Watermelon is an annual herbaceous plant of the Pumpkin family. Blooms in the first half of summer, large, yellow flowers of the same sex. The fruits mature in August-September. They can be spherical, oval, flattened or cylindrical, depending on the variety.
The color of the bark from white and yellow to dark green with a pattern in the form of grid, stripes, spots. The flesh is pink, red, crimson, less often, white and yellow. Its flavor is sweet, juicy and tender. South Africa (Brazil and Paraguay) is considered the birthplace of watermelon, and can still be found there in nature.
Currently, watermelon is grown in 96 countries and has more than 1,200 varieties. It is mainly grown in China, Uzbekistan, America, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Yugoslavia, Ukraine and Russia. The best varieties of watermelons are Astrakhan or Bykovsky (white), monastic (green with white stripes and with red or gray seeds), Kamyshin (same color), Kherson, Mozdok, Uryupa and others.
Watermelon is 90% water and has a pleasant caloric content: 38 kcal / 100 g. Its pulp contains insignificant proteins and almost does not contain fat. The watermelon pulp contains fiber, pectins, hemicellulose, vitamin B1, B2, C, PP, folic acid, provitamin A, carotene, manganese, nickel, iron, magnesium and potassium, from 5 to 11% of easily digested sugars, as well as as a bit of ascorbic acid. acids, carotene, enough thiamine, riboflavin and nicotinic acid. The flesh of the watermelon is also rich in organic acids, which stimulate the digestive and metabolic processes well.
In addition to concentrated pulp components, watermelon seeds also contain carotenoids, tocopherols, B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, folic acid), a wide range of macro and microelements, including zinc and selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acids .
The oil contained in the seeds rich in vitamin D. Due to its juicy pulp, watermelon has a diuretic property, it is recommended to eat for edemas caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system and kidney disease, including the presence of stones. Nutritionists believe that you can consume 2-2.5 kg of watermelon per day . For example, in the disease of kidney stones (calculations of urate and calcium-lactate in the kidneys and bladder), these salts precipitate during the acidic reactions of the urine, while the watermelon contributes to its transition to a more soluble state, and Its diuretic effect accelerates the elimination of salts from the body.
In this case, nutritionists advise eating watermelon evenly, in portions, even at night. There is no better food for patients with sclerosis, gout, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes than watermelon. The watermelon fiber has a tonic effect, stimulates intestinal peristalsis, promotes the excretion of excess cholesterol. Watermelons perfectly quench thirst and contribute to the elimination of toxic substances from the body. There is a special diet of watermelon and a method of cleaning the kidney with watermelon.
Undoubtedly, a ripe and sweet watermelon will be useful for almost everyone, but in large quantities it is contraindicated for those who have diabetes, who are at any stage of kidney disease, as well as in pancreatic or prostatic pathologies. You should not use watermelon with pickles, because due to the salt in the body, the liquid is retained, and this in turn leads to inflammation.
Like all melons, watermelon tends to accumulate in itself various nitrates, such as phosphorus, potassium and others, which are used in the form of fertilizers. Try to make sure before buying that they were not used for the crop. Watermelons with nitrate can cause severe poisoning, they are especially dangerous for children. If you can not verify the purity of the product purchased, remember that all the benefits of watermelon are concentrated closer to the environment and the harmful substances are concentrated close to the skin.
