Last Updated on October 9, 2022 by theworldofsleepstaff
It’s bedtime and you see that tasty looking watermelon on the kitchen table. You remember you told yourself a few days ago you were going to eat more watermelon because it is good for you. But is it a good idea to eat watermelon before bed?
You might initially think yes because watermelon is 90% water, and it can help you stay hydrated. It is also a good source of vitamins A, B6, and C. Plus, it has lycopene, an antioxidant that can help improve your skin health.
Many people enjoy watermelon as a bedtime snack and don’t seem to have any problems too. However, the reality is that eating watermelon at nig can cause some issues for some people.
This article will examine the pros and cons of eating watermelon before bed, its nutritional value, and its impact on sleep.
Disclaimer: You must always consult your doctor before including a new supplement or food into your daily routine as only your doctor can explain any pros or cons that are specific to you. Some supplements & foods may interfere with medications and/or cause allergic reactions.
CONTENTS:
- Watermelon Nutrition
- The Health Benefits Of Watermelon
- Pros Of Eating Watermelon Before Bed
- Cons Of Eating Watermelon Before Bed
- Pros And Cons: Summary
- The Side Effects Of Eating Watermelon
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Final Thoughts
Watermelon Nutrition
Watermelon is a nutrient-rich fruit that has many health benefits. It is low in calories and fat and a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Watermelon is mostly water, as its name suggests. It is also a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help boost your immune system. Watermelon is also a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can help improve your skin health.
Watermelon is a good source of vitamins A and B6. Vitamin A is essential for vision and skin health, while vitamin B6 is vital for metabolism and energy production.
Watermelon also contains potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate.
The Health Benefits Of Watermelon
1. Helps You Stay Hydrated
Watermelon is a good water source, which can help you stay hydrated. However, when you are dehydrated, your body doesn’t function as well, and you can feel tired, dizzy, and have a headache.
This happens because, at night, your body temperature drops, and you lose water through sweat and urination. Drinking water before bed or eating watermelon before bed can help you stay hydrated and prevent these symptoms.
2. Improves Digestion
Watermelon contains fibre, which is essential for digestion. Fibre helps add bulk to stool, and it also regulates bowel movements.
If you are struggling with constipation, watermelon can help. The high water content in watermelon can also help soften stool and make it easier to pass.
3. Aids Weight Loss
Watermelon is low in calories and contains a compound called citrulline, which has been shown to boost metabolism.
Citrulline is an amino acid that is converted into arginine in the body. Arginine is a compound that helps burn fat and build muscle.
So, if you are trying to lose weight, watermelon can help.
4. Boosts Energy Levels
Watermelon is a good source of B vitamins essential for energy production. B vitamins help convert carbohydrates into glucose, which the body uses for energy.
If you are tired, watermelon can help give you a natural energy boost.
5. Improves Heart Health
Watermelon is a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. Potassium also helps prevent heart disease by decreasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Watermelon also contains lycopene, an antioxidant that can help improve heart health. In addition, lycopene has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
So, if you are looking to improve your heart health, watermelon is a good choice.
Pros Of Eating Watermelon Before Bed
1. Eating Watermelon Before Bed Helps You Sleep By Releasing Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your natural sleep cycle. For example, when it’s dark outside, your body produces more melatonin to make you feel sleepy.
So, eating watermelon before bed can help you fall asleep by increasing your body’s production of this sleep-inducing hormone.
Most sleep experts agree that melatonin is the most effective natural sleep aid.
2. Watermelon Is A Good Source Of Tryptophan
Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps your body produce serotonin.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and sleep. When you eat foods that contain tryptophan, it’s converted into serotonin in your brain.
So, eating watermelon before bed can help improve your mood and promote better sleep.
3. Watermelon Is A Low-Calorie, Hydrating Food
Eating a light, healthy snack before bed can help you sleep better than going to bed on an empty stomach. For example, watermelon is the perfect bedtime snack because it’s low in calories and high in water content.
This means it will hydrate your body and help you feel refreshed in the morning.
4. Watermelon Is A Good Source Of Vitamins & Minerals
Watermelon is packed with nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. These nutrients are essential for maintaining a healthy body and mind.
They can also help improve sleep quality by reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
5. Eating Watermelon Before Bed Can Help You Avoid Nighttime Cravings
Eating a healthy snack before bed can help you resist late-night cravings while trying to lose weight.
Watermelon is a low-calorie food that will fill you up without adding extra pounds. So, if you’re watching your weight, snacking on watermelon before bed can help you stay on track.
6. Watermelon Is A Refreshing & Delicious Way To End The Day
Eating watermelon before bed is a great way to wind down after a long day. The sweet taste and refreshing texture will help you relax and prepare for a good night’s sleep.
Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to sugary snacks or drinks that can disrupt your sleep.
7. Helps You Stay Hydrated
As we mentioned, watermelon is mostly water, and it can help you stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is essential for overall health and can help you sleep better.
If you are dehydrated, you may wake up in the night feeling thirsty. Drinking water or eating watermelon before bed can help prevent this from happening.
8. May Help Relieve Muscle Soreness
Watermelon is a good source of the amino acid citrulline. Citrulline is converted to arginine in the body, which is involved in nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow.
Improved blood flow can help reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery after exercise. So, if you’re looking for a natural way to reduce muscle soreness, eating watermelon before bed may help.
Cons Of Eating Watermelon Before Bed
You should be aware of a few potential downsides to eating watermelon before bed.
1. Eating Watermelon Before Bed Can Increase Urination & Disrupt Sleep
Watermelons are a diuretic food, meaning they promote urination.
Eating watermelon before bed may cause you to wake up more at night to use the restroom. This can disrupt your sleep and make it harder to get restful sleep.
2. Watermelon May Contain Compounds That Can Act As Stimulants
Watermelons contain an amino acid called L-citrulline. This amino acid can be converted into L-arginine, a nitric oxide precursor.
Nitric oxide is a vasodilator that relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. This can be a stimulant for some people and may make it difficult to fall asleep.
3. Eating Watermelon Before Bed May Cause Indigestion
Watermelons are a high-fibre fruit and can cause indigestion when eaten in large quantities. In addition, eating watermelon before bed may lead to uncomfortable digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhoea.
These symptoms can disrupt sleep and make it difficult to get restful sleep.
4. Watermelons Are A High-Sugar Fruit & May Contribute To Weight Gain
Watermelons are a high-sugar fruit that can contribute to weight gain if overeaten.
In addition, eating watermelon before bed may cause you to wake up feeling bloated or overweight. This can disrupt your sleep and make it difficult to get restful sleep.
5. Watermelons May Contain Compounds That Can Act As Allergens
Watermelons may contain compounds that can act as allergens for some people. These compounds can cause symptoms like hives, itchiness, and swelling.
If you are allergic to watermelon, eating it before bed may make it difficult to sleep due to the discomfort.
6. May Cause Heartburn
Watermelon is a bit acidic. For some people, this can cause heartburn or make it worse. So eating watermelon before bed may make it difficult to sleep if you are prone to heartburn.
Pros And Cons: Summary
Eating watermelon at night has potential benefits and drawbacks that you should be aware of.
Watermelon is a healthy food that can help you sleep better by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. However, watermelon is also a diuretic food that can lead to increased urination and may disrupt sleep.
Watermelons are also a high-sugar fruit that can contribute to weight gain.
Eating it before bed may cause discomfort and make it difficult to sleep if you are allergic to watermelon.
So the pros and cons of eating watermelon before bed depends on your situation. If you are healthy and do not have any allergies or digestive issues, watermelon can be an excellent food to eat before bed.
However, if you are prone to heartburn or have allergies, you may want to avoid eating watermelon at night.
The Side Effects Of Eating Watermelon
While watermelon is generally safe to eat, there are a few potential side effects.
Watermelon is a high-acid fruit that can cause heartburn in some people. If you are prone to heartburn, you may want to avoid eating watermelon before bed.
Watermelon contains sugar, which can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. This can lead to insomnia in some people. If you have trouble sleeping, you may want to avoid eating watermelon before bed.
Watermelon is a high-fibre fruit and can cause stomach upset in some people. If you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to avoid eating watermelon before bed.
As a high-fibre fruit, it can also cause diarrhoea in some people. If you are prone to diarrhoea, you may want to avoid eating watermelon before bed.
If you experience side effects after eating watermelon, stop consuming it and speak with your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Eating Watermelon Before Bed Give You Nightmares?
Some people believe that eating watermelon at night can give you nightmares. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim, but the sugar content in watermelon may cause some people to have vivid dreams.
If you are worried about having nightmares, you can try eating a small piece of watermelon before bed and see if it affects your dreams.
2. How Much Watermelon Can You Eat At Night?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on your tolerance. Some people can eat a large piece of watermelon before bed without any problems, while others may experience stomach upset or diarrhoea if they overeat.
If you are going to eat watermelon before bed, start with a small piece and see how you tolerate it. You can always eat more if you feel OK.
3. Does Eating Watermelon Before Bed Make You Fat?
No, eating watermelon before bed does not make you fat. Watermelon is a low-calorie food that is rich in nutrients.
However, watermelon is also a high-sugar fruit and can contribute to weight gain if you overeat it. If you are concerned about gaining weight, you can try eating a small piece of watermelon at night and see how it affects your weight.
Our Final Thoughts
Eating watermelon before bed has potential benefits and drawbacks that you should be aware of.
Watermelon is a healthy food that can help you sleep better by promoting relaxation and reducing stress. However, watermelon is also a diuretic food that can lead to increased urination and may disrupt sleep. Watermelons are also a high-sugar fruit that can contribute to weight gain.
The pros and cons of eating watermelon before bed depend on your situation. If you are healthy and do not have any allergies or digestive issues, watermelon can be an excellent food to eat before bed. However, if you are prone to heartburn or have allergies, you may want to avoid eating watermelon before bed.