Summer is here, and many people eat watermelon, but not everyone is suitable for eating it. Watermelon clears summer heat, relieves fever, quenches thirst, and promotes urination. It is suitable for summer heat-related vexation and thirst, scanty urination, edema, and mouth sores. However, because watermelon is a "raw and cold food," eating too much of it can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to poor appetite, indigestion, and decreased gastrointestinal resistance.
1. Not suitable for consumption during the early stage of a cold
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a cold is divided into two types: wind-cold and wind-heat. In the early stage of a cold, before determining your type, eating too much watermelon can likely worsen the cold and lead to a deterioration of the condition. If you have already been diagnosed with a wind-heat cold and have symptoms of high fever, thirst, and internal heat, you can eat a small amount of watermelon to help clear heat and detoxify.
2. Not suitable for those with oral ulcers
From a TCM perspective, the main cause of oral ulcers is yin deficiency with internal heat, where deficient fire disturbs and damages the blood, flesh, and meridians. Watermelon has a diuretic effect. For those with oral ulcers, eating too much watermelon will cause the body's normal water to be excreted, worsening the state of yin fluid deficiency. This leads to increased internal heat and aggravates the oral ulcers.
3. Not suitable for those with kidney insufficiency
Those with kidney insufficiency should not eat watermelon. Eating a large amount of watermelon in a short time can easily increase the body's water content beyond its physiological capacity. People with kidney insufficiency have a reduced ability to regulate water. The excess water cannot be regulated or excreted, leading to a sharp increase in blood volume, which can easily cause acute heart failure and death.
4. Not suitable for diabetics
Diabetics should eat watermelon in moderation. Watermelon contains about 5% sugar. Eating too much can lead to high blood sugar and increased sugar in the urine. In severe cases, it can cause diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. A serving of 25-50 grams of watermelon is suitable for diabetics.
5. Not suitable for pregnant women
Due to physiological changes in their endocrine system during pregnancy, women have relatively insufficient insulin, which reduces its stabilizing effect on blood sugar. This can lead to high sugar concentration in the blood, causing gestational diabetes, which is a significant cause of miscarriage and premature birth. Therefore, pregnant women should not eat too much watermelon. Summer is here, and many people eat watermelon, but not everyone is suitable for eating it.
6. Not suitable for postpartum women
Postpartum women have relatively weak constitutions. From a TCM perspective, watermelon is cold-natured. Eating too much can cause excessive coldness and damage the spleen and stomach.
7. Not suitable for women during menstruation
During their menstrual period, women's constitutions are also relatively weak, and their immunity is reduced. It is best not to eat cold foods like watermelon.
8. Not suitable for the elderly
Because of their advanced age, most elderly people have weakened spleen, stomach, heart, and kidney functions. Eating too much watermelon in the summer can damage the spleen and stomach.
9. Not suitable for watermelon that has been open for too long
In the hot summer, bacteria can multiply easily. Watermelon that has been open for a long time can easily harbor a large number of bacteria, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort if consumed. Therefore, when eating watermelon, you should choose ripe, fresh watermelon, and it is best to finish it at the time.
10. Not suitable for consumption before or after meals
The large amount of water in watermelon can dilute the digestive juices in the stomach. Eating it before or after meals will affect the digestion and absorption of food. Moreover, eating a large amount of watermelon before a meal will occupy stomach space, significantly reducing the intake of various nutrients during the meal, which has a greater impact on the health of children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. For those trying to lose weight by dieting, eating some watermelon before a meal can be a good way to reduce food intake.
11. Not suitable for eating iced watermelon
Eat less iced watermelon. When storing, place it in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator (temperature 8°C~10°C). After taking it out, let it sit at room temperature for a while before eating, as this is when the taste is best. Do not eat more than two pieces at a time, and eat it slowly.
12. Not suitable for consumption after 21:00
It is also not advisable to eat watermelon after 21:00, otherwise, it is easy to develop a "watermelon belly." If you feel that a small amount of watermelon is not enough to satisfy your hunger, it is recommended to peel off the hard rind, add sugar, salt, and various seasonings according to your taste, and make a cold salad with watermelon rind. It is refreshing and helps with weight loss.