When summer comes, we can see watermelon everywhere. It is perfect fruit for the summer and helps in keeping you cool and fresh. It has high water content and is tasty as well as healthy. Vitamin A, B6 and potassium are found in high amounts in watermelon. It also contains the plant chemical such as citruilline and lycopene. These chemical present in watermelon make it very beneficial for our health. Although it is great for your health, you must avoid consuming too much of this fruit. This is because excess of watermelon can cause some side effects.
Side Effects of Watermelon:
Allergic reactions:
Watermelon is healthy for the body and is very refreshing. But some people may suffer from allergic reactions when they consume watermelon. They tend to suffer from severe or mild rashes, facial swelling, anaphylaxis and so on. People who are allergic to carrots, cucumber and latex may be allergic to watermelon also.
Avoid during pregnancy:
Many of the pregnant women tend to suffer from gestational diabetes. It can be a serious issue among pregnant women. Consuming watermelon in excess can cause gestational diabetes. So, it is better that pregnant women stop eating watermelon for a few months. This way they can ward off this problem.
Cardiovascular disorders:
Potassium is found in high levels in watermelon. It is essential for making your bones and teeth stronger, regulating blood pressure and for keeping your heart healthy. It also maintains electrolyte balance. However, you may suffer from cardiovascular issues if you consume foods rich in potassium in excess. Some of the symptoms you suffer as a result of this are absent or weak pulse, cardiac arrest, irregular heartbeat and so on. It can also affect the nervous system and the motor control of the body. You get about 112 mg of potassium from 100 gm of watermelon. So, you must take care to consume watermelon in small quantities only.
Fatigue:
When the kidney is weak and does not function properly, it can reduce purification and excretion of harmful substances from the body. This can lead to swelling of the legs. When you consume watermelon in excess, there is an increase in the water quantity of the body. If this excess water is not excreted from the body, then it may cause an increase in the volume of the blood. This can make the swelling on your legs even worse. It can also lead to exhaustion and fatigue.
Fall in the blood pressure level:
By consuming watermelon in excess, the blood pressure level in the body may get reduced too much. This makes it good for people with high blood pressure as it helps in lowering the blood pressure and providing them relief from various symptoms associated with high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase the risk of various cardiovascular issues like heart stroke, heart attack etc. But consuming watermelon in excess may lower your blood pressure to such an extent that it may cause hypotension and lead to light-headedness, dizziness, kidney failure, fainting and so on. So, if you are suffering from low blood pressure, it is better not to consume watermelon. People on medication for high blood pressure should also be cautious when eating watermelon.
Intestinal disturbance:
Watermelon is rich in lycopene. lycopene is needed for reducing the risk of cancer and also provides anti-inflammatory benefits. But consuming it in excess can lead to some side effects. This can cause nausea, bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion and gas. These symptoms can get worse in older people as the digestive system becomes weaker as one gets older. So, it is better not to consume too much of watermelon.
Impotence:
Consuming too much of watermelon is said to cause impotence and erectile dysfunction in men.
Loose stools:
Watermelon is a rich source of water and dietary fiber. This makes it very beneficial for providing you relief from constipation and other problems related with digestion. It regulates bowel movement and removes the waste form the body. But it is known to contain a special type of sugar called sorbitol. Some people are intolerant to sorbitol. They develop loose stools and gas when they consume watermelon.
Not good for diabetics:
When one is insulin resistant, the blood sugar level tends to stay put in the blood. It does not enter the cells of your body. When the insulin in the cells is not adequate, then more insulin is produced in the body. Both the blood sugar and sugar remains in the blood. This can affect the level of triglyceride in the body. As watermelon is full of natural sugar, it can cause a spike in the level of sugar in the body. At the same time, dietary fiber in watermelon helps in controlling the sugar. So, patients suffering from diabetes are advised not to consume watermelon without consulting their doctor.
Problems related to nerves and muscles:
Watermelon is rich in essential vitamins and minerals that make it beneficial for the nervous system, muscles and the kidneys. But you should consume it in limited quantities. Excess of it is said to develop muscle, nerve and kidney problems in some people. So, it is better that you do not consume it in large quantities.
So, when you eat watermelon, be careful how much you are eating. It is very tasty and it is easy to consume this fruit in excess. But this can lead to side effects. So, make sure that you consume it in limited amounts only.
