Can I eat watermelon for cystitis and kidney disease?
The cause of cystitis is an infection that enters the body through the urethra. This disease is accompanied by unpleasant sensations during urination and frequent urge to the toilet, and you must consult a doctor to prescribe the correct treatment. But as an adjunctive therapy, folk remedies can also be used, one of which is watermelon. This article discusses the beneficial and harmful properties of watermelon with cystitis, the rules for its use and chemical composition, as well as the main causes of inflammation of the bladder.
Causes of Cystitis
This disease can occur in women and men, but due to the anatomical structure of the genitals, the fair sex suffers from cystitis much more often than men. In women, the urethra is wider and shorter, so infections are easier to penetrate and enter the bladder.
Did you know? The leader in growing watermelons is China. Here annually collect more than 60 million tons of striped berries.
The main causes that can trigger cystitis are listed below:
- hypothermia of the body (especially the legs and pelvic area) - inflammation of the urethra often occurs as a result of sitting on a cold surface or being in a draft in light clothing;
- various chronic diseases of the genitourinary system - create a favorable environment for the multiplication of bacteria that provoke inflammation;
- sedentary lifestyle - the disease often occurs in people who are daily in a sitting position for several hours without interruption;
- the use of insufficient amounts of fluid during the day - leads to a rare emptying of the bladder, which creates favorable conditions for the vital activity of harmful bacteria in the urethra;
- prolonged use of antibiotics - can cause hormonal failure and disrupt the microflora of the mucous membranes of the genitourinary organs;
- non-observance of intimate hygiene - a favorable environment for the propagation of pathogenic microorganisms is created when wearing uncomfortable or synthetic underwear, as well as with rare hygiene procedures;
- unprotected sex - during sex, the infection can easily penetrate directly into the mucous membrane of the genitals;
- vitamin deficiency - is accompanied by a weakening of immunity, which makes the body more susceptible to infection;
- general depletion of the body - can occur against the background of stress, frequent lack of sleep or poor diet, reducing the body's resistance to infection;
- pregnancy in women - often accompanied by a decrease in the number of lactobacilli in the vagina, which creates a favorable environment for the development of cystitis;
- allergy to means for intimate hygiene - when using some types of cosmetics, irritation of the mucous membrane of the urethra can occur, causing inflammatory processes.
Properties of watermelon with cystitis
Sweet and juicy watermelons are 90% water and have a strong diuretic effect. In addition, striped berries have a rich chemical composition, providing the body with various beneficial substances. All this beneficially affects the immune system and general condition of a person, and also contributes to the effective treatment of cystitis.
Important! During the treatment of cystitis, it is recommended to exclude from the diet acidic, salty and fried foods, as well as vegetables and fruits that cause irritation of the walls of the bladder (celery, sorrel, onion, garlic).
But in some cases of this disease, watermelon can cause significant harm to the body, therefore, before using the product, you should always consult your doctor. More about the useful and harmful properties of watermelon with cystitis - further in the article.
Benefit
The pulp of ripe striped berries not only has an excellent sweet taste, but also helps in the treatment of cystitis. The use of watermelon contributes to more frequent urination, as a result of which the causative agents of this disease cannot be fixed on the mucous membrane of the bladder and are excreted.
- The positive effect of the product on the body during cystitis:
- strengthens the nervous system and helps fight stress due to its high magnesium content;
- contains folic acid, eliminating inflammation of the bladder and intestinal mucosa;
- promotes rapid excretion of fluid from the body due to the high content of potassium and water in the pulp;
- a large number of vitamins in the pulp of the fetus helps to strengthen the immune system;
- provides active circulation of water in the body, which helps to lower body temperature to a normal level and prevents the development of intoxication;
- a high percentage of fructose allows you to saturate the body with energy;
- watermelon juice helps to create an environment harmful to harmful bacteria in the urethra due to the high alkali content;
- microelements contained in the pulp of the fetus prevent the formation of stones in the kidneys and gall bladder.
Find out if you can eat watermelon with gastritis, with high blood sugar and weight loss.
Harm
Despite the large number of useful properties, watermelon can not be used to treat cystitis in the presence of some other diseases or disorders in the body. In this case, the flesh of the striped berry can aggravate the problem and lead to negative consequences.
- The use of watermelon can be limited by a doctor or prohibited if there are such disorders in the body:
- diabetes mellitus - the pulp of the fetus is very sweet and causes an increase in blood sugar;
- diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis) - watermelon juice in this case irritates the gastric mucosa and can cause pain;
- excess weight - an increase in the amount of fluid in the body can provoke edema;
- flatulence - the flesh of watermelon contains substances that can enhance the processes of gas formation in the intestine;
- digestive disorders - in this case, watermelon juice is an ideal medium for the multiplication in the intestines of pathogenic microorganisms that cause vomiting or diarrhea;
- urinary retention - after consuming watermelon, the amount of fluid in the body will increase, causing stretching of the bladder and pain;
- urolithiasis - the use of pulp of striped berries can trigger the passage of stones from the kidneys and gall bladder;
- the second half of pregnancy in women is often accompanied by disorders of the stool and edema that occurs when a large amount of watermelon is consumed;
- prostate adenoma in men - watermelon juice in this case can cause pain during urination;
- food allergy to watermelon components.
Important! To prevent an allergic reaction and digestive upset, you should not give watermelon to children under the age of 3 years.
The chemical composition of watermelon
High-quality and ripe watermelon is a real treasury of vitamins and elements useful to the human body. By caloric content, the product belongs to dietary products, since 100 g of pulp contains only 27 kcal.
Description of the nutritional value of 100 g of product:
- proteins - 0.7 g;
- fats - 0.1 g;
- carbohydrates - 5.8 g;
- organic acids - 0.1 g;
- dietary fiber - 0.4 g;
- water - 92.6 g;
- ash - 0.4 g.
The composition of watermelon pulp also includes such components:
- vitamins - A, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, PP;
- macroelements - calcium, potassium, chlorine, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur;
- trace elements - zinc, fluorine, iodine, iron, aluminum, boron, manganese, copper, cobalt, strontium, selenium, nickel, rubidium, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, lithium;
- digestible carbohydrates - sucrose, fructose, glucose, starch;
- essential amino acids - isoleucine, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, arginine, leucine, valine, lysine, tryptophan;
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids;
- essential amino acids - glycine, cysteine, alanine, tyrosine, serine, proline, glutamic and aspartic acid;
- saturated fatty acids.
Did you know? On the island of Hokkaido (Japan), a special kind of Densuke watermelon with a black peel is grown. The annual yield of this crop does not exceed 10, 000 pieces.
Rules for choosing a quality watermelon
To get the most out of striped berries, you need to be able to distinguish quality from spoiled ones at the time of purchase. A green or over-ripe watermelon can be harmful to the body, and nitrate-infused fruits often cause serious food poisoning.
When buying this product, you need to pay attention to such signs:
- high-quality watermelons, ripened in a natural way, appear on sale only in the middle of August - earlier fruits will not please with a sweet taste, and nitrates could be used when growing them;
- Buying striped berries is recommended only in shops, retail pavilions and tents equipped with a canopy - under the bright sunshine, the flesh of the watermelon quickly deteriorates, and through microcracks in the skin, dust and pathogens penetrate;
- the seller must have a certificate - from this document you can find out where the fruit crop was grown and when it was harvested;
- the watermelon peel should be without cracks and dents, and cut fruits should not be bought - with prolonged interaction with air in the pulp pathogenic bacteria begin to multiply;
- the sweetest and highest quality are medium-sized striped berries - for growing too large specimens, the manufacturer could use nitrates, and small fruits have a less juicy pulp;
- the peel of a ripe watermelon has a dense structure and a shiny surface, and the pattern on it consists of contrasting light and dark stripes;
- when tapping on a ripe watermelon, you can hear a characteristic sonorous sound, and if you slightly squeeze the watermelon with your hands on both sides, it will crackle;
- in a quality specimen, the stalk is dry and breaks easily when bent - watermelons cut to full maturity have a lingering tail of green or brown color;
- during full ripening on melon, one side of the striped berry is constantly in contact with the soil surface, so a characteristic yellow or orange spot forms on it - it should be saturated in color and at least 5 cm in diameter.
Video: how to choose a watermelon
Methods and rules of use
Before using watermelon as an additional medicine for the treatment of cystitis, it is recommended to consult a doctor. During treatment, you must adhere to the norms of use of this product and not exceed the dosage prescribed by a specialist.
Important! To preserve the maximum amount of vitamins and useful components in watermelon pulp, it is recommended to cut the fruit immediately before eating.
To achieve the best therapeutic effect, it is necessary to include striped berry in your diet during cystitis with the following recommendations:
- the product is introduced into the menu gradually, starting with 200 g of pulp per day;
- the daily intake of watermelon for cystitis is not more than 2 kg, and in the second half of pregnancy - up to 200 g;
- It is recommended to divide the daily portion of watermelon into 4-5 receptions during the day, eating the product between meals;
- you can not eat the berry along with salty foods - this will lead to fluid retention in the body;
- after eating watermelon, at least 2 hours should remain before the next meal;
- the minimum course of treatment for cystitis with watermelon should be at least 1 week - this will help to remove all pathogens from the body;
- you can not eat striped berries less than 3 hours before bedtime - the diuretic effect of the product on the body can interfere with a full night's rest.
Storage rules
The shelf life of fresh watermelon depends on the integrity of its peel. Uncut fruits without dents or mechanical damage can be safely stored in a dark and cool cellar for 3-4 months. But after cutting the striped berry, its shelf life is reduced to several hours.
Important! At room temperature, the sliced watermelon can be stored for no more than 2 hours - under such conditions, its pulp turns into an ideal environment for the propagation of harmful microorganisms.
Basic rules for storing watermelon:
- when laying in the cellar, whole fruits are placed on a layer of fabric or soft moss so that they do not come into contact with hard surfaces and with each other;
- during long-term storage, whole watermelons should be regularly flipped to the other side to ensure uniform air circulation around them;
- you can not store striped berries near the potatoes - while they spoil much faster;
- air humidity in the basement with watermelons should be 80–85%, and the temperature should be from + 1 ° C to + 3 ° C;
- to increase the shelf life of uncut fruits, you can cover their peel with a layer of wax or paraffin, and then hang them in a grid to the ceiling of the cellar;
- cut fruits are stored only in the refrigerator - at the same time they need to be placed on a plate with the cut down and wrapped in a cling film along with a container;
- the shelf life of pieces of striped berries in the refrigerator is no more than 2 days;
- watermelon pulp can be cut and frozen - in this form it can be stored for several months, but after defrosting it will lose its initial consistency and can only be used to make a drink or dessert.
