Is it possible to eat watermelon with gastritis?

Author: miomed 12/25/2016. Category: Gastritis

Watermelon is a delicious berry that perfectly quenches thirst and at the same time cleanses the body of harmful substances.

Due to its excellent properties, doctors recommend consuming the berry in standardized quantities. Among the medicinal properties of the berry, the pulp has an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps the body maintain youth for a long time.

In addition, watermelons are an excellent tool in the fight against excess weight, as they contain few calories, but at the same time they perfectly cleanse the body, having diuretic properties. Due to the presence of abundant fiber, watermelon regulates metabolic processes.

Is it possible to eat watermelon with gastritis?

Gastritis and other digestive ailments are today among the most common pathologies faced by modern humanity. A strict diet often helps to alleviate the course of such diseases, but one must take into account the rules for consuming seasonal products, which include watermelon.

Did you know? Watermelon belongs to the oldest fruit plants; it was actively consumed and cultivated by the ancient Egyptians 5 thousand years ago.

Today, the question of the safety of the fetus for the body in case of digestive pathologies remains open, since its effect on a weakened stomach is ambiguous. On the one hand, the product saturates the body with all kinds of vitamins and rare minerals, and also helps to intensify the excretory system. This is especially important for a variety of problems with digestion of food, including stomach ulcers. On the other hand, it can cause digestive irritation; it contains ascorbic acid and other compounds that, in large quantities, can worsen the condition of damaged gastrointestinal tissues.

As a rule, the fruit is not prohibited for consumption during the period of remission, weakening of the symptoms of the disease - during this time, watermelon juice is not capable of damaging the stomach and other parts of the digestion, but it should be consumed in small portions and only in moderation. During periods of exacerbation of illnesses or during heartburn, consuming watermelon is strictly prohibited, with the exception of gastritis with low acidity. However, even at the same time, it is recommended to consume no more than a few slices of the fruit per day.

In addition to watermelon, if you have hyperacid erosive gastritis, you should not eat any other berries with high acidity. The exceptions are the fruits of raspberries, lingonberries, dates, viburnum, cranberries, cherries, plums, strawberries and cherries. At the same time, they are consumed in small portions, no more than once a day and only during the period of remission.

Important! In order not to harm digestion, berries and other fruits must be completely ripe and sweet. This alone is the main rule for the safe consumption of such products.

For gastritis with low acidity during the period of exacerbation, any berries with small seeds (raspberries, strawberries, etc.) are absolutely prohibited, although they are allowed during long-term remission, but only in small quantities, otherwise the stomach will hurt greatly.

Is it possible to eat watermelon with gastritis and in what quantity (under what conditions)

Gastritis occurs due to a number of different reasons; it may occur due to poor nutrition, or due to overload, both nervous and physical.

Experts recommend consuming watermelon for gastritis in moderation . Since acidity in the body can be either high or low. At its core, the berry does not in any way affect the acidity level. Only under certain circumstances will excessive consumption of berries cause additional harm by pressing on the stomach walls. As a result, such excessive consumption is accompanied by nausea, stomach illness and other symptoms.

If you follow the advice of competent specialists, then using the berry can be beneficial for:

• Eating watermelon in small portions of 1 or 2 slices;
• The berry must be of the freshest quality and origin;
• Eating cold berries is prohibited.

It is worth noting that from the berries for gastritis, the body receives the necessary vitamins and minerals with proper nutrition. In addition, by consuming watermelon rind tincture, it is possible to cure the disease in a short time.

Chemical composition of watermelon

Watermelon is considered a fruit that is quite concentrated and rich in all kinds of substances; In addition, it is a low-calorie product, since 100 g of pulp contains no more than 30 kcal.

The main value for health is a complex of the most important vitamins for humans, among which the following have the highest concentration:

• A;
• WITH;
• group B;
• E;
• RR;
• beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A).

Read more about the vitamin composition and beneficial properties of watermelon.

Among the macro- and microelements there are:

• calcium;
• magnesium;
• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• sodium;
• iron.

Nutritional value of the fruit (table):

The main feature of the berry is the composition of sugars in the pulp. Instead of the glucose usual for many fruits, watermelon stores healthier and simpler fructose in its pulp. This substance is more acceptable to the body than other sugars, and is also absorbed much more actively, with minimal irritating effects on inflamed tissues.

Properties of watermelon for the human body

Today there are many diets based on the consumption of watermelon, but not every such diet can have a positive effect on the body. That is why before introducing the fruit into the diet, it is imperative to find out both its negative and positive aspects. The situation is especially acute with digestive diseases, since it is not easy to treat an inflamed gastrointestinal tract due to malnutrition.

Benefit

• With moderate use, even for gastritis, introducing watermelon into the diet helps:
• remove waste and toxins from organs and tissues;
• strengthen the immune system;
• improve the condition of the kidneys and urinary tract;
• stabilize blood sugar levels;
• replenish the deficiency of vitamins and microelements in the body;
• increase metabolism;
• activate the cardiovascular system;
• restore the condition of the skin and protect the integument from aging;
• cope with erectile dysfunction;
• reduce excess weight.

Did you know? In nature, there are watermelons with square fruits, bred in Japan back in 1981. Square watermelons have poor taste, but are actively used as the best decoration for traditional Japanese holiday tables.

Harm and contraindications

When consumed in moderation, watermelon is completely safe for human health.

• However, if consumed excessively, it can cause:
• allergic manifestations (rash, itching, etc.);
• deterioration of the kidneys and excretory ducts;
• intoxication of the body;
• digestive disorders.

To avoid negative effects on the body, the product is prohibited in the following cases:

• exacerbation of chronic and acute digestive diseases;
• combinations of several gastrointestinal pathologies, both in the acute phase and in remission;
• stones in the kidneys or tract (may cause movement of stones);
• acute digestive disorders, especially if they are accompanied by nausea and diarrhea.

Watermelon for gastritis for pregnant, lactating women, children

Nowadays, most girls, when breastfeeding, certainly want to enjoy a piece of watermelon, but they are often frightened by information about the harmful effects of the berry on the developing fetus. First of all, the greatest danger is not the watermelon, but the amount of nitrates in it. If there is excess ingestion in the body. Next, all nitrates will pass into milk, and therefore affect the child’s condition.

Read also: Gastritis - treatment with folk remedies

If you use only fresh berries in small quantities, watermelon will be an excellent dessert.

Children who are ill should be given watermelon in even smaller portions than a healthy child, but it should be noted that at the time of taking the product the child must be over three years old, otherwise stomach problems may occur.

Norms and basic rules for consuming watermelon for gastritis

As mentioned above, during digestive pathologies, watermelon is allowed for consumption only during a period of long-term remission of the disease. However, if there is a combination of several digestive disorders, including pancreatitis, the product should not be included in the diet.

Also find out whether you can eat watermelon while losing weight.

In other cases, the permitted daily intake of the fruit should not exceed 500 g. In this case, only the sweetest pulp from the center of the fruit is suitable for consumption - the layers close to the crust are often full of nitrates and their derivatives harmful to the body, which, in case of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, can cause additional burden on the body .

Watermelon for ulcers, heartburn and other gastrointestinal diseases

If pancreatitis occurs, consuming berries in the acute phase is prohibited. This is due, first of all, to the ability of dietary fiber to increase gas formation in the stomach and, as a result, disruption of the digestive process. If the disease is in a mild stage, watermelon can be consumed in small quantities that are not harmful. In addition, watermelon is extremely necessary for nutritional rehabilitation.

Read also: Sports for gastritis of the stomach, benefit or harm?

If the disease is in remission, then the patient can use additional fruits and berries in his diet, including watermelon. It should be remembered that the watermelon must be fresh, without the presence of nitrates and grown in natural conditions. It is worth noting that watermelon can only be consumed fresh for pancreatitis, and for example, the use of salted watermelons is dangerous to health.

With inflammation of the gallbladder or cholecystitis, the disease is acute, and therefore stones can form in the body. Due to this, the outflow of bile does not occur as required. In such cases, a special diet is developed for the patient. If there is insufficient amount of dietary fiber in food, a person’s condition will worsen.

A person’s condition will worsen if the food they eat contains a high content of alcohol and fatty foods. In such a situation, watermelon will be a useful product, since the presence of the necessary substances will have a fruitful effect on cleansing the body, and will also improve the functioning of the gallbladder. It is worth noting that you should definitely monitor the amount consumed.

In addition, for diseases such as ulcers, the course of treatment includes a special diet with the exclusion of sour, spicy, carbonated and toned foods. Therefore, it is prohibited to consume watermelon for ulcers due to certain circumstances. For example, the fiber content in the berry will only aggravate the inflammation process in case of an ulcer. Also, an increase in stomach juice is an undesirable fact of consumption. Watermelon filled with nitrates will become filled with nitrites when ingested, resulting in increased toxicity.

How to choose a good watermelon

The main condition for the safety of vegetables and fruits is the selection of only high-quality specimens.

In order to buy the right watermelon and not cause harm to your health due to gastritis, as well as the syndrome of high acidity of the stomach, when choosing a fruit you should pay attention to the following features:

• the best quality berries are sold between mid-August and mid-September; at other times they are often sold unripe, with a high content of various chemicals;
• When pressed, a ripe fruit should emit a loud crackling sound - if this is not observed, the product is most likely unripe, or has been subjected to artificial ripening methods;
• a slice of pulp should not turn the water pink or reddish, otherwise the pulp will be oversaturated with nitrates and other toxins;
• When cut, the pulp should have almost imperceptible veins and inclusions of grains of sugar; if the veins are pale or yellowish, the watermelon has been repeatedly exposed to a variety of chemicals and may be a source of toxins.

Important! Slices or halves of the fruit can be stored for up to 2 days, but to do this they must be wrapped in cling film and transferred to the refrigerator.

Storage Features

Despite the fact that watermelon is a perishable product, this fruit is suitable for successful storage for a long time. In its entirety, depending on the variety and timing of ripening, it can last up to 3 months. Most often, whole fruits are stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 ... + 5 ° C - in such conditions the best microclimate is created in order to ensure long-term shelf life for the fruits. The best way to replace a refrigerator is in a vegetable store or cellar.

Often, fragrant fruits are stocked up for future use, so sometimes there is no free space left for them in the refrigerator or other place. In this case, they can be left stored even at room temperature. In indoor conditions, watermelon can last up to 4-5 weeks, but for this, the fruits must be protected from sunlight.

To ensure high-quality and long-term storage, it is necessary:

• purchase only late-ripening and thick-barked varieties;
• pay attention to the integrity of the integument of the watermelon - cracks and cuts sharply reduce its shelf life;
• stop at small fruits, weighing up to 6 kg - they have the most convenient sizes for long-term storage, both in the refrigerator and in special storage;
• Protect watermelons from excessive humidity; the storage area should be periodically ventilated.

Read more about how much you can and how to properly store watermelon at home.

Watermelon is a valuable product for the diet that can replenish the body’s deficiency with many essential substances, as well as improve the body’s condition in many ailments. However, in case of digestive pathologies, it should be consumed in moderation and with caution, especially during periods of exacerbation. It is also important to know how to select and store it correctly.