Introduction: Juicy and sweet watermelon is a must-eat fruit for people every day in the height of summer. However, watermelon is not suitable for everyone, and even for those who can eat it, there are scientific ways to consume it. Some patients or people in certain situations should avoid it.
1. Eating too much can damage the spleen and stomach
Watermelon is a raw and cold food, and eating too much can easily damage the spleen and stomach. Therefore, those with a weak spleen and stomach, poor digestion, or loose stools should eat it in moderation.
2. Avoid eating during the initial stage of a cold
Whether it's a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat, the initial stage is considered an exterior syndrome, which should be treated with发散 methods to expel the pathogen from the surface. 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. In the initial stage of a cold, when the pathogen is on the surface, eating watermelon is like taking a medicine to clear internal heat, which can lead the pathogen inward, worsening the cold or prolonging recovery time.
3. Do not eat watermelon that has been open for too long
High temperatures can cause watermelon left open for too long to spoil and breed bacteria, which can lead to intestinal infectious diseases upon consumption.
4. People with kidney insufficiency should avoid it
Consuming a large amount of watermelon in a short period increases the body's water content beyond its physiological capacity. For people with kidney insufficiency, their kidneys' ability to regulate water is greatly reduced. They cannot adjust or expel the excess water from the body, leading to a sharp increase in blood volume, which can easily cause acute heart failure and death.
5. People with oral ulcers should avoid it
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the main cause of oral ulcers is yin deficiency with internal heat, where deficient fire disturbs and damages the blood and flesh meridians. Watermelon has a diuretic effect. If people with oral ulcers eat too much watermelon, the body's normal water will be partially excreted due to this diuretic effect, worsening the state of yin fluid deficiency. This leads to increased internal heat and aggravates the oral ulcers.
6. Diabetics should eat watermelon in moderation
Watermelon contains about 5% sugar, mainly glucose, sucrose, and some fructose, meaning eating it will raise blood sugar levels. For diabetics, eating too much watermelon in a short time not only raises blood sugar but, in more severe cases, can lead to metabolic disorders causing acidosis, which can even be life-threatening.
7. Postpartum women should not eat too much
Postpartum women have relatively weak constitutions. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eating too much watermelon can be overly cold and damage the spleen and stomach.
8. Eat less ice-cold watermelon
Although eating ice-cold watermelon is very refreshing on hot days, it is very irritating to the stomach and can easily cause damage to the spleen and stomach.
9. The watermelon rind must be washed before eating
The watermelon must be washed and then cut with a clean knife. It is crucial not to cut it without washing the melon and the knife. Do not eat the flesh that has been crawled on by mosquitoes, flies, etc., to prevent illness from entering through the mouth.