During very hot summer days cold watermelon is so refreshing. This delicious food (some reports claim it is a vegetable others claim it is a fruit) contains approximately 92 percentages water. It belongs to the cucurbitaceous family. Pumpkin, squash and cucumber are part of this family as well.
While it has numerous health and beauty benefits, it is fat free and is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C. It also contains potassium and beneficial plant chemicals like lycopene and citrulline. The fiber content in watermelon makes it beneficial for intestinal health. This red fleshed fruit is known for all the good things. But what goes wrong with consuming it in large quantities?
Eating watermelon in large quantities can actually cause harm to your body. Like most melons most of us can’t digest it. It can provide us with diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, gas and burping. The fruit contains sorbitol that is a sugar compound which is know to encourage loose stools and gas issues. Another common cause of such issues is the lycopene content, which is a pigmented antioxidant that gives the watermelon its bright color.
Watermelon is high in frucose, a naturally occurring sugar that is often incompletely absorbed by our GI system, leading to gas. Fructose malabsorption is a condition in which the body doesn’t digest fructose well, which in turn causes it to become fermented in the colon, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. This can lead to gas, bloating and diarrhea, among other things.
If you are a diabetic, chances are loading up on too much watermelon may increase blood sugar levels. It may be a healthy fruit, but it has high glycemic index (72). Always consult with your doctor as to how much you can consume.
For people who consume alcohol regularly should avoid having large quantities of watermelon as the high level of lycopene may react with alcohol. Further more it can cause liver inflammation. Excessive oxidative stress on the liver can be harmful.
Water intoxication or over-hydrating is a condition when your body has excess of water in it. Which leads to loss of sodium content. Consuming large quantity of watermelon may increase the level of water in our body. If the excess water is not excreted, it can lead to an increase in the volume of the blood, further causing swelling in the legs, exhaustion, weak kidneys. And it can lead to loss of sodium levels in the body.
Watermelon is known to be a great source of potassium that is a vital nutrient playing numerous roles in keeping the body healthy. It helps maintain electrolyte function., keeps our heart healthy and makes our bones and muscles stronger. However, too much of potassium can lead to cardiovascular problems problems like irregular heartbeat, weak pulse rate and other factors.
Consuming 100 grams which is around 30 calories is the recommended amount according to the Nutritionist and Physiologist Ritesh Bawn. Given that it is mostly water, it is easy to consume even 500 grams, which means you just ate 150 calories. It is easy to consume too much since it isn’t filling. It also contains six grams of sugar.
HOW MUCH WATERMELON IS PRODUCED EACH YEAR
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, over 113,000 acres of watermelons were grown in the US in 2017, containing 40.01 million pounds. While watermelons are grown across the U.S., most production occurs in the top four states (Texas, Florida, Georgia and California), producing approximately 69 percent of all grown in the U.S. The average watermelon yield per acre in the U.S. in 2014 was 31,800 pounds. In terms of production, watermelon is one of the three top crops produced in the US, along with onions and lettuce. All but around 24 percent of domestic consumption of watermelon comes from U.S. growers; the rest comes primarily from Mexico or Central American countries.
Seedless varieties are in increasing demand, and the share of seedless watermelon in total watermelon shipments in the United States increased from 51 percent in 2003 to nearly 85 percent in 2014. Seedless varieties, typically started as transplants rather than from direct seeding require more intensive management, with the cost differences generally visible at the retail levels. U.S. cash receipts for watermelons were $578.8 million in 2016.
The financial end of production is impressive. Based on average yields per acre and average price of fresh market watermelons, producers, on average, grossed approximately $4,300 per acre in 2014; however, that varies considerably among states and between seeded and seedless varieties.
If interested in consuming watermelon, a little at a time here are some options you might like:
Small doses of salt magnifies melon’s sweetness and heightens its flavor. In the spirit of making a good thing better, here are three flavored salts to try. Store in an airtight containers up to 1 month.
Wine salt. Imagine a salty bite of melon with a pleasant lingering wine flavor. Mix about 2 teaspoons red or white wine (whatever is on hand) with 1/4 cup kosher salt. The salt won’t dissolve. Dry the flavored salt on a plate for 24 hours before storing.
Smoky flavored meld well with salty ingredients. Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika to 1/4 kosher salt.
Vanilla – You will want to keep this addictive, slightly sweet sprinkle on hand for melons and popcorn. Scrape the seeds of one vanilla bean into 1/4 cup kosher salt and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let the mix stand at least 1 week for maximum flavor.
Watermelon is slightly acidic and if consumed at night, it may delay the process of digestion when the body is inactive. The best time to eat watermelon is around 12 to 1 pm. This is when the digestion rate is high and active. Yet the digestion rate is slower than usual at night, hence, it is recommended to keep off sugary and acidic foods.
