Regular increases in blood pressure lead to serious consequences: with a sharp jump in blood pressure, there is a negative effect on the kidneys, heart, and liver.
To some extent, the well-known melon crop, watermelon, helps to reduce and prevent attacks of high blood pressure. Fruit pulp does not allow you to completely give up medications, but it has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, reduces high blood pressure, enhances the effect of pharmaceuticals and reduces the need for them.
The article will discuss how watermelon affects blood pressure, what its benefits and harms are for problems with blood pressure, and how to use it correctly.
How does watermelon affect blood pressure?
Regular consumption of watermelon reduces and stabilizes high blood pressure , normalizes the pulse, and serves to prevent the development of complications from the heart and blood vessels.
Citrulline and arginine were found in the edible part (pulp and rinds). These are amino acids responsible for maintaining vascular tone in the arterial bed, on which blood pressure and nutrition of all organs and tissues depend. When the body is deficient in citrulline and arginine, blood pressure increases.
Other effects of amino acids include the ability to reduce cholesterol, accelerate tissue regeneration, improve muscle nutrition, protect organs and tissues from the destructive effects of aggressive radicals, prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis, cardiac ischemia, and influence other risk factors for hypertension.
Watermelon, having diuretic and choleretic properties , enhances the excretion of water and sodium, reduces plasma volume, reduces vascular resistance, as a result, pressure drops to normal levels.
For reference. Watermelon contains a lot of plant fiber, which, like a sponge, cleanses the blood, liver, kidneys, removes waste and toxins, excess fluid from the body, activates intestinal motility, which together improves the prognosis for high blood pressure.
Does watermelon normalize, increase or decrease blood pressure?
The fruit pulp of watermelon lowers high blood pressure and helps maintain normal levels , reduces cardiovascular risks. In case of arterial hypotension (persistent decrease in blood pressure), it is recommended to use melons with caution.
The answer to the question of whether blood pressure can rise again is clearly positive. Watermelon is not a medicine, and it cannot eliminate blood pressure problems forever . Features of the development and course of arterial hypertension depend on lifestyle, age, the presence of provoking factors, timely and well-chosen treatment.
The fruit pulp of watermelon serves as a good prophylactic against high blood pressure, but without accompanying treatment and rehabilitation measures it is not capable of dramatically affecting the outcome of the disease.
Is it possible to eat watermelon with high or low blood pressure?
Is it possible to eat watermelon with high blood pressure? Yes, it is used to quickly lower and stabilize blood pressure . The product has a diuretic, restorative, antioxidant effect on the body, removes protein waste, and regulates the tone of the vascular bed.
There is no clear answer to the question whether it is possible to eat watermelon with low blood pressure . It all depends on individual indicators. Fruit pulp has diuretic properties, due to which it is included in the list of prohibited products during the period of persistent decrease in blood pressure.
However, other properties of watermelon confirm its usefulness for hypotension :
- lycopene improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- replenishes the lack of iron in the body, increases the synthesis of red blood cells, as a result, the severity of the symptoms of hypotension (headache, dizziness) decreases, and blood pressure returns to normal;
- improves the condition of the walls of blood vessels, increases their elasticity, supplies the body with potassium and magnesium, which contribute to the full conduction of the heart.
Considering the ability of watermelon to reduce high blood pressure , you should consume fruit pulp in case of arterial hypotension in limited quantities, observing the body’s reaction.
This is interesting:
Is it possible to eat watermelon on an empty stomach?
Is it possible to eat watermelon if you have a stomach ulcer?
Is it possible to eat watermelon with cholecystitis?
Impact on performance - increases or decreases?
Experts who have fully studied the berry claim that it contains a large amount of citrulline and amino acids.
These elements provoke the expansion of the lumen of the vascular walls, helping to significantly reduce blood pressure. After citrulline enters the human body, it is converted into arginine. It is this element that is responsible for maintaining a stable state of blood pressure.
Scientists conducted a study in which hypertensive patients took part. Over the course of 45 days, half the people consumed a placebo and the rest consumed watermelon. After completing such testing, it turned out that the condition of the blood vessels in the second group significantly improved and blood pressure stabilized.
That is why doctors believe that periodic consumption of the giant berry can serve as a disease prevention. In addition, if you eat watermelon in the permitted quantity, it significantly improves a person’s condition with hypertension.
The benefits of watermelon for blood pressure problems
Watermelon has a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels . It has a choleretic effect, which relieves edema, cleanses the blood of harmful waste and toxins, reduces the load on the heart, and eliminates signs of stagnation of blood circulation.
Citrulline and arginine have a pronounced effect on blood vessels , increase the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood, and reduce blood flow to the heart.
For reference. With regular consumption of watermelon, the risk of atherosclerosis, ischemia, and myocardial infarction is minimized.
Possible harm
Watermelon has the ability to accumulate nitrates in the fruit pulp , which are toxic to the body. When an excess amount of toxins enters the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, chills, and painful spasms in the stomach appear. Due to the excessive loss of fluid during diarrhea and vomiting, the water-electrolyte balance is disturbed and the body experiences dehydration.
Therefore, it is better to eat fruits grown on your own plot . If you buy berries at the market or in a store, it is important to choose a natural product.
Watermelon can be harmful to health if there is an individual intolerance to one or more components of the composition. An allergic reaction manifests itself in the form of a rash, itching, peeling and redness of the skin; in the worst case, swelling of the mucous and soft tissues occurs.
Useful properties of watermelon
Watermelon is one of the most desirable seasonal crops, however, in addition to its excellent taste, it can please a person with many useful qualities. The pulp actively removes toxins, since the high concentration of water contributes to an excellent diuretic effect. This also makes it possible to quickly and effectively cleanse the kidneys and genitourinary system of all kinds of stones.
Did you know? While many people throw away watermelon seeds, they are a valuable food item in some countries. In Africa, they are added to all sorts of dishes, including soups, and in China, roasted seeds with spices are the best snack.
Quite often, watermelon is used as a safe means to activate the digestive system. It contains important vitamins for the process (C, group B), carotene, food acids (folic, pantothenic), as well as magnesium. The same composition also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and liver, protecting the body from anemia, gout, and bile stagnation. The huge amount of fiber in watermelon helps get rid of bad cholesterol, which is considered the main cause of atherosclerosis.
Watermelon pulp can be called the best assistant for losing weight and maintaining a healthy body shape. It contains extremely healthy and easily digestible sugars, which are not contraindicated even for diabetics. One kilogram of fruit contains only 250–500 kcal, which allows you not only to enjoy the juicy pulp without harming your figure, but also to create easier and more enjoyable fasting days.
Do not forget that watermelon has a positive effect on health when applied topically. Fruit juice is one of the best natural remedies that can relieve swelling from damaged tissues. And when used periodically in the neck and face area, it can rejuvenate the outer skin, giving it freshness and silkiness.
The skin and seeds of the fruit also have valuable properties. All kinds of decoctions from dry peels make it possible to eliminate the manifestations of swelling associated with pathologies of the heart and kidneys, as well as acute and chronic manifestations of colitis and rheumatism. The seeds, in turn, when used correctly, can have an antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory effect, and also overcome jaundice.
Did you know? The world's largest watermelon was grown in the USA in 2005. The local Bright family of farmers managed to obtain a fruit weighing 122 kg.
Norms and rules of consumption
Even in a healthy person, excessive consumption of berries can negatively affect the functionality of the kidneys, since too much water enters the body. To maintain the therapeutic effect, on average, an adult needs to eat 1-2 kg of fruit pulp, provided there are no contraindications, but not more than 2.5 kg per day.
During the season, watermelon pulp is consumed fresh as an independent dessert, added to fruit salads, and processed into juice. You cannot eat the berry with dairy products, baked goods, or drink it with water, tea, or alcohol. It is not recommended to consume watermelon in the morning on an empty stomach, as it contains acids that irritate the mucous membranes and can cause nausea, stomach pain, and heartburn.
The use of watermelon rinds for hypertension
Watermelon rinds help stabilize high blood pressure . They are harvested from mid-August to the end of September and are usually consumed in winter. They contain a complex of minerals, B vitamins, amino acids, arginine and citrulline, on which blood pressure depends.
Traditional medicine recipes
The dried peels are very tasty , reminiscent of candied fruits.
Recipe:
- Wash the watermelon well with soapy water and pat dry with a paper towel to remove any remaining moisture.
- Cut into portions, remove the pulp. Next in the recipe, use the dense white part of the rind, peeled from the green peel.
- Cut the crusts into slices. If you are not sure about the quality of the watermelon, it is better to soak the rinds for several hours in cold water to remove toxins from the composition.
- Use a colander to remove excess liquid.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place watermelon rinds. Cook in a preheated oven at 55-60°C until light and brittle.
Cooled watermelon rinds are ready to eat . You can grind them into powder using a blender and take 1 tsp. 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 30 days. Improvements will be noticeable after the first week: weakness, dizziness and headache will disappear, endurance and performance will increase.
An infusion is prepared from the dried peels, which reduces blood pressure . To do this, you need to pour 80 g of crusts with 500 ml of boiling water, leave under the lid for 2-3 hours. Take the cooled infusion 100 ml 5-6 times a day.
Candied watermelon rinds. Candied fruits recipe.
Recommendations for use
Nutritionists recommend eating about 2.5 kg of fruit within one day. The maximum daily intake is no more than 3 kg of watermelon pulp.
It is worth eating not only the pulp itself, but also the peels, from which a special infusion is prepared.
Dried watermelon rinds can be ground into powder, and the resulting mixture can be taken 1 tablespoon twice a day to counteract blood pressure surges and headaches.
Dried watermelon seeds are also used. You must first grind them into powder, then consume 1/2 teaspoon 3 times a day for 30 days.
The berry will lower blood pressure in a person suffering from hypertension if consumed a few slices every day. This will maintain a stable therapeutic effect.
It is not recommended to eat berries for the following problems:
- urolithiasis disease;
- diarrhea;
- disturbance of urine outflow;
- intestinal colic;
- diabetes mellitus (allowed to use, but in small quantities);
- flatulence;
- tendency to edema during pregnancy;
- obesity.
Important! Patients with large kidney stones should not consume watermelon. The diuretic effect of the berry can cause the stone to move and enter the duct, which often ends in surgical intervention.
In some cases, you can replace fresh watermelon with a synthetic supplement that contains arginine. Of course, the benefits from taking the supplement will be significantly less than from eating natural berries. In addition to minor benefits, the synthetic additive can cause gastrointestinal disorders in humans.
Elderly patients are recommended to consume ripened watermelon during the harvest period (August, September). It is important to avoid purchasing fruits in mid-summer when they contain high levels of nitrates. Chemicals can cause severe intestinal distress, accompanied by life-threatening dehydration, which can worsen hypertension and have unpredictable consequences.
- Author: Maria Sukhorukikh
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Contraindications
Watermelon is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to the product. It is necessary to limit the consumption of fruit pulp for people with gastrointestinal diseases in the acute stage - with gastritis with high acidity, gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Use berries with caution and in limited quantities if there are large stones in the kidneys, bladder, or other parts of the urinary system. Having a diuretic effect, watermelon can provoke the movement of stones, which is manifested by painful sensations and threatens disruption of urodynamics and changes in renal functions.
Take note:
How to cook tasty and healthy watermelon compote
The benefits of watermelon juice and how to prepare it
In what cases should its use be limited?
Watermelon is a very tasty, juicy and incredibly healthy fruit. However, there are cases when its use, due to the possibility of harm to the body, is undesirable.
These conditions include:
| Pathology | Features of interaction |
| Personal intolerance | Lycopene and citrulline found in the berry are highly allergenic. Eating the fruit by people with intolerance to such components, especially in very large quantities, can cause skin rash, redness, itching or the development of dyspeptic disorders. |
| Acute form of gastrointestinal diseases (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, ulcers, gastritis, colitis, etc.) | Fiber and ascorbic acid contained in fruits will irritate the mucous membrane of severely inflamed gastrointestinal organs. This can lead to an even greater exacerbation of the disease and a deterioration in the patient’s well-being. |
| The presence of large stones in the bladder, kidneys, gall bladder | Watermelon is a powerful diuretic, thanks to which it can provoke the movement of stones. Such processes will certainly lead to renal colic. In the worst case, stones can close the openings of the excretory tract, which is very dangerous for life and health. |
| Disturbed urine flow | The berry has a strong diuretic effect and with this pathology, its use will cause additional difficulties with urination, discomfort and pain. |
| Diarrhea | The berry is enriched with fiber, which can increase diarrhea and cause colic. |
In addition, you need to be especially careful when consuming watermelon juice and pulp if you have type 2 diabetes, since the fruit contains a large amount of fructose.
In the later stages of pregnancy, it is also recommended to avoid introducing this berry into the diet or to greatly limit its quantity. The reason for this is swelling of the lower extremities in women and the already frequent urge to urinate.
How can you get poisoned from watermelon?
The berry itself is very beneficial for the body. However, this applies only to those fruits that were grown in compliance with established standards and technologies, and were stored or transported under appropriate conditions. In this case, their pulp should not contain substances harmful and dangerous to the body that can lead to poisoning.
Read also: Tartlet dough is very tasty
Why do people poison themselves with watermelon pulp every year? There are several reasons:
- Recently, watermelons are most often “fed” with special solutions that promote rapid growth and ripening of the fruit. Such a product appears on the markets in early June-July.
- During long-term storage, watermelon can absorb harmful compounds, heavy metals and toxins from the environment. Therefore, it is undesirable to store berries near busy highways or in polluted warehouses.
- It is not recommended to buy half of the fruit that has already been cut off, as there is a risk of it becoming infected with pathogenic microorganisms.
Therefore, it is advisable to purchase only ripe whole fruits during the appropriate summer months.
Tips and tricks
To get the maximum benefit from watermelon without harm to the body, it is important to choose natural fruits. You should not buy melons before August, since this time is considered the biological period of their ripening in nature. Early varieties contain nitrates, which speed up the ripening process.
The quality of a watermelon can be determined by external signs . A high-quality watermelon weighs 5-10 kg, it is large, but not heavy, has a small yellow earthen spot on the side, a pronounced striped pattern, a matte finish without a glossy sheen, and a dry stalk. When tapped with your hand, it makes a booming sound, springs back when compressed, without signs of damage or cuts, with a dense peel.
After cutting, pay attention to the pulp . If it is deep purple in color with yellow veins, perfectly smooth and even, then it contains nitrates. A good watermelon has grains of flesh, it is red in color with white streaks.
As for the norms and rules for consuming watermelon for hypertension and the question of whether it is possible to consume melons and melons with high blood pressure, this should be discussed with your doctor. The specialist must exclude possible contraindications, determine methods of using fruit pulp and peels in a particular case, and prescribe adequate drug treatment.
If after eating watermelon your general health worsens , vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, cramps appear, stop eating watermelon immediately. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact a medical facility immediately for help.
