There are hundreds of different diets for weight control and loss.Fasting diets based on fruits, berries and vegetables are very popular.The watermelon diet is seasonal.The best time for this 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 watery red pulp ripen.A diet consisting only of watermelon helps not only lose weight but also improve the health of the body.But let's also look at the disadvantages and contraindications of this method of losing extra pounds.After all, our goal is not to harm the body, but only to bring benefits.
Watermelon composition
Although watermelon is mainly made up of water, it still contains a number of valuable substances 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 – cleans blood vessels from 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 proteins, participates in the formation of hemoglobin, regulates cell division and promotes rejuvenation.
- Minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, sodium, zinc) - all these substances are necessary for our cells, nervous system, bone tissue, muscles, blood.
The berry has been cultivated for a 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 the body and improve your health, as the berry has a number of beneficial properties.
What is the effect of the watermelon diet?
- Removes toxins and waste from the body.
- Cleanses the kidneys and liver.
- Reduces 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 general well-being.
Watermelon has a powerful diuretic effect.This is precisely the main effect of the diet.In the first 2-3 days, it expels all excess fluid from the body.The swelling goes away, lightness appears in the body and the condition improves.
The berry is very beneficial for the kidneys, liver and gallbladder.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 with the genitourinary system.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 damage?
There are mono-diets, which include only one fruit, and combined, when in addition to watermelon, the diet also includes other products.But monoration is considered too strict and is not suitable for everyone.
Despite its numerous beneficial effects, the watermelon mono-diet is prohibited for inflammatory diseases 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 follow such strict diets if you have gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.
It is important to consider that with the watermelon diet weight loss can occur very quickly.Not every body can adapt instantly, therefore, a deterioration in general health and an exacerbation of any diseases are possible.People who are a little overweight should be especially careful.
Even if a person feels healthy and does not have chronic illnesses, it is advisable to consult a doctor before starting a diet.Nutritionists recommend eating watermelon to lose weight, carefully listening to your feelings.If there is discomfort 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 fruit.
How to choose a good watermelon?
The natural time for watermelons to ripen is late summer, early fall.Nowadays, “green stripes” can be found on store shelves much earlier.But these berries are almost always grown artificially with the addition of large amounts of saltpeter.They bring much less benefit, and besides, you can be poisoned by watermelons stuffed with chemicals.
So let's see how to choose the right quality product:
- A ripe watermelon has a richly colored, shiny, smooth rind.
- There should be no damage, stains or cracks evident in the crust.A large light spot (usually yellow) does not count.This is where the watermelon sits, in contact with the ground.The sun doesn't shine on it, so it stays bright.
- You should choose not very large fruits.The ideal weight is 3-4 kg.
- When tapped, the berry should make a ringing sound.
- A ripe watermelon has a shrunken, dark tail.
It is not recommended to buy watermelons in trays near roads.Staying on highways for a long time, they absorb exhaust gases, dust and other contaminants.
How many days can you go on a watermelon diet?
Many who want to try this weight loss method for the first time are interested in how many days they can follow a watermelon diet without negative consequences.
The duration of the diet depends on several factors: initial weight, health status and nutritional option chosen.A strict watermelon mono-diet should not exceed 5 days.If a person is trying this type of diet for the first time, the ideal period would be 3 days.With a diet that includes other foods, you can extend the diet to 10 to 12 days.
Don't forget that a watermelon cannot meet all of the body's daily nutrient needs.If you follow these diets for a long time, you can become deficient in vitamins and seriously harm your health.It is also necessary to correctly enter and exit 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.Thus, the body, and especially the stomach, will only be harmed.
3 days before starting the diet, you need to switch to a gentle and as natural diet as possible.You should eat porridge, vegetables, steamed or oven-cooked dishes, and fermented dairy products.Smoked meats, pickles, fast food, baked goods, snacks and carbonated drinks are completely excluded from the diet.Food should be taken in small portions, 5 to 6 times a day.
You also need to increase your fluid intake so that the body gradually gets used to its greater volume.It is advisable to drink water, green tea, may include rosehip infusions and herbal teas.Coffee and strong tea are allowed in minimal quantities.
After completing the watermelon mono-diet, the same gentle exit is necessary.You should eat low-calorie foods for another week.The diet should be dominated by fruits, vegetables and greens.
Various watermelon diet options
There are several 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 at 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 this 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 more water, green or herbal tea.
To correctly calculate the amount of watermelon per day, it is necessary to calculate the relationship between the glycemic index of the product and body weight.The GI of watermelon is 70-80 units.For every 10 kg of weight, it is acceptable to eat 1 kilo of juicy pulp.For example, if your weight is 70 kg, you can consume up to 7 kg of watermelon per day, but no more.
Observation!You can repeat the watermelon mono-diet, designed for 3 days, 2-3 times a month.
This portion should be divided into 5 to 7 doses.You need to eat berries every 2-3 hours.In between meals, you should drink water or tea, but not too much, so as not to overload your kidneys.
If hunger is unbearable, you can eat some crackers, crusty bread or a portion of pulp with black bread.
If you feel good, 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 and Watermelon Cleanse Diet
This type of diet also helps you lose weight quickly and at the same time cleans 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 one by one.Melon is more caloric and nutritious, satisfying hunger better.It is advisable to start having breakfast with him.Melon consumed on an empty stomach has an antiparasitic effect.
If hunger is unbearable, don't 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 2 pm), in the second half snacks are made with fermented dairy products.Watermelon and cottage cheese cannot be consumed together.At least 2 hours must pass between meals.It is acceptable to eat the fruit with rye, bran or wholemeal bread in small quantities.The watermelon-kefir (curd) diet will help you lose 3-5 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 gentler 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 a day, 3 of which contain additional products and 3 purely berries.
Example of menu of the day:
- Breakfast – buckwheat porridge and 2 slices of watermelon.
- Snack – 2-3 slices of watermelon.
- Lunch – grilled chicken cutlet, 100 g of vegetable salad.
- Snack – 2-3 slices of berries.
- Dinner – 150 g of cottage cheese, some crusty bread.
- The last snack is 2 slices of watermelon.
For breakfast, you can use any porridge: oatmeal, corn, 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 proteins.
Satisfying Watermelon Protein Diet
This weight loss method is suitable for those who cannot tolerate hunger.You can maintain this nutritional program for up to 10 days.2-3 meals a day should 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 slices of berries.
Other Types of Watermelon Diets
There are also watermelon-apple, watermelon-cucumber and watermelon-banana diets.All of them should not be aged for more than 3-5 days.These products can be consumed together or separately at intervals.On a banana diet, you can eat no more than 1 piece per day.Don't forget that bananas are rich in calories and very nutritious.The results of these diets are approximately the same.
Watermelon Diet – Can You Stick to It During Pregnancy?
During the gestation period, a woman's body needs a greater supply of vitamins.Any diet during pregnancy can only be prescribed by a doctor if there is a reason for this.Sometimes pregnant women experience an insatiable appetite and gain a lot of excess weight.In the last trimester, this can have a very negative impact on a woman's health and well-being.In these cases, several days of fasting under a doctor's supervision may be helpful and even necessary.But you cannot follow a strictly limited diet during pregnancy alone.
Observation!Pregnant women often experience bloating, especially in the last few 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 free from them.
Pros:
- Delicious.
- Available.
- It produces an effective cleansing of the body.
- Makes you healthier.
- Remove excess liquid.
- Fast results.
Cons:
- Appropriate only during certain times of the year.
- Hungry (if we are talking about a mono-diet).
- It can be kept for a short time.
- Over a long period of time, it can eliminate beneficial substances from the body and seriously strain the kidneys.
Contraindications
People with the following illnesses and health problems should not follow a watermelon diet:
- Kidney failure.
- Pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis in the acute phase.
- Stomach ulcer, gastritis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Kidney or gallbladder stones.
- Pancreatitis.
- Infectious diseases.
The watermelon diet has contraindications for pregnant and lactating women, as well as those suffering 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 liquids.
- 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 not highly recommended.The ideal 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 by eating like this just 1 day a week?Yes, 1 to 3 kg per day are needed.But remember that most of it is liquid.To prevent it from returning, you need to eat less salt, move more and constantly adhere to proper nutrition.