Watermelon is a favorite for many people in the summer. More than 94% of watermelon is water, and its juice is rich in malic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, glucose, fructose, betaine, carotene, as well as vitamins A, B, C, and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron. These components are highly beneficial to human health and are easily absorbed by the body. However, although watermelon is delicious, it is not a case of "the more, the better" and is not suitable for everyone. There are seven things to note when eating watermelon.
It is not advisable to eat watermelon during the early stages of a cold: Whether it's a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat, the early stage is considered an exterior syndrome. Treatment should use a method of dispersion to expel the pathogenic factors from the exterior. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that if the exterior is not resolved, one should not attack the interior; otherwise, the exterior pathogen will enter the interior, worsening the condition. During the early stages of a cold when the pathogen is still in the exterior, eating watermelon is equivalent to taking a medicine that clears interior heat, which can draw the pathogen inward, worsening the cold or prolonging the recovery time. However, when the cold worsens and symptoms of heat appear, such as high fever, thirst, sore throat, and dark yellow urine, eating some watermelon while taking normal medication can help in recovery.
It is not advisable to eat half a watermelon with a spoon: This method makes the unfinished portion difficult to preserve, and it will spoil in the high summer temperatures, leading to a large proliferation of bacteria.
It is not advisable to eat watermelon that has been open for too long: Watermelon that has been open for too long can easily spoil, and eating it can lead to intestinal infections.
It is not advisable to eat chilled watermelon: Many people love chilled watermelon, thinking it is more thirst-quenching. However, watermelon is inherently cooling in nature, and refrigeration increases its coolness. If you eat it for its cooling effect, it can suddenly stimulate the digestive organs like the gastrointestinal tract, easily causing contractions and spasms, leading to stomach pain.
It is not advisable for people with kidney insufficiency to eat watermelon: Eating a large amount of watermelon in a short time increases the body's water content beyond its physiological capacity. For those with kidney insufficiency, eating too much watermelon at once prevents the timely excretion of water from the body, leading to a sharp increase in blood volume, which can easily induce acute heart failure.
It is not advisable for people with oral ulcers to eat watermelon: Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the main cause of oral ulcers is internal heat due to yin deficiency, with the deficiency fire disturbing and scorching the blood vessels. Watermelon has a diuretic effect. If people with oral ulcers eat too much watermelon, the body's normal required water will be excreted due to this diuretic effect, which can worsen the yin deficiency and make the oral ulcers difficult to heal.
Diabetics should not eat too much watermelon: Watermelon contains about 5% sugar. Diabetics who eat excessive watermelon can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Generally, diabetics should eat about 25-50 grams at a time.