, yellow heart small jade watermelon, seedless watermelon, and black beauty. With its refreshing taste, it has become a popular summer food. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, watermelon is cold in nature and sweet in taste. It is known as the "natural white tiger soup". It can clear away heat and relieve summer heat, relieve restlessness and quench thirst, and because of its abundant water content, it can help promote urination.hypotensiveIt even has the effect of sobering up, and can relieve inflammatory fever symptoms such as tonsillitis, sore throat, and inflammation of the corners of the mouth, as well as reducing fever and cooling down after heatstroke.
Many people are curious about the nutritional differences between yellow-fleshed watermelon and red-fleshed watermelon. In fact, each has its own advantages. The highlight of red watermelon is that it is rich in lycopene,beta-caroteneand vitamin A, which are not only antioxidants but also have anti-cancer properties. While yellow watermelon also contains these nutrients, the concentrations are relatively low. It's worth noting that while many people are familiar with tomatoes' high lycopene content, red watermelon is also rich in lycopene. Its beta-carotene and vitamin A content is not only significantly higher than that of oranges, but also comparable to papaya. However, it's important to note that lycopene and vitamin A require the aid of oil for optimal absorption. Therefore, eating watermelon after a meal not only reduces greasiness but also aids nutrient absorption, making it more suitable than consuming it on an empty stomach.
As for vitamin C, a concern among the public, watermelon's performance fell short of expectations, with only 8 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. The highest concentration is not in the red or yellow flesh, but in the white area between the flesh and the rind, as well as in the seeds. As for calories, watermelon, with a water content of approximately 93%, contains only 35 calories per 100 grams of peeled flesh, making it not considered a high-calorie fruit. However, due to its refreshing and easy-to-drink texture, people often overeat. Just three or four slices after a meal can add up to nearly 100 calories, making actual calorie intake often higher than expected.
Another common question is, "Since watermelon is so sweet, does it have a high glycemic index (GI)?" Actually, using sweetness to determine GI is not an accurate indicator. The key lies in dietary fiber. Fruits rich in dietary fiber, such as apples and guava, can help prevent blood sugar spikes through fiber buffering even when they are sweet. However, watermelon has a low dietary fiber content, so it will quickly degrade after entering the body.Raise blood sugar, stimulates insulin secretion, so diabetic patients need to strictly control their consumption.
Not everyone is suitable for consuming watermelon. Those with weak constitutions, poor gastrointestinal function, or gastrointestinal ulcers should avoid it. Women who have just given birth and those who have undergone surgery should also avoid consuming it. For kidney patients, while watermelon isn't considered a high-potassium fruit, three slices contain 300 mg of potassium. Those who need to control their potassium intake should be especially cautious, and even watermelon juice intake should be strictly limited. Diabetics should limit their intake to no more than three slices (approximately 300 grams) at a time, and no more than twice a day. Furthermore, there's a Taiwanese saying about "eating watermelon at midnight," which refers to the fact that consuming too much watermelon on an empty stomach can easily lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea in the middle of the night. Because watermelon has a cold nature, those with weak gastrointestinal tracts or weak constitutions may experience discomfort when consuming it on an empty stomach. People with frequent urination should also avoid consuming it too late at night to prevent the urge to urinate from disrupting sleep.
When it comes to watermelon-related products, many people wonder if the commercially available "watermelon frost" is actually made from watermelon. In fact, watermelon frost is indeed made from watermelon, but not the flesh. Instead, it's made from the rind. After the rind is left for a long time, a white, moldy powder forms on the surface. This powder is traditional watermelon frost, known for its cooling and antipyretic properties. Modern versions of watermelon frost often incorporate other traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and can be used to treat swollen gums, stomatitis, and other problems.
Finally, regarding watermelon storage, most people refrigerate it directly after purchase. However, as a tropical fruit, watermelon doesn't lend itself to cold storage. Research shows that room temperature helps ripen watermelon and increases the content of antioxidants like lycopene, while low temperatures can actually destroy these nutrients. Furthermore, watermelon has a high water content, and prolonged refrigeration can cause water evaporation, affecting its taste. A US study has shown that storing watermelon at 21°C in a well-ventilated area not only aids ripening but also increases lycopene and beta-carotene content. Therefore, it's recommended to purchase watermelon within your means and only buy as much as you can eat to avoid wasting food or losing nutrients due to improper storage.