{"id":234137,"date":"2025-07-03T07:39:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T07:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/234137\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T07:39:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T07:39:09","slug":"what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-eat-watermelon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/234137\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Watermelon"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li>Watermelon is mostly water, making it great for hydration and supporting electrolyte balance.<\/li>\n<li>Rich in lycopene, watermelon may help fight inflammation and support heart and immune health.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy watermelon in salads, smoothies, sherbet and so much more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> There\u2019s nothing like cutting up a fresh watermelon to share on a hot day. Whether it\u2019s slices to grab for easy snacking or cubes dipped in a sweet cream cheese dip, watermelon is as tasty as it is refreshing during those scorching summer months. Plus, while this particular fruit tastes sweet, it is also packed with nutrition that can benefit your body\u2019s overall health.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_4-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> To better understand the benefits and nutritional profile of watermelon, as well as our favorite ways to prepare this fruit, we broke down the science behind what happens to your body when you consume watermelon, using the latest research as well as insights from a dietitian.\n<\/p>\n<p>  Why We Love Watermelon<br \/>\n  It Can Help You Stay More Hydrated  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> \u201cWatermelon is packed with water, which makes it great for hydration and electrolyte balance because it contains potassium and magnesium,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onceuponapumpkinrd.com\/about\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maggie Michalczyk, RDN<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_10-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> In particular, watermelon is made up of 92% water, and can count toward your daily fluid intake goals of 11.5 cups a day for women and 13 cups a day for men.\n<\/p>\n<p>  It May Provide a Boost of Antioxidants  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_13-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> \u201cThe antioxidant lycopene contributes to watermelon&#8217;s bright pink color and helps our body fight off free radical damage and aids in disease prevention,\u201d says Michalczyk. The combination of the lycopene and vitamin C helps to fight free radicals in the body and may decrease your risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases.\n<\/p>\n<p>  It Can Support Your Immune System  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_16-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> \u201cIt&#8217;s also a good source of vitamins A and C, which are both important for immune and skin health,\u201d Michalczyk continues. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that may prevent and even help treat respiratory and systemic infections. Laboratory and animal research suggests that consumption of these vitamins, as well as antioxidants like lycopene and beta carotene found in watermelon, may also help to improve your overall immune health, but more studies are needed.\n<\/p>\n<p>  It May Boost Your Heart Health  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_19-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> \u201cResearch also shows lycopene can help to lower cholesterol and blood sugar, both of which are important for cardiovascular health,\u201d Michalczyk adds.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_21-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Watermelon is Heart-Check Certified by the American Heart Association as a heart-healthy food because it is naturally fat-free, cholesterol-free and sodium-free. While watermelon is high in naturally occurring sugar, its fiber content helps to give it a low glycemic load, meaning that the effect it has on your blood sugar is small compared to other sugary foods.<\/p>\n<p>  Nutrition Information  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_26-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, and can also benefit your body\u2019s hydration with its potassium and magnesium. This is the nutrition information for 1 cup of diced raw watermelon:\n<\/p>\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_28-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<li><strong>Calories<\/strong>: 46 calories<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carbohydrates<\/strong>: 12g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dietary fiber<\/strong>: 1g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Total sugar<\/strong>: 9g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Added sugar<\/strong>: 0g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protein<\/strong>: 1g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Total fat<\/strong>: 0g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saturated fat<\/strong>: 0g<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cholesterol<\/strong>: 0mg<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sodium<\/strong>: 2mg<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vitamin C:<\/strong> 12mg (20% DV)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vitamin A:<\/strong> 865 IU (5% DV)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Potassium:<\/strong> 170mg (4% DV)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Magnesium:<\/strong> 15mg (4% DV)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_30-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> *Sugar in watermelon is naturally occurring\n<\/p>\n<p>  Is Watermelon Safe for Everyone?  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_33-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Watermelons are generally safe for everyone to eat, apart from a few exceptions. While watermelon is a nutritious fruit, eating too much of it may cause blood sugar spikes, which can negatively affect someone who is managing diabetes or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-have-insulin-resistance-8400321\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">insulin resistance<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_35-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Secondly, a person can experience an allergic reaction to watermelon if they are allergic to grasses, along with fruits like peaches, celery, tomatoes, oranges and other melons. This reaction is known as oral allergy syndrome, which is a contact allergy in the throat and mouth that occurs when you consume these foods raw. If you experience itching or swelling in the throat, mouth, face, lips or tongue, seek medical attention immediately. If you have concerns about consuming watermelon, talk to your health care provider to find out what is best for you.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>  4 Ways to Enjoy Watermelon  <\/p>\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_38-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<li><strong>Make a Salad:<\/strong> Michalczyk\u2019s favorite way to enjoy watermelon is tossed together in a colorful salad. \u201cI love a watermelon, feta and blueberry salad for summer. It&#8217;s so refreshing, hydrating and delicious!\u201d This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/272847\/watermelon-cucumber-feta-salad\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watermelon, Cucumber &amp; Feta Salad<\/a> is one of our favorites, as well as this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/249003\/watermelon-goat-cheese-salad-with-citrus-vinaigrette\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watermelon &amp; Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blend a Smoothie:<\/strong> Add cubes of watermelon to your blender when mixing up a smoothie, like this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/7893595\/creamy-watermelon-smoothie\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creamy Watermelon Smoothie<\/a> with coconut milk yogurt or this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/254614\/watermelon-strawberry-smoothie\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watermelon-Strawberry Smoothie<\/a>. You can even puree the watermelon in a blender and freeze cubes in a silicone ice cube tray to pop into your blender when you want to make a smoothie.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Freeze Sherbet: <\/strong>Make a simple four-ingredient <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/274152\/watermelon-sherbet\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watermelon Sherbet<\/a> using watermelon, sweet condensed milk, lime and salt. No ice cream machine necessary for this frozen dessert!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make a Pizza:<\/strong> Slices of watermelon are refreshing on their own, but topping your slices with berries and yogurt sweetened with honey for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/recipe\/254624\/watermelon-fruit-pizza\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watermelon Pizza<\/a> is a creative and unique option for your next summer gathering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Watermelon Recipes to Try<\/p>\n<p>  Our Expert Take  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_43-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Watermelon is a flavorful fruit that is packed with a number of potential health benefits. It is made of 92% water and can help you reach your hydration goals, may improve your immune system and can benefit your cardiovascular health. It is a great source of vitamins C and A, as well as potassium and magnesium. Watermelon is generally safe for anyone to eat, except for those who experience a watermelon allergy. It is best to keep to two servings of watermelon a day (a typical daily serving of fruit) to avoid uncomfortable bloating and blood sugar spikes\u2014especially for those with diabetes.\n<\/p>\n<p>Frequently Asked Questions<\/p>\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block-universal-faq__content_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block-universal-faq__content mntl-accordion js-accordion\">\n<li class=\"accordion__item js-accordion-item \" data-ordinal=\"1\">\n<p>Is it OK to eat watermelon every day?\n<\/p>\n<p>Yes! You can eat fruit like watermelon every day if you choose. In fact, it might help you up your fruit and vegetable intake if you enjoy it. Only 10% to 12% of U.S. adults meet the recommended fruit intake of 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit a day. However, there is such a thing as eating too much watermelon. \u201cYes, you can eat too much watermelon, which can cause bloating, indigestion and blood sugar spikes, which is important to note especially for people with diabetes,\u201d says Michalczyk.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"accordion__item js-accordion-item \" data-ordinal=\"2\">\n<p>Does watermelon have a lot of sugar?\n<\/p>\n<p>Many fruits such as watermelon have a high amount of sugar; however, the sugar in fruit is naturally occurring compared to products made with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/article\/292000\/whats-the-difference-between-natural-and-added-sugars\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">added sugars<\/a>. While all sugar breaks down into glucose in your body, added sugar moves into the bloodstream more quickly, which can cause blood sugar spikes (and crashes). But foods like fruits and dairy have other nutrients that help to slow down the digestion process, such as fiber and protein. The fiber content in watermelon helps to slow down the blood sugar spike compared to a food that is high in added sugars and low in fiber.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"accordion__item js-accordion-item \" data-ordinal=\"3\">\n<p>Is there a difference between yellow watermelon and pink watermelon?\n<\/p>\n<p>While yellow watermelon and pink watermelon are nutritionally similar, both being great sources of vitamins A and C, yellow watermelon is higher in beta carotene. \u201c[It\u2019s] a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and oxidative stress, plus it&#8217;s beneficial for eye and skin health,\u201d says Michalczyk.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"accordion__item js-accordion-item \" data-ordinal=\"4\">\n<p>Do you get the same nutrition from juiced or blended watermelon?\n<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJuiced watermelon using a juicer is nearly just as nutritious as eating whole watermelon, with the exception of some of the fiber that gets removed via the pulp,\u201d says Michalczyk. \u201cWatermelon in smoothie form will give you all of the fruit&#8217;s nutrition. However, it&#8217;s important to note that blending breaks down some of the fiber, which makes it faster to digest and therefore can cause a spike in blood sugar.\u201d Just like with any fruit-based smoothie, it&#8217;s important to balance it with a source of protein (think: yogurt, protein powder and\/or nuts and seeds) to give it more staying power and make it more blood sugar-friendly.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Watermelon is mostly water, making it great for hydration and supporting electrolyte balance. Rich in lycopene, watermelon may&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":234138,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4318],"tags":[105,4434,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-234137","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114788169489229782","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=234137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234137\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/234138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=234137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=234137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=234137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}