Watermelon is a large, sweet, and juicy fruit packed with lots of nutrients. Many people enjoy this round, green-skinned fruit because of its high water content, crunchy nature, and delicious taste; making it one of the perfect fruits to quench thirst – especially in the heat of the summer! Watermelon is also low in calories, provides hydration, and contains significant minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.
As much as people enjoy this fruit, a number of people have asked us whether it is bad to eat watermelon at night. While there is no conclusive evidence to point out whether it is good or bad to eat watermelon at night, we can still attempt to answer that question by analyzing the nutrients and elements present in this juicy fruit and how they might affect our health and quality of sleep. That’s exactly what we do next.
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.
Is It Bad to Eat Watermelon at Night?
This question doesn’t exactly have a “yes” or “no” answer. That’s because there are various factors to consider, and these factors usually differ from one person to the other.
However what we do below is go over what you can expect when you eat watermelon at night, and then leave you to decide on whether it is good or bad for you personally to eat watermelon in the evening.
What May Happen When You Eat Watermelon at Night
1. Stomach Upset
Your digestive system is more active in the morning, which is why most health experts recommend eating light and easy-to-digest meals at night. Watermelon has high water and acidic content so it can trouble the digestive system and cause stomach upset when eaten at night.
In fact, it is not recommended to eat fruits that have a high concentration of acid and water, like watermelon, at night. That’s because the high water content might make you heavy and the high acid content can cause you to feel uncomfortable.
2. Keeps the Body Hydrated
For your body to function properly, it needs to stay hydrated. During summer, the sun can take a toll on your body, causing dehydration and fatigue. But eating fruits like watermelon with a high concentration of water gives your body the proper volume of water it needs.
Watermelon which is made up of 92% of water is the perfect fruit for your body’s needs to stay hydrated. So eating watermelon at night during the hot summer months may prevent dehydration and help you get better sleep.
3. Sleep Deprivation
However, because watermelon consists of a high volume of water, eating it at night might result in sleep deprivation and fatigue due to frequent visits to the toilet.
4. Relieves Muscle Soreness
Because of the presence of citrulline in watermelon, eating it can help reduce muscle soreness in your body and even improve exercise performance.
Citrulline is an amino acid that can expand the blood vessels present in your heart, thus reducing the stress your heart might have pumping blood through the body.
Studies also show that giving athletes plain watermelon juice with added L-citrulline will lead to quicker heart rate recovery and less muscle soreness.
5. It Can Cause Overhydration
Because of the high amount of water present in watermelon, eating lots of watermelon at night may make you visit the bathroom continuously to urinate. But in an even worse scenario, it can cause overhydration.
Overhydration occurs when there is a very high amount of water in the body which then doesn’t come out. This condition can cause your feet to swell, and can also cause sodium loss and weakened kidneys.
6. Weight Gain & Restlessness
It is best to avoid anything with a high sugar content at night. That’s because sugar can cause restlessness and hyperactivity.
Watermelon is loaded with lots of natural sugar and aside from causing restlessness and hyperactivity, eating watermelon at night – when you will not be able to work off the sugar content – may cause weight gain too.
Other General Effects of Eating Watermelon
Watermelon is a fruit with numerous benefits. From providing relief from the summer heat to offering an array of health benefits, this delicious summer fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients and vitamins.
Watermelon is a favorite fruit for many, not only because of its tasty and thirst-quenching attributes but also because of the nutrients it offers. Even its seeds are not left out.
Watermelon seeds are very nutritious and contain a high proportion of magnesium, vitamins, and protein. Below are some of the benefits of eating watermelon:
1. Lowers Blood Pressure
Watermelon contains L-citrulline, a non-essential amino acid, a natural substance that can lower blood pressure and improve the functions of the arteries.
Fun fact: Did you know that watermelon is also called “Nature’s Viagra”? Well, now you do! This name was given to watermelon because of the significant impact that the L-citrulline present in watermelon has on blood flow.
Potassium is also present in watermelon, and it also regulates the blood pressure of the body during physical exercises.
2. Eating Watermelon Might Help Prevent Asthma
Studies have shown that the presence of certain antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, can help reduce asthma risk. So, eating a fruit like watermelon, which is rich in Vitamin C can help boost the level of Vitamin C present in the body and help reduce asthma attacks.
Furthermore, lycopene, a key antioxidant present in watermelon can help the body’s reaction to flu or cold.
3. Watermelon Can be Used to Treat Inflammation
One of the primary compounds found in watermelon is lycopene. Lycopene is an important antioxidant which has many great benefits. It can also be used to lower inflammation.
Watermelon can be recommended to people suffering from arthritis as it can be used to keep inflammation at bay.
4. Watermelon May Prevent Cancer
Eating watermelon can help reduce the probability or risk of getting cancer due to the antioxidants present in watermelon. Antioxidants such as lycopene have been researched by many and are believed to help reduce the risk of getting prostate cancer.
However, there is no conclusive evidence to back these claims up.
5. Eating Watermelon Improves Skin Health
Vitamin A and C are good for your skin, and these two important vitamins can be found in watermelon. Vitamin C makes your skin stay soft and smooth, while Vitamin A helps to repair skin and create new skin cells.
The lycopene present in watermelon can also protect your skin against sun damage.
Side Effects of Eating Too Much Watermelon
Sinking your teeth into a juicy piece of watermelon is a delight. However, there should be a limit to how much watermelon we eat.
The marvelous health benefits of watermelon are well known, but what about its side effects? Eating too much could cause:
- Eating too much watermelon can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems.
- Watermelon increases blood sugar levels.
- Can cause cardiovascular problems.
- Too much watermelon consumption increases the risk of liver inflammation.
Is It Bad to Eat Watermelon at Night? Our Final Thoughts
So, is it bad to eat watermelon at night?
Well, eating watermelon at night does not pose serious health risks to most people, but it is not advisable to eat large quantities of this tasty fruit in the evening.
Therefore, to maximize the effects and reap the nourishing benefits it has, it is recommended that watermelon be eaten in moderate amounts.
Some experts recommend eating watermelon around 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. when the digestive system is highly active.