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 period is August and the first half of September.It is at this time that juicy, sweet and tasty berries with a green striped rind and watery red pulp ripen.A watermelon-only diet helps not only to lose weight, but also to improve the health of the body.But let's also see what disadvantages and contraindications this method has for losing extra pounds.After all, our goal is not to harm the body, but only to bring benefit.
Composition of watermelon
Although watermelon is mainly composed of water, it still contains a series of precious 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 of cholesterol deposits, improves heart function.
- Fiber – improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanses it of toxins, accelerates 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.
Advantage
A juicy watermelon diet will help not only to lose extra pounds, but also to cleanse the body and improve its health, because the berry has a number of beneficial properties.
What effects 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 the metabolism.
- Burns fat deposits.
- Reduces the risk of cancer and other diseases.
- Increases immunity level.
- Improves general 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 fluids from the body.The swelling disappears, the body appears light 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.The berry is believed to help 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 berry, and combined diets, 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 in case of inflammatory diseases and other diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (cystitis, urethritis) during periods of exacerbation.Diuretic products should be used with great caution in case of kidney stones.You cannot follow such strict diets if you have gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.
It is worth considering that on a watermelon diet, weight loss can occur very quickly.Not all bodies can adapt instantly, so a deterioration in general health and an exacerbation of any diseases is possible.Slightly overweight people should be especially careful.
Even if a person feels healthy and has no chronic diseases, it is advisable to consult a doctor before starting a diet.Nutritionists recommend eating watermelon for weight loss while 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 watermelon ripening is the end of summer, the beginning of 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 quantities of saltpeter.They have much less benefits, and moreover, you can get poisoned by watermelons full of chemicals.
So, let's look at how to choose the right quality product:
- A ripe watermelon has a richly colored, shiny and smooth skin.
- There should be no obvious damage, stains or cracks on the crust.A large bright spot (usually yellow) does not count.This is the place where the watermelon lay, in contact with the ground.The sun doesn't hit it, so it stays light.
- You should choose berries that are not too large.The optimal weight is 3-4 kg.
- When touched, 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.Lying along highways for a long time, they absorb exhaust fumes, dust and other contaminants.
How many days can you follow the watermelon diet?
Many of those who want to try this method of losing weight 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 a series of factors: initial weight, state of health and chosen nutritional option.A strict watermelon mono-diet should not exceed 5 days.If a person tries this type of diet for the first time, the optimal period would be 3 days.With a diet that includes other foods it is possible to extend the diet to 10-12 days.
Do not forget that one watermelon cannot replenish the entire daily requirement of nutrients necessary for the body.If you follow such diets for too long, you can have a vitamin deficiency and seriously harm your health.You also need to properly transition in and out of 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 “party” to a hunger strike.So the body, and especially the stomach, will only be damaged.
3 days before starting the diet, you need to switch to a delicate and as natural diet as possible.You should eat porridge, vegetables, steamed or baked dishes and fermented milk products.Smoked meat, pickles, fast food, baked goods, snacks and carbonated drinks are completely excluded from the diet.Food should be taken in small portions 5-6 times a day.
It is also necessary to increase fluid intake so that the body gradually gets used to its increased volume.It is recommended to drink water, green tea, rosehip infusions and herbal teas can be included.Coffee and strong tea are allowed in minimal quantities.
Once the watermelon mono-diet is completed, the same soft exit is needed.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 various options for the watermelon diet, everyone can choose the one that best suits them.
Strict diet (mono)
Such a strict watermelon diet guarantees minus 10 kg per week.But it is very difficult to maintain.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 you eat only watermelon.To maintain water balance, 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 and 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, 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 intervals between meals it is advisable to 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, crispy bread or eat a portion of pulp with brown bread.
If you feel well you can extend the diet for a week, the result will be even more effective.But it is important not to overdo it here.
Purifying diet with watermelon and melon
This type of diet also helps to lose weight quickly and at the same time cleanse the 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 recommended to start having breakfast with it.Melon eaten on an empty stomach has an antiparasitic effect.
If the hunger is too 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 feeding 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 of snacks based on fermented milk products.Watermelon and cottage cheese cannot be eaten together.At least 2 hours must pass between meals.It is acceptable to eat the berry with rye, bran or wholemeal 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 gentler program for those who do not need to lose a lot of 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 exclusively based on berries.
Example of menu of the day:
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge and 2 slices of watermelon.
- Snack: 2-3 slices of watermelon.
- Lunch: grilled chicken chop, 100 g of vegetable salad.
- Snack: 2-3 slices of berries.
- Dinner – 150 g of ricotta, a couple of toasted slices.
- The last snack is 2 slices of watermelon.
For breakfast you can use any porridge: oatmeal, millet, wheat, rice, cooked in water.At lunch it is advisable to combine proteins and fibre.It can be any lean meat with vegetables, beans, lentils, asparagus, vegetable soup.
For dinner it is better to eat only proteins.
Satisfying diet based on watermelon proteins
This method of losing weight 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, watermelon-banana diets.All should be aged for no more than 3-5 days.These products can be consumed together or separately at intervals.On a banana diet 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 more or less the same.
Watermelon Diet: Can You Maintain It During Pregnancy?
During the gestation period, the woman's body requires an increased supply of vitamins.Any diet during pregnancy can be prescribed by a doctor only if there is a reason.Sometimes expectant mothers experience an insatiable appetite and gain too much 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 the supervision of a doctor may be useful and even necessary.But you can't follow a strictly limited diet alone during pregnancy.
Note!Pregnant women often experience swelling, 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 devoid of them.
Pros:
- Delightful.
- Available.
- Produces effective cleansing of the body.
- It makes you healthier.
- Removes excess liquid.
- Quick results.
Against:
- Only suitable in certain periods of the year.
- Hungry (if we are talking about a mono diet).
- It can be stored for a short time.
- Over a long period of time, it can eliminate beneficial substances from the body and seriously burden the kidneys.
Contraindications
People with the following diseases and health problems should not eat a watermelon diet:
- Renal failure.
- Pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis in the acute phase.
- Stomach ulcer, gastritis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Stones in the kidneys or gallbladder.
- Pancreatitis.
- Infectious diseases.
The watermelon diet has contraindications for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as those who suffer from vitamin deficiency.
The opinion of nutritionists: myths and reality
Let's find out what the 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 damage.
- Watermelon contains enough nutrients.The berry does not contain even half of the elements the body needs on a daily basis.
- Watermelon is good for your kidneys.Only if they are healthy and can easily process large amounts of fluids.
- 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 discouraged.Optimal weight loss is up to 10 kg per month.
The best and safest option for a mono-fasting 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 this way just 1 day a week?Yes, 1 to 3 kg per day is enough.But keep in mind that most of it is liquid.To prevent its recurrence, you need to eat less salt, move more and constantly adhere to proper nutrition.