Sweet, cold watermelon can taste terrific on a hot summer day. But for some enthusiasts, noshing on the crisp, red flesh comprises a diet regime intended to cleanse the body of old waste. There's no official watermelon cleansing diet; the main idea is to replace foods and beverage you would consume as part of your normal diet with slices of watermelon. Although watermelon does offer nutritious benefits, scientific research hasn't confirmed that replacing balanced diets with highly restrictive, watermelon-based diets is safe or effective.
Watermelon Benefits
Watermelon seeds were first brought to the United States by African slaves and there are now more than 100 varieties, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Watermelon has high lycopene levels, second only to tomatoes. Lycopene, an antioxidant, can help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Other nutritional benefits associated with watermelon include vitamin C, vitamin A and potassium. One serving of watermelon, about 1/16 of the watermelon or 1 2/3 cups, contains 91.52 calories. Watermelon may lower blood pressure, as described by "Science Daily." One of watermelon's phytonutrients, citrulline, may widen and relax the blood vessels and help wash toxins including ammonia from the body, according to another "Science Daily" article.
Watermelon Cleanse
Advocates of the watermelon cleanse suggest that before beginning, purchase and slice watermelon to be kept in your refrigerator for easy access. The University of Illinois Extension recommends washing the outside of each watermelon with clean water before slicing to prevent bacteria from spoiling the flesh. The cleansing diet may involve eating slices of watermelon that replace traditional meals throughout the day, or preparing fresh watermelon juice to be consumed instead of regular meals.
Warning
Watermelon cleansing diets haven't been proven to offer the many benefits advertised by advocates. Cleansing and detoxification diets lack scientific evidence, often relying on anecdotal success stories to help gain popularity, according to MayoClinic.com. Your body is already designed to efficiently clean and detoxify through the liver and kidneys. Because of insufficient nourishment, restricted diets can cause hunger, dizziness, fatigue and nausea. Never begin a new diet plan without first talking with your doctor.
Recipes
If you'd rather not pursue a stringent watermelon cleansing diet, incorporate watermelon servings into your regular diet to enjoy nutritional benefits. Make a watermelon smoothie by combining with fat-free lemon yogurt, strawberries, honey and ice cubes. For a watermelon-based salsa, combine chunks with sweet onion, black beans, jalapeño chilies, fresh cilantro, garlic, brown sugar and salt. Store a bowl of sliced watermelon in the fridge for a quick, nutritious snack.
References
- University of Illinois Extension: Watermelon
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fruit of the Month: Watermelon
- Watermelon Cleanse; Tim Ramirez
- "Science Daily"; Watermelon Lowers Blood Pressure; October 2010
- "Science Daily"; Watermelon may have Viagra-Effect; July 2008
- Agriculture Business Week: Watermelon Oozes with Health Benefits
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