Can watermelon help in weight loss? Find out

We have often been recommended to have watermelons for weight loss. But how effective is it apart from the fact that it holds a huge amount of water content in it? Does watermelon actually help in weight loss? What are the other health benefits it offers?

Watermelon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, of which cucumber is also a member. This explains why these taste similar and have more water content in them.

To understand its role in weight loss, we need to have a look at the nutritional composition of watermelon:

100 grams of watermelon contains 30 calories, 0.6 grams protein, 7.6 grams carbohydrates, 6.2 grams of sugar and 0.4 grams of fiber.

91% of watermelon is water.

This sweet delicious fruit is a favorite of all, but many people are skeptical of consuming it daily. It is because the glycemic index of watermelon is 72, which is much higher and is normally not advisable for those who are diabetic. However, as per a few health reports, since it is relatively less in carbs, it can be eaten in moderation.

Apart from this, it contains vitamin C, potassium, copper, vitamin B5, and vitamin A along with plant compounds citrulline and lycopene. The whitish portion that covers the red juicy pulp of watermelon is citrulline which is transformed into the essential amino acid arginine. Arginine is important for the normal functioning of lungs, kidney, liver and reproductive system.

The two important parameters that people usually check before considering a food item for weight loss are: calories and fiber.

100 gram of watermelon consists of only 30 calories. One entire wedge carries 100 calories.

Moreover, its 90% water composition makes it an ideal candidate for weight loss.

But, it has less amount of fibers. 100 grams of watermelon contain only 0.4 grams of fiber. If you want to add watermelon to the diet, you need to add a good source of fiber too.

Besides, all these citrullines can also aid in fat burning.

A Harvard report says: "Watermelon contains several nutrients known to benefit heart health. One is lycopene, an antioxidant that may help improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure. The other is citrulline, an amino acid that may boost levels of nitric oxide, a substance known to relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure."

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Eating too much watermelon won't speed up the fat burning in your body, for sure, instead it might trigger other complications.

Overeating watermelon can lead to water intoxication since 91% of it is composed of water. It might also lead to liver inflammation, spike in glucose level, digestive issue, and cardiovascular issue.