Sweet and juicy watermelon is a must-eat fruit for people every day in the height of summer. However, watermelon is not for everyone, and even for those who can eat it, there are scientific ways to consume it. There are some patients or certain situations where it is best not to eat it. I. Diabetics
Watermelon contains about 5% sugar, mainly glucose, sucrose, and some fructose, which means eating it will raise blood sugar. Normal people can secrete insulin in a timely manner to maintain normal blood sugar and urine sugar levels. Diabetics are different; eating too much watermelon in a short time not only raises blood sugar, but in more severe cases, it can lead to metabolic disorders, causing acidosis, and even endangering life. The amount of carbohydrates (sugars) that diabetics eat each day needs to be strictly controlled. Therefore, if watermelon is eaten multiple times in a day, the amount of rice and noodle products (carbohydrates) should be reduced accordingly to avoid worsening the condition. II. Patients with Kidney Insufficiency
Patients with kidney insufficiency have a greatly reduced function of expelling water from the body, so they often experience edema in the lower limbs or throughout the body. If such patients eat too much watermelon, they will intake excessive water that cannot be expelled in time, leading to excessive water storage in the body and increased blood volume. This not only worsens the edema but also easily triggers acute heart failure. Therefore, it is better for patients with kidney insufficiency to eat little or no watermelon. III. Early Stage of a Cold
According to traditional Chinese medicine, whether it's a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat, the early stage is considered a "superficial syndrome" that should be treated with a "dispersing" method to expel the pathogenic factors from the body's surface. It is believed that attacking the pathogen before it has been expelled from the surface will worsen the condition. As watermelon has the effect of clearing internal heat, eating it at this time can aggravate the cold or prolong its duration. IV. Patients with Oral Ulcers
In traditional Chinese medicine, oral ulcers are considered to be caused by yin deficiency with internal heat and the disturbance of deficient fire. As watermelon has a diuretic effect, patients with oral ulcers who eat too much watermelon will have too much of the moisture needed for the ulcers to heal expelled, thus worsening the yin deficiency and internal heat, leading to a prolonged course of the disease that is difficult to heal. V. Postpartum Women
The physical constitution of postpartum women is relatively weak. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eating too much watermelon can be overly cold and damage the spleen and stomach. VI. Not Suitable to Eat Before or After Meals
Because the large amount of water in watermelon will 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 volume, significantly reducing the intake of various nutrients during the meal, which has a greater impact on the health of children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. For those who want to lose weight by dieting, eating some watermelon before a meal is a good method to reduce food intake. VII. Watermelon Should Not Be Eaten in Excess
Because watermelon is a "raw and cold food," eating too much of it can harm the spleen and stomach, leading to poor appetite, indigestion, and decreased gastrointestinal resistance, causing abdominal bloating and diarrhea. VIII. Eat Less Frozen Watermelon
Although eating frozen watermelon is very effective for relieving summer heat, it is very irritating to the stomach and can easily cause damage to the spleen and stomach. Therefore, attention should be paid to controlling the temperature and amount. It is best to place the watermelon in the bottom layer of the refrigerator's freezer, where the temperature is about 8-10°C, which is also the best temperature for taste. The amount eaten each time should not exceed 500 grams, and it should be eaten slowly. For those with cavities (dental caries), tooth sensitivity that feels sore and painful when exposed to cold, and those with poor gastrointestinal function, it is not advisable to eat frozen watermelon.