There are hundreds of different diets for weight management and weight loss.Fast diets based on fruits, berries and vegetables are very popular.The watermelon diet is seasonal.The best time for that is August and the first half of September.Juicy, sweet and tasty berries with green striped skin and red watery pulp ripen at that time.Eating only watermelon helps not only to lose weight, but also to improve the health of the body.But let's see 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 mainly consists 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 organism, without them metabolic processes are impossible.
- Pectin – cleans blood vessels from cholesterol deposits, improves heart function.
- Fiber - improves the work of the gastrointestinal tract, cleans it of toxins, accelerates metabolism and promotes weight loss.
- Fructose - stimulates the brain, 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 needed by our cells, nervous system, bone tissue, muscles, blood.
Berries have 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 to lose extra pounds, but also to cleanse the body and improve its health, because the berry has a number of useful properties.
What effect does the watermelon diet have?
- Removes toxins and waste from the body.
- It cleans the kidneys and liver.
- Lowers cholesterol level, reduces cholesterol plaques in blood vessels.
- Normalizes bowel function.
- Stimulates metabolism.
- Burns fat deposits.
- It reduces the risk of cancer and other diseases.
- It increases the level of immunity.
- Improves overall well-being.
Watermelon has a strong diuretic effect.This is exactly the main effect of the diet.Already in the first 2-3 days, it expels all excess fluid from the body.The swelling disappears, lightness appears in the body, and the condition improves.
The berry is very useful for the kidneys, liver and gall bladder.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 recommended for both men and women with problems in 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 other products are included in the diet in addition to watermelon.But monorat is considered very strict and not suitable for everyone.
Despite numerous beneficial effects, the watermelon mono-diet is prohibited in inflammatory and some other diseases of the kidneys and urinary system (cystitis, urethritis) in periods of exacerbation.Diuretic products should be used with great caution in kidney stones.You cannot go on such a strict diet 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 adapt immediately, so deterioration of overall health and worsening of any disease is possible.People who are slightly overweight should be especially careful.
Even if a person feels healthy and has no chronic diseases, it is advised to consult a doctor before starting a child.Nutritionists recommend eating watermelon for weight loss, carefully listening to your feelings.If discomfort is present and your health worsens, you should stop the diet immediately.
The benefits and harms of the watermelon diet largely depend on the quality of the berries.
How to choose a good watermelon?
The natural time for ripening watermelons is late summer, early autumn.Today, "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 are much less useful and, besides, you can get poisoned from watermelons filled with chemicals.
So, let's see how to choose the right quality product:
- A ripe watermelon has a richly colored, shiny and smooth skin.
- There should be no visible damage, stains or cracks on the bark.A large bright (usually yellow) spot does not count.This is where the watermelon lay, in contact with the ground.The sun doesn't hit it, so it stays light.
- You should choose not too big berries.The optimal weight is 3-4 kg.
- When tapped, the berry should hear a ringing sound.
- A ripe watermelon has a shrunken and dark tail.
It is not recommended to buy watermelons in trays near roads.Lying for a long time along the highway, they absorb exhaust gases, dust and other pollutants.
How many days can you stay 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 go on a watermelon diet without negative consequences.
The duration of the diet depends on a number of factors: initial weight, state of health and chosen diet option.A strict watermelon mono-diet should not last longer than 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 compensate the entire daily need of nutrients needed by the body.If you stick to such a diet for too long, you can get a vitamin deficiency and seriously harm your health.It is also necessary to make the correct entry and exit from the strict watermelon diet.
How to properly prepare for the watermelon diet and get out of it?
In no case should you make sudden transitions from "feast" to hunger strike.Therefore, the body, especially the stomach, will only be damaged.
3 days before the start of the diet, it is necessary to switch to gentler and more natural food.You should eat porridge, vegetables, dishes cooked in steam or in the oven and fermented dairy products.Smoked meat, pickles, fast food, pastries, 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 recommended to drink water, green tea, you can include rose hip infusions and herbal teas.Coffee and strong tea are allowed in minimal quantities.
After the watermelon mono-diet is over, 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.
Different options for the watermelon diet
There are various options for the watermelon diet, 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 is very difficult to stay on it.It is scheduled for 5 days, but for another 2-3 days after leaving it, the body goes through intensive fat burning and cleansing.You can start such a diet only after an examination and consultation with a doctor.
For the first two days, only watermelon is eaten.To maintain the hydrobalance, it is necessary to drink additional water, green or herbal tea.
In order 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 not more.
Note!You can repeat the watermelon mono-diet, designed for 3 days, 2-3 times a month.
This part should be divided into 5-7 doses.You must 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 the hunger is unbearable, you can eat a few crackers, crusty bread or eat one portion of pulp with brown bread.
If you feel good, you can extend the diet for a week, the result will be even more effective.But here it is important not to overdo it.
Watermelon and Melon Cleansing Diet
This type of diet also helps you lose weight quickly, and at the same time cleans the intestines well.Melon contains more fiber and is an excellent remedy against parasites.
Take the same amount of melon and watermelon, you have to eat them in order.Melon is more caloric and nutritious, it satisfies hunger better.It is recommended to start breakfast with it.Melon eaten on an empty stomach has an antiparasitic effect.
If the hunger is too much to bear, don't bother.Add some protein to your diet.You can eat white meat, fresh cheese, lentils and low-fat cheeses.
Fasting days on watermelon and fermented milk products
This type of diet is designed for 7-10 days.In addition to watermelon, the diet includes: kefir, fresh cheese, fermented baked milk, 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.At least 2 hours should pass between meals.It is acceptable to eat berries 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 drawback is that it can cause increased gas formation.
Watermelon diet for weight loss for 14 days
This is a milder program for those who do not need to lose so many extra pounds (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 pure berries.
Sample menu for 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 fresh cheese, a couple of crusty breads.
- The last snack is 2 slices of watermelon.
For breakfast, you can use any porridge: oatmeal, millet, wheat, rice, boiled in water.For lunch, it is preferable to 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.
A diet that satisfies watermelon protein
This method of losing weight is suitable for those who cannot stand hunger.You can maintain this diet 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, and watermelon-banana diets.Everything should be aged no longer than 3-5 days.These products can be consumed together or separately at intervals.In a diet with bananas, you are allowed to eat no more than 1 piece per day.Do not forget that bananas are high in calories and very nutritious.The results of such diets are approximately the same.
Watermelon diet - can you follow it during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a woman's body needs an increased amount of vitamins.Any diet during pregnancy can only be prescribed by a doctor if there is a reason for it.Sometimes expectant mothers have an insatiable appetite and gain too much extra weight.In the last trimester, this can have a very negative impact on a woman's health and well-being.In such cases, a few days of fasting under the supervision of a doctor can be useful and even necessary.But you cannot go on a strictly restricted diet alone during pregnancy.
Note!Pregnant women often have swelling, especially in the last months.They benefit from diuretic products, but in moderate amounts.
Advantages and disadvantages of the watermelon diet
Every diet has advantages and disadvantages.A diet of berries and watermelon is not devoid of them.
Advantages:
- Delicious.
- Available.
- It enables effective cleansing of the body.
- It makes you healthier.
- Removes excess fluid.
- Fast results.
Against:
- Only suitable at certain times 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 wash away useful substances from the body and seriously strain the kidneys.
Contraindications
People with the following diseases and health conditions should not follow the watermelon diet:
- Kidney failure.
- Pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis in the acute phase.
- Stomach ulcer, gastritis.
- diabetes mellitus.
- Stones in the kidneys or gall bladder.
- Pancreatitis.
- Infectious diseases.
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 the experts say about the berry diet for weight loss.
- The watermelon diet is absolutely safe.This is a misconception;for some people it is strictly contraindicated.And if done wrong, it can cause harm.
- Watermelon contains enough nutrients.Berries do not contain even half of the elements that the body needs on a daily basis.
- Watermelon is good for the kidneys.Only if they are healthy and can easily process large amounts of liquid.
- With berries you can quickly lose up to 20 kg in a week.It all depends on the person's metabolic rate.But such drastic weight loss is 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 clean the intestines and remove excess fluid.Is it possible to lose weight if you eat like this only 1 day a week?Yes, you need from 1 to 3 kg per day.But keep in mind that most of it is liquid.To prevent it from coming back, you need to eat less salt, move more and always follow a proper diet.