Watermelon for Summer Coolness, Not Suitable for Six Groups of People
In the scorching summer, watermelon is arguably the most popular natural "beverage". In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is known as the "Natural White Tiger Decoction" and is an excellent remedy for clearing heat, relieving summer heat, and promoting urination. However, watermelon is not suitable for everyone. The following groups should limit their intake:
People with weak constitutions, who tire easily, or are sensitive to cold. Watermelon has a nature and flavor that is偏寒 (cool/cold). The constitutions of these individuals are deficient in cold and weak in yang energy. Eating too much will exacerbate the cold.
People with kidney insufficiency. The ability of these people to expel water from their bodies is greatly reduced, and they often experience edema in the lower limbs or throughout the body. Watermelon is nearly 95% water, which not only worsens the edema but can also easily trigger acute heart failure.
People with weak and cold digestive systems. Because watermelon is a "raw and cold food", eating too much can easily damage the spleen and stomach, leading to poor appetite, indigestion, and causing bloating and diarrhea.
Early stages of a cold. Patients with colds and fevers often rely on watermelon for hydration and to reduce fever. However, it is a sweet and cold food and is not suitable for wind-cold colds or the early stages of a cold. Those with symptoms such as aversion to cold and no sweating should eat less.
Diabetics. The sugar content of watermelon is about 5%, so diabetics should not eat much. Also, try not to eat it after meals, as it will increase the burden on the pancreas. The best time to eat it is between meals.
Elderly people. As people age, most have problems with a relatively cold spleen and stomach, and poor heart and kidney function. Eating too much watermelon can easily cause damage to the spleen and stomach.
In fact, the people mentioned above are not completely forbidden from eating watermelon; they just need to master the correct way to eat it: absolutely do not eat it chilled. When storing, place it in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator (temperature is about 8-10°C). Take it out and let it sit at room temperature for a while before eating; the taste is best at this time. Do not eat more than one or two pieces at a time, and eat it slowly. When eating watermelon, eat more of the part near the rind, which is even more nutritious than the flesh, so try to eat it as cleanly as possible. It is best to eat it before the Start of Autumn (Liqiu). After the Start of Autumn, the weather turns cool, and people with cold constitutions should not eat it.
In addition, making a soup with watermelon rind, seaweed, and shrimp can have the same effect as winter melon and loofah, which is beneficial for clearing summer heat and dampness. It can also be steeped with green tea for a better thirst-quenching effect.