There are hundreds of different diets for weight control and weight loss.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. That is the time when the juicy, sweet and delicious berries with a green striped skin and red juicy pulp ripen.A watermelon-only diet not only helps lose weight but also improves the body's health.But let's also see what disadvantages and contraindications this method of losing extra pounds has.After all, our goal is not to harm the body, but only to benefit.
Ingredients of watermelon
Although watermelon mainly contains water, it still contains some substances that are valuable to the body.
Berries contain:
- Vitamins – A, C, B, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, PP.All of them are necessary for our body, without them metabolism is impossible.
- Pectin – cleans blood vessels from accumulated cholesterol, improves heart function.
- Fiber – improves the function of the digestive tract, cleans toxins, speeds up metabolism and promotes weight loss.
- Fructose – stimulates brain function, reduces fatigue, saturates the body with energy.
- Folic acid is necessary for protein absorption, 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.
This berry has been grown 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 not only help lose weight, but also cleanse the body and improve health, since this berry has a number of beneficial properties.
What are the effects of eating watermelon?
- Removes toxins and waste from the body.
- Cleanses the kidneys and liver.
- Reduce cholesterol levels, reduce cholesterol plaque in blood vessels.
- Normalizes intestinal function.
- Stimulates metabolism.
- Burn accumulated fat.
- Reduces the risk of cancer and other diseases.
- Increases immunity levels.
- Improve overall health.
Watermelon has a strong diuretic effect.This is exactly the main effect of the diet.During the first 2-3 days, it will drain all excess fluid from the body.Swelling disappears, the body relaxes and the condition improves.
Berries are very beneficial for the kidneys, liver and gallbladder.The diet is recommended for diseases such as arthritis, gout, hepatitis, heart disease, hypertension, anemia, etc. 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 berries help you lose weight significantly in just a few days.It is not surprising, because watermelon, although sweet, contains 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 dieting does not cause objections.
Is there any harm?
There are mono diets, which include only one berry, and combined diets, when in addition to watermelon, the diet also includes other products.But self-talk is considered very strict and not suitable for everyone.
Despite its many beneficial effects, a mono-diet of watermelon is prohibited for inflammatory diseases and some other diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (cystitis, urethritis) during periods of exacerbation.Diuretics should be used with extreme caution in kidney stones.You cannot follow such a strict diet if you have gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.
It is worth noting that with a watermelon diet, weight loss can happen very quickly.Not every body can adapt immediately, therefore, overall health can deteriorate and any disease can be aggravated.People who are slightly overweight should be especially careful.
Even if a person feels healthy and does not suffer from chronic diseases, it is still advisable to consult a doctor before starting a diet.Nutritionists recommend eating watermelon to lose weight by carefully listening to your feelings.If you feel discomfort and your health deteriorates, you should stop the diet immediately.
The benefits and harms of a watermelon diet largely depend on the quality of the berries.
How to choose delicious watermelon?
The time when melons ripen naturally is late summer and early fall.Today, “blue stripes” can be found on store shelves much earlier.But such berries are almost always grown artificially with the addition of large amounts of salt and pepper.They have much less benefits and, moreover, you can get poisoned by chemical-stuffed watermelons.
So, let's see how to choose the right quality product:
- Ripe watermelons have diverse colored, shiny and smooth rinds.
- There should be no visible damage, stains or cracks in the cover.A large bright spot (usually yellow) does not count.This is where the watermelon lies, in contact with the soil.The sun doesn't shine in so it's still bright.
- You should choose berries that are not too large.The optimal weight is 3-4 kg.
- When tapped, the berry will make a bell-like sound.
- Ripe watermelons have shriveled and darkened ends.
You should not buy watermelon from trays near the road.Lying along highways for long periods of time, they absorb exhaust gases, dust and other pollutants.
How many days can you maintain the watermelon diet?
Many people who want to try this method of losing weight for the first time are interested in how many days they can stay on a watermelon diet without negative consequences.
The duration of the diet depends on several factors: initial weight, health status and chosen nutritional options.A strict watermelon mono diet should not exceed 5 days.If a person is trying this diet for the first time, the optimal duration would be 3 days.With a diet that includes other foods, you can extend the diet to 10-12 days.
Don't forget that one watermelon cannot supplement the entire daily nutritional needs of the body.If you maintain such a diet for too long, you can develop vitamin deficiencies and seriously damage your health.It is also necessary to properly follow the strict watermelon diet.
How to properly prepare for the watermelon diet and get rid of it?
In no case should you make a sudden transition from a "party" 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 the gentlest and most natural foods possible.You should eat porridge, vegetables, steamed or grilled dishes and fermented dairy products.Smoked meat, pickles, fast food, baked goods, snacks and carbonated drinks are completely excluded from the diet.Food should be divided into small portions 5-6 times a day.
You also need to increase your fluid intake so your body gradually gets used to the larger volume.You should drink water, green tea, you can add rose water and herbal tea.Coffee and strong tea are allowed in minimal quantities.
After completing the watermelon mono diet, a similar soft exit is required.You should eat low-calorie foods for another week.The diet should consist mainly of fruits, vegetables and greens.
Many different options for the watermelon diet
There are many different options for the watermelon diet, everyone can choose the most suitable one for themselves.
Strict diet (mono)
Such a strict watermelon diet guarantees a loss of 10 kg per week.But it is very difficult to maintain it.It is designed for 5 days, but another 2-3 days after leaving it, the body will undergo an intense fat burning and cleansing process.You can start such a diet only after examination and consultation with a doctor.
The first two days only eat watermelon.To maintain water balance, you need to drink more filtered water, green tea or herbal tea.
To accurately 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 completely acceptable to eat 1 kg of juicy pulp.For example, if your weight is 70 kg then you can consume up to 7 kg of watermelon per day, but not 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.Between meals, you should drink water or tea, but not too much so as not to burden the kidneys.
If hunger is unbearable, you can eat a few crackers, crusty bread or eat a portion of pulp with black bread.
If you feel well, you can extend the diet for another week, the results will be even more effective.But it's important not to overdo it here.
Watermelon cleanse diet
This type of nutrition also helps you lose weight quickly and 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 after another.Melon has more calories and is more nutritious, helping to satisfy hunger better.It is advisable to start breakfast with it.Eating melon on an empty stomach has anti-parasitic effects.
If your hunger is too much to bear, don't torture yourself.Add some protein to your diet.You can eat white meat, cheese, lentils and low-fat cheese.
Days of abstinence from watermelon and fermented milk products
This type of nutrition is designed for 7-10 days.In addition to watermelon, the diet includes: kefir, 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 cheese cannot be eaten together.It is essential to leave at least 2 hours between meals.It is acceptable to eat berries with rye, bran or whole grain bread in small quantities.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 to lose weight in 14 days
This is a gentler program for people who do not need to lose a lot of weight (up to 5 kg).
A low-calorie menu is prepared for each day.Each day there are 6 meals, including 3 meals with supplements and 3 meals with pure berries.
Sample menu of the day:
- Breakfast – buckwheat porridge and 2 slices of watermelon.
- Snack – 2-3 slices of watermelon.
- Lunch – grilled chicken ribs, vegetable salad 100 g.
- Snack – 2-3 slices of berries.
- Dinner – 150g cheese, a few crusty bread.
- The final snack is 2 slices of watermelon.
For breakfast, you can take any porridge: oatmeal, millet, wheat, rice cooked in water.Lunch should combine protein 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 response diet
This weight loss method is suitable for people who cannot stand hunger.You can maintain this nutritional 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 incubated for no more than 3-5 days.These products can be consumed together or separately at intervals.On the 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 a diet are approximately the same.
Watermelon diet - can you keep it during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a woman's body needs to be provided with more vitamins.Any diet during pregnancy can only be prescribed by a doctor if there are reasons.Sometimes expectant mothers experience an insatiable appetite and gain excessive weight.During the last trimester, this can have a very negative impact on a woman's health and well-being.In such cases, several days of fasting under a doctor's supervision may be helpful and even necessary.But you can't go on a strictly restrictive diet during pregnancy on your own.
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.A diet with berries and watermelon is not without them.
Advantage:
- Tasty.
- Available.
- Helps purify the body effectively.
- Makes you healthier.
- Remove excess liquid.
- Fast results.
Disadvantages:
- Only suitable during certain times of the year.
- Hunger (if we are talking about mono-diet).
- Can be kept for a short time.
- Over a long period of time, it can wash away beneficial substances from the body and cause a serious burden on the kidneys.
Contraindicated
People with the following diseases and health problems should not follow the watermelon diet:
- Kidney failure.
- Pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis in the acute stage.
- Stomach ulcers, gastritis.
- Diabetes.
- Kidney or gallbladder stones.
- Pancreatitis.
- Infectious diseases.
The watermelon diet is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, as well as people with vitamin deficiency.
Opinions of nutritionists - myths and reality
Let's find out what experts say about a berry weight loss diet.
- The watermelon diet is absolutely safe.This is a mistaken view;for some it is strictly contraindicated.And if done incorrectly, it can cause harm.
- Watermelon contains enough nutrients.Berries do not contain even half of the substances that the body needs daily.
- Watermelon is good for the kidneys.Only if they are healthy and can easily handle large amounts of fluid.
- You can quickly lose up to 20 kg in a week using berries.It all depends on a person's metabolic rate.But such drastic weight loss is not recommended.Optimal weight loss up to 10 kg per month.
The best and safest option for a mono-diet with watermelon is 1 day a week.But on all other days, the diet should also be dietary.In just one day, the berries will perfectly cleanse the intestines and remove excess fluid.Is it possible to lose weight if you only eat this way 1 day a week?Yes, it takes from 1 to 3 kg per day.But remember that most of it is liquid.To prevent the disease from returning, you need to eat less salt, exercise more and constantly follow a proper diet.