There are hundreds of different diets for weight control and weight loss.Fasting diets based on fruits, berries and vegetables are very popular.The watermelon diet is seasonal.The best time for it is August and the first half of September.It is at this time that juicy, sweet and tasty berries with a green striped crust and red watery pulp ripen.A diet of only watermelon helps not only to lose weight, but also to improve the health of the body.But let's also look at what disadvantages and contraindications this method of losing extra pounds has.After all, our goal is not to harm the body, but to bring only benefit.
Composition of watermelon
Although watermelon consists mostly of water, it still contains a number of substances that are valuable for the body.
The berry contains:
- Vitamins – A, C, B, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, PP.All of them are necessary for our body, without them metabolic processes are impossible.
- Pectin – cleanses blood vessels of cholesterol deposits, improves heart function.
- Fiber – improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanses it of toxins, speeds up metabolism, and promotes weight loss.
- Fructose – stimulates brain function, relieves fatigue, saturates the body with energy.
- Folic acid is necessary for the absorption of protein, takes part in the formation of hemoglobin, regulates cell division, and promotes rejuvenation.
- Minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, sodium, zinc) - all these substances are needed by our cells, nervous system, bone tissue, muscles, blood.
The berry has been cultivated for a very long time, so the watermelon diet has been around for decades.It is especially popular in hot countries.
Benefit
A diet based on juicy watermelon will help not only lose extra pounds, but also cleanse your body and improve its health, because the berry has a number of beneficial properties.
What effect does the watermelon diet have?
- Removes toxins and waste from the body.
- Cleanses the kidneys and liver.
- Lowers cholesterol levels, reduces cholesterol plaques in blood vessels.
- Normalizes intestinal function.
- Stimulates metabolism.
- Burns fat deposits.
- Reduces the risk of cancer and other diseases.
- Increases the level of immunity.
- Improves overall well-being.
Watermelon has a powerful diuretic effect.This is precisely the main effect of the diet.Already in the first 2-3 days, it expels all excess fluid from the body.Swelling goes away, lightness appears in the body, and the condition improves.
The berry is very beneficial for the kidneys, liver, and gall bladder.The diet is recommended for diseases such as arthritis, gout, hepatitis, heart disease, hypertension, anemia, etc. The watermelon diet is very effective for dermatitis and psoriasis.The product is also recommended for men and women with problems in the genitourinary systems.It is believed that the berry helps you lose a significant amount of weight in just a few days.It is not surprising, because, despite the sweetness of watermelon, it has very few calories - only 25 kcal per 100 g. At the same time, it perfectly quenches hunger and thirst.Its taste is very pleasant, so the diet does not cause hostility.
Is there any harm?
There are mono-diets, which include only one berry, and combined ones, when in addition to watermelon, the diet also includes other products.But the monoration is considered very strict and is not suitable for everyone.
Despite its numerous beneficial effects, the watermelon mono-diet is prohibited for inflammatory and some other diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (cystitis, urethritis) during periods of exacerbation.Diuretic products should be used with great caution for kidney stones.You cannot go on such strict diets if you have gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.
It is worth considering that with a watermelon diet, weight loss can occur very quickly.Not every body can instantly adapt, so a deterioration in overall health and an exacerbation of any diseases is possible.People who are a little overweight should be especially careful.
Even if a person feels healthy and does not have chronic diseases, it is advisable to consult a doctor before starting a diet.Nutritionists recommend eating watermelon for weight loss by carefully listening to your feelings.If discomfort is present and your health worsens, you should stop the diet immediately.
The benefits and harms of a watermelon diet largely depend on the quality of the berry.
How to choose a good watermelon?
The natural time for watermelons to ripen is late summer, early autumn.Nowadays, “green stripes” can be found on store shelves much earlier.But such berries are almost always grown artificially with the addition of large amounts of saltpeter.They have much less benefit and, moreover, you can get poisoned from watermelons stuffed with chemicals.
So, let's look at how to choose the right quality product:
- A ripe watermelon has a richly colored, glossy and smooth rind.
- There should be no obvious damage, stains or cracks on the crust.A large light (usually yellow) spot does not count.This is the place where the watermelon lay, in contact with the soil.The sun doesn't hit it, so it remains light.
- You should choose not too large berries.The optimal weight is 3-4 kg.
- When tapped, the berry should make a ringing sound.
- A ripe watermelon has a shrunken and dark tail.
It is not recommended to buy watermelons in trays near the roads.Lying along the highways for a long time, they absorb exhaust gases, dust and other contaminants.
How many days can you stay on a watermelon diet?
Many who want to try this method of losing weight for the first time are interested in how many days they can go on a watermelon diet without negative consequences.
The duration of the diet depends on a number of factors: initial weight, health status, and the chosen nutrition option.A strict watermelon mono-diet should not exceed 5 days.If a person is trying this type of diet for the first time, then the optimal period would be 3 days.With a diet that includes other foods, you can extend the diet to 10-12 days.
Do not forget that one watermelon cannot replenish the entire daily requirement of nutrients needed by the body.If you stick to such diets for too long, you can get vitamin deficiency and seriously harm your health.It is also necessary to make the correct entry and exit from a strict watermelon diet.
How to properly prepare for the watermelon diet and get out of it?
Under no circumstances should you make sudden transitions from a “feast” to a hunger strike.So, the body, and especially the stomach, will only be harmed.
3 days before starting the diet, you need to switch to gentle and as natural food as possible.You should eat porridge, vegetables, steamed or oven-cooked dishes, and fermented milk products.Smoked meats, pickles, fast foods, baked goods, snacks, and carbonated drinks are completely excluded from the diet.Food should be taken in small portions 5-6 times a day.
You also need to increase your fluid intake so that the body gradually gets used to its larger volume.It is advisable to drink water, green tea, you can include rosehip infusions and herbal teas.Coffee and strong tea are allowed in minimal quantities.
After the watermelon mono-diet is completed, the same soft exit is required.You should eat low-calorie foods for another week.The diet should be dominated by fruits, vegetables, and greens.
Various options for watermelon diets
There are various options for watermelon diets, everyone can choose the most suitable one for themselves.
Strict diet (mono)
Such a strict watermelon diet guarantees minus 10 kg per week.But it’s very difficult to stay on it.It is designed for 5 days, but another 2-3 days after leaving it, the body undergoes intense fat burning and cleansing.You can start such a diet only after examination and consultation with a doctor.
For the first two days, only watermelon is eaten.To maintain hydrobalance, you need to drink additional water, green or herbal tea.
To correctly calculate the amount of watermelon per day, it is necessary to calculate the ratio of the glycemic index of the product to body weight.The GI of watermelon is 70-80 units.For every 10 kg of weight, it is quite acceptable to eat 1 kilogram of juicy pulp.For example, if your weight is 70 kg, then you can consume up to 7 kg of watermelon per day, but no more.
Note!You can repeat the watermelon mono-diet, designed for 3 days, 2-3 times a month.
This portion should be divided into 5-7 doses.You need to eat berries every 2-3 hours.In the periods between meals, you should drink water or tea, but not too much, so as not to burden the kidneys.
If hunger is intolerable, you can eat a few crackers, crispbread, or eat one serving of pulp with black bread.
If you feel well, you can extend the diet for a week, the result will be even more effective.But it’s important not to overdo it here.
Watermelon-melon cleansing diet
This type of nutrition also helps you quickly lose weight and at the same time cleanse your intestines well.Melon contains more fiber and is an excellent remedy against parasites.
Take the same amount of melon and watermelon, you need to eat them in turn.Melon is more caloric and nutritious, it satisfies hunger better.It is advisable to start having breakfast with it.Melon eaten on an empty stomach has an antiparasitic effect.
If hunger is too unbearable, do not torture yourself.Add some protein to your diet.You can eat white meat, cottage cheese, lentils, and low-fat cheeses.
Fasting days on watermelon and fermented milk products
This type of nutrition is designed for 7-10 days.In addition to watermelon, the diet includes: kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, and cheese curds.
Watermelon is consumed in the first half of the day (before 14:00), in the second half snacks are made from fermented milk products.Watermelon and cottage cheese cannot be eaten together.It is necessary that at least 2 hours pass between meals.It is acceptable to eat the berry with rye, bran or whole grain bread in small quantities.The watermelon-kefir (curd) diet will help you lose 3 to 5 kg in a week.Its only disadvantage is that increased gas formation may occur.
Watermelon diet for weight loss for 14 days
This is a more gentle program for those who do not need to lose as much excess weight (up to 5 kg).
A low-calorie menu is prepared for each day.There are 6 meals per day, 3 of which contain additional products and 3 purely berries.
Sample menu for the day:
- Breakfast – buckwheat porridge and 2 slices of watermelon.
- Snack – 2-3 slices of watermelon.
- Lunch – grilled chicken chop, 100 g vegetable salad.
- Snack – 2-3 slices of berries.
- Dinner – 150 g of cottage cheese, a couple of crispbreads.
- The last snack is 2 slices of watermelon.
For breakfast, you can use any porridge: oatmeal, millet, wheat, rice, cooked in water.For lunch, it is advisable to combine proteins and fiber.It can be any lean meat with vegetables, beans, lentils, asparagus, vegetable soup.
For dinner it is better to eat only protein.
Watermelon-protein satisfying diet
This method of losing weight is suitable for those who cannot tolerate hunger.You can maintain this nutrition program for up to 10 days.2-3 meals a day must be rich in protein.For breakfast you can eat watermelon with low-fat cheese or eggs, for lunch and dinner, dietary meat (up to 200 g at a time).Snacks consist only of berry slices.
Other types of watermelon diets
There are also watermelon-apple, watermelon-cucumber, watermelon-banana diets.All of them should be aged for no more than 3-5 days.These products can be consumed either together or separately at intervals.In a diet with bananas, you are allowed to eat no more than 1 piece per day.Don't forget that bananas are high in calories and very nutritious.The results of such diets are approximately the same.
Watermelon diet - can you keep it during pregnancy?
During the period of gestation, a woman’s body needs an increased supply of vitamins.Any diets during pregnancy can only be prescribed by a doctor if there is a reason for it.Sometimes expectant mothers experience an insatiable appetite and gain too much excess weight.In the last trimester, this can have a very negative impact on a woman’s health and well-being.In such cases, several fasting days under the supervision of a doctor can be useful and even necessary.But you cannot go on a strictly limited diet on your own during pregnancy.
Note!Pregnant women often experience swelling, especially in the last months.They benefit from diuretic products, but in moderation.
Pros and cons of the watermelon diet
Any diet has advantages and disadvantages.The berry and watermelon diet is not devoid of them.
Pros:
- Delicious.
- Available.
- Produces effective cleansing of the body.
- Makes you healthier.
- Removes excess liquid.
- Quick results.
Cons:
- Appropriate only during certain periods of the year.
- Hungry (if we are talking about a mono-diet).
- Can be kept for a short time.
- Over a long period of time, it can wash out beneficial substances from the body and put a serious burden on the kidneys.
Contraindications
People with the following diseases and health problems should not follow a watermelon diet:
- Kidney failure.
- Pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis in the acute stage.
- Stomach ulcer, gastritis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Stones in the kidneys or gall bladder.
- Pancreatitis.
- Infectious diseases.
The watermelon diet has contraindications for pregnant and lactating women, as well as those who suffer from vitamin deficiency.
The opinion of nutritionists - myths and reality
Let's find out what experts say about the berry diet for weight loss.
- The watermelon diet is absolutely safe.This is a wrong opinion; for some people it is strictly contraindicated.And if done incorrectly, it can cause harm.
- Watermelon contains enough nutrients.The berry does not contain even half of the elements that the body needs daily.
- Watermelon is good for the kidneys.Only if they are healthy and can easily process large amounts of fluid.
- You can quickly lose up to 20 kg in a week using berries.It all depends on the speed of a person's metabolism.But such drastic weight loss is highly not recommended.Optimal weight loss is up to 10 kg per month.
The best and safest option for a fasting mono-diet on watermelon berries is 1 day a week.But on all other days the diet should also be dietary.In just one day, the berry will perfectly cleanse the intestines and remove excess fluid.Is it possible to lose weight if you eat this way only 1 day a week?Yes, it takes from 1 to 3 kg per day.But keep in mind that most of it is liquid.To prevent it from returning, you need to eat less salt, move more, and adhere to proper nutrition constantly.