Watermelon is a perfect summer snack and one of the best fruits if you are trying to lose weight. It is an excellent source of an amino acid called arginine, which accelerates the fat-burning process. Almost 90 percent of its composition comprises water, which helps the body to stay hydrated. A cup serving of watermelon contains approximately 46 calories which makes it a great snack, filling enough to eliminate the cravings of in-between meals. A lot of people are trying the watermelon diet to support their weight loss journey. These kinds of diets appeal to people because they are structured and only require a short-term commitment. Should you try it too? Read on to know more.
What Is the Watermelon Diet?
There are a few different variations floating around the internet, however, it usually involves consuming nothing but only watermelon for a set period. Some online content also suggests that following this diet anywhere around three to seven days would be necessary. After crossing that threshold, you may either slowly add foods back into your diet or just continue with your regular diet. This diet is promoted as a detox plan that cleanses your body and helps with weight loss and maintenance strategies. The proponents of this diet program claim that it aids in flushing out toxins, boosts energy levels, and wards off infections. Precisely, the diet guidelines stipulate that for optimal benefits, one must eat nothing other than watermelon straight for around five, or seven, or it can be stretched for up to 10 days sometimes. According to another variation, the dieters must eat 1 kilogram of watermelon for every 10 kilograms of body weight. The methods might vary depending upon the versions, but the goal is common which is to help you keep the pounds off.
Health Benefits of Watermelon
A cup of this nutrient-rich fruit is loaded with 46 calories and is packed with essential vitamins as follows:
- Vitamin A: Promotes healthy vision, lowers the risk of certain cancers, boosts immunity
- Vitamin B-1: Helps the body generate energy from nutrients, increases metabolism
- Vitamin B-6: Keeps the nervous system and immune system healthy
- Vitamin C: Maintains healthy skin, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage, and is vital for tissue repair
Watermelon gets its red cheery color from Lycopene, an antioxidant. Studies show that it may help curb a range of health risks and keep you protected against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other such conditions.
Apart from that, it also contains more Citrulline than any other food. Citrulline is the whitish portion that covers the pulp of watermelon. It is an amino acid that has a crucial role in vasodilation and efficient blood flow. It further transforms into the essential amino acid known as Arginine which is important for the normal functioning of the lungs, kidney, liver, and reproductive system. Speaking of the reproductive system, it is necessary to maintain its health otherwise your sexual health might get affected. Sexual disorders are a result of poor reproductive health. One of the most common sexual problems encountered by men is erectile dysfunction or impotence. It stems from inadequate blood flow to the male reproductive organ. Nevertheless, men with impotence can make use of Filitra which serves as a potent remedial solution against erection problems. It helps restore the erection function by increasing an abundant blood flow to the reproductive organs.
Risks Associated with the Watermelon Diet
Before diving right into the diet, it is necessary to consider the downsides to ensure that you do not deprive your body of the necessary proteins or fat. The restrictive nature of this diet does not provide any dietary source of protein. Hence, this type of diet is not appropriate for children, pregnant women, or any individual with an ongoing health condition requiring a special diet (e.g., Diabetes).
It is just another fad diet, like the grapefruit diet, and pineapple diet which serves as a short-term solution. It doesn’t work in the long run and once the diet period is over, people go back to their old habits and regain the weight.
