Watermelon is one of the most delicious summer fruits, which is equally loved by both children and adults. A positive attitude to this berry is quite justified, because in addition to excellent taste, it has a lot of useful properties, among which it is worth noting the healing effect on the intestines. What you need to know about the features of drinking watermelon and what exactly is its benefit to the body - read on.

Calorie content and chemical composition

Watermelon often serves as the main ingredient in various diets, which is not surprising if you know the calorie content of the product. 100 g of its pulp accounts for no more than 27 kcal, since 93% of the total volume of the fruit is water. The remaining 6–7 g is allocated to dietary fiber and ash. The ratio of BZHU (in grams) - 0.6: 0.1: 5.8.

Did you know? The largest watermelon in the Guinness Book of Records was grown in Arkansas (USA). The Bright family managed to achieve a berry weight of 122 kg, and the giant reached full maturity in 147 days.

The chemical composition of striped berries is rich in vitamins and minerals:

• vitamins: groups A, C, E, PP, B (B1 – B3, B6, B9);
• macronutrients: calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium;
• trace elements: iron.

In addition, do not forget about the presence in the pulp of a fairly large amount of glucose, sucrose, essential and non-essential amino acids.

The effect of watermelon on the intestines

Among the many useful properties of watermelon, it is worth highlighting its positive effect on the human intestines - of course, if you adhere to the recommended norms for eating berries and choose only the most ripe specimens with a minimum amount of nitrates in the composition. Consider the possible benefits and contraindications to the consumption of this berry.

Benefits and healing properties

The pulp of watermelon has a fairly large amount of fiber in its composition, which perfectly cleanses the intestines and enhances its peristalsis. Just a few days of such a watermelon cleansing will help to remove cholesterol, toxins and toxins from the body, and in order to additionally lose a couple of kilograms, it is worth eating at least 1.5 kg of red pulp per day, replacing it with all fried and fatty dishes.

After cleansing, the intestine begins to better absorb nutrients from consumed food and restores its normal microflora. For this reason, watermelon is recommended for use with gout, arthritis and dysbiosis, and for quick saturation, you can combine it with black or rye bread.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the fact that watermelon perfectly cleanses the intestines and the whole body, some people should be extremely careful with the use of this berry.

First of all, it is contraindicated in:

• violation of the natural processes of urine output;
• diarrhea and colitis;
• the presence of large stones in the kidneys and gall bladder;
• pyelonephritis;
• severe pathologies of the pancreas and prostate glands.

Also, do not abuse watermelon, eating more than 2.5-3 kg of pulp per day, and combine it with various pickles (salt will retain water in the body, which can provoke the development of swelling). Poor quality fruits with a high nitrate level can also lead to undesirable consequences in the form of heaviness in the stomach, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting.

Important! If it is not possible to verify the naturalness of the selected fruit, then try to eat only the middle part of the pulp, and discard the areas immediately under the skin, since it is in these places that the most harmful substances accumulate.

Features of use

In order for the watermelon to bring the body only benefits, it is important to know how to properly clean and consume it.

With good health and the absence of the above diseases, the preparation sequence is as follows:

• wash the fruit well in water (you can even with soap);
• cut the watermelon, cutting the pulp at a distance of at least 3 cm from the peel;
• eat a certain part of the berry (it is better for children to give the middle), and put the rest in the refrigerator, where it should be stored no longer than a day.

When losing weight, it is possible to consume the striped berry itself, as well as its combination with other products, but do not forget about the possibility of increased gas formation (for this reason, it is better not to eat watermelon with white bread and rolls). To cleanse the intestines, a one- or two-day watermelon diet is allowed, which involves the consumption of 1.5–2 kg of pulp per day. In between meals, you can drink water, but nothing else to eat.

Did you know? The PRC is considered the leader in the cultivation of sweet striped giant berries, on the territory of which 15-16 times more fruits are grown each year than in Turkey (considered one of the largest exporters).

Watermelon will be no less useful for pregnant women, as it contains a large supply of vitamin B9 (folic acid). And to prevent increased gas formation and the associated discomfort, you should not eat more than 3-4 slices a day and eat a watermelon at night. The same applies to lactating women, although in this case it is better to start consuming the fetus with 1 small piece, and if no negative reactions follow, over time you can reach those same 3-4 slices per day.There are also peculiarities of watermelon consumption for people suffering from kidney stones. Given the diuretic effect of the berry, it is important to strive for measured consumption, reducing the usual daily norm by 2 times and dividing the amount obtained by 2-3 doses. This also applies to patients with diabetes mellitus or other ailments, which at least do not exclude the use of berries, but significantly limit its amount in the diet.

How to choose a good watermelon

To achieve maximum efficiency from the products used is possible only in case of their maximum naturalness. And if you have no problems with the body and you are ready for the massive eating of watermelons, then you should know how to choose the most suitable fruit for this.

Important! You can check the ripeness of the selected watermelon using a large container of water: good samples will not drown and always rise to the surface.

So, it is better not to buy a watermelon if it:

1. Too large and bright in section (the optimal weight of such a berry is 4–5 kg, and the color of the pulp should be pink or pale red, but definitely not bright scarlet).
2. It has a fresh ponytail and is evenly colored on all sides (a fruit with a dry ponytail and a yellow or slightly orange spot on its side is a good option).
3. It has a soft and dull skin (this indicates that you have an unripe berry).
4. It has the smell of freshly cut grass (like the previous characteristics, it indicates the immature state of the selected specimen).
5. It has damage in some places (cracked or simply chopped in some area) - because pathogens quickly multiply on the sweet pulp.
6. It was stored for a long time in a cut form and has visible hardened areas on the pulp.
7. It is sold directly from the side of the car next to a dusty road or in roadside gourd collapses without the corresponding permits.
8. Lies on the floor and stored in inappropriate temperature conditions, with high humidity.
9. It is sold in early summer, while the main season of such fruits falls on the end of August or the beginning of September.

And finally, a ripened high-quality watermelon will spring up when it is struck or patted, and the sound when tapped will always be clear and clear. With a diseased intestine, kidneys or other serious disorders in the body, the possibility of consuming watermelon should be further discussed with your doctor, but in general, this fruit can be an excellent source of useful vitamins and minerals for your body.