Watermelon seeds: health benefits and harms

The traditional season of ripe, juicy and fragrant watermelons is the end of August and the beginning of September. Russians love these giant berries, but, unfortunately, not everyone knows that watermelon seeds can be eaten, as they are useful for the human body. However, this harmless product has its contraindications. Let's try to understand this issue in the most detailed way, who can and is even recommended to include watermelon and its seeds in their diet, and who should refrain from using them.

Composition and calorie content

The exact calorie content of a watermelon and its seeds cannot be calculated, since it directly depends on the size of the fetus and its ripeness. Per 100 grams of product, approximately 25-30 kcal. Consider the parameters BZHU in more detail.

• protein - 0.6 grams;
• carbohydrates - 0.8 grams;
• fat - 0.2 grams;
• cholesterol - 0.

Interesting: if you add fats to a watermelon, for example, make it a salad with arugula leaves and goat cheese, then such a dish could well replace one of the meals and become an easy dinner in the hot season.

The pulp of watermelon contains many useful substances:

1. Plant fiber has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and makes the human body work like a clock. In addition, fiber removes not only toxins and toxins, but also bad cholesterol, and this in turn helps to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies.
2. Organic acids maintain the correct balance of acid-base balance. Due to this, metabolic processes are normalized, special substances are produced that fill each cell with energy.
3. Pectin stabilizes the metabolism, in addition, it has the ability to protect the body from harmful substances.
4. Ascorbic acid is a very strong antioxidant, vitamin C copes with the task of enhancing natural immunity, helps the body fight infections.
5. Vitamins of group B take an active part in metabolic processes, have a beneficial effect on the state of the central nervous system.
6. Provitamin A helps keep your hair, skin and nails in perfect condition.
7. Iron is necessary for a person in order for the body to properly produce thyroid hormones. Mineral is extremely important for proper blood formation in the body.
8. Magnesium is involved in the synthesis of proteins, the proper absorption of glucose and the generated energy. The mineral is important for nerve impulses to work properly, transmitting signals from the brain to every cell in the body.

Useful properties of watermelon seeds

General benefit

1. Among the most useful amino acids that make up watermelon seeds, it is worth highlighting arginine separately. It not only regulates blood pressure, but also normalizes the functioning of the heart muscle. Regular use helps protect the body from malignant tumors.
2. Tryptophan is actively involved in the metabolic processes of the body and is responsible for the stable emotional background of a person.
3. Lysine is able to regulate protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
4. The high content of B vitamins positively affects the central nervous system.

For women

Iron, which is present in the bones, strengthens the hair, and magnesium and copper, which are part of the composition, favorably affect their healthy appearance. Hydration of hair occurs due to fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids prevent overdrying of the skin, making it smooth and shiny. Antioxidants prevent skin aging and age spots.

When consuming watermelon seeds, the lack of protein is compensated for, especially when observing a vegetarian diet.

For men

It will be useful for men to know that scientists conducted research on mice, where it was scientifically proven that the extract of watermelon seeds helps to reduce the prostate gland. It is also noted that with regular use of the seeds of this berry increases male strength and endurance.

Men do not always eat right, and if you include dried watermelon seeds in their diet, they will have a beneficial effect on the state of the digestive tract. They will be no less effective in treating ulcers compared to medicines, updating and protecting cells.

A handful of watermelon seeds will help relieve a hangover syndrome, reduce high blood pressure and return to life if a man abused alcohol overnight.

During pregnancy

Watermelon seeds are 1/3 part of pure protein, which is very useful during pregnancy, because eating protein helps maintain muscle tone.

100 grams of dried watermelon seeds contain up to 51% fat, which makes the product incredibly useful during the period of gestation.

The constant companion of a pregnant woman is nausea and heartburn. With the help of watermelon seeds, you can get rid of this problem for a rather long time.

The combination of trace elements in the product is unique and is not repeated anywhere else in nature. Some of them can literally provide the necessary daily allowance for the body of an adult and a pregnant woman as well. Moreover, most of the minerals are not in the kernel of the seed, but in its skin, so it is recommended to fry and consume them without cleaning.

Watermelon seeds help relieve swelling, which is very useful for pregnant women. Enough 50 grams of dried grains pour boiling water and insist until the broth is warm. Take 100 ml before each meal for 5 days.

When breastfeeding

A nursing mother should not only fully eat, but also receive the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients with food. Otherwise, as our grandmothers said, breast milk will be “empty” and the baby will not be able to gain weight. And watermelon seeds contain a maximum of these substances per 100 grams of the product, so do not bypass them.

But it is worth remembering that watermelon seeds are a high-calorie product and can have a laxative effect on both the mother's body and the baby.

For kids

A growing body most needs a supply of vitamins and minerals, and nutrients are needed for growth and development. That is why it is necessary to include those foods that are as rich in these substances as possible in the child’s diet. These include watermelon seeds. For a child, they can be fried in a dry pan with a small amount of salt and offered as a treat.

Watermelon seeds, like pumpkin seeds, have an anthelmintic effect, so you should not refuse to use them and, moreover, exclude them from the child’s diet. Even a small amount will bring great health benefits to children's health.

When losing weight

But for those who want to lose weight and get rid of extra pounds, it is worth considering that the watermelon itself and its seeds are quite high in calories. Although they contain a lot of useful in the composition and would be appropriate, especially with a strict diet, use them with caution.

To make up for the deficiency of vitamins and minerals, it is enough to add no more than 1-2 full (possibly with a slide) seeds to food during a diet during meals or use as a snack.This amount will be more than enough so as not to interfere with the effect of losing weight.

Watermelon seeds in folk medicine

Not all diseases are treated with medications, and then traditional medicine comes to the rescue. Recipes of tinctures and decoctions, which were still used by our ancestors, work to this day.

With the help of watermelon and its seeds, you can cure many diseases and even some serious ailments. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to these folk recipes, which will help out in difficult times and help restore health.

From worms and intestinal parasites

To prepare the broth, you need 950 ml of pure water and 115 grams of watermelon seeds, which are already cleaned and dried in the oven or in a pan.

1. Crush the seeds in a mortar to a state of small crumbs. If there is no mortar, then you can transfer the seeds into a bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
2. Pour the crushed powder with water in a bucket and put on a slow fire to heat. Strain for 40–45 minutes.
3. Cool the finished infusion and strain it through a fine sieve or clean gauze, folded in several layers.

Take one glass (200 ml) 1–1.5 hours before each meal.

For stable blood pressure

Thanks to a properly prepared tincture, you can refuse to use chemical drugs and normalize blood pressure. You can also use the drug along with medications so that the pressure quickly returns to normal and stabilizes.

For cooking, you need 500 grams of pre-dried watermelon peels and 300 grams of peeled and dried seeds.

1. Grind the components of the tincture using a food processor with knives into small crumbs.
2. Pour everything in a pan with a liter of clean water and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce the fire and boil the tincture at a minimum of about 15 minutes.

Strain the cooled drink and take it between meals of 80-100 ml.

With uterine bleeding

With the help of watermelon seeds, you can also stop very dangerous uterine bleeding, you just need to properly prepare the infusion based on watermelon seeds.

1. Take an arbitrary amount of watermelon seeds, peel them and dry them in the oven or in a dry frying pan without adding oil.
2. Grind with a food processor or meat grinder to a fine crumb.
3. Boil milk of normal fat content and mix it in a proportion of 1:10, i.e. 100 grams of powder per liter of milk.

Drink milk infusion with watermelon seeds 2 times a day between meals.

With fever, chills, and fever

When you or your loved ones have a cold and feel unwell, you can alleviate their condition by making a healthy vitamin infusion with the addition of watermelon seeds.

1. In a ratio of 1:10, grind seeds with cold boiled water.
2. Drink 2-3 tablespoons every hour for adults and 2-3 teaspoons for children.

You can add raspberry jam, honey or fruit syrup to the children's portion of the “medicine”. Suitable for sweets and regular granulated sugar.

Diuretic

When you are tormented by swelling, the same watermelon will come to the rescue, or rather its seeds. With their help, you can not only get rid of edema, which makes our appearance unattractive, but also lose a few pounds of excess weight.

1. 200 grams of crushed watermelon seeds pour 800 ml of cold water in a saucepan and, putting on fire, bring to a boil.
2. Strain the broth for about 15–20 minutes, cool and strain through cheesecloth or sieve.

Before each meal, in 15-20 minutes, drink a glass of cool broth and only after a while start a meal.

The benefits of watermelon seed oil

For example, during pregnancy or due to the individual characteristics of the body, the use of medications may simply be impossible. Then traditional medicine comes to the rescue with its recipes that help no worse, and sometimes even better than a chemical “pill”. So the watermelon seed oil has many uses, and there are practically no contraindications for use:

1. Helps establish proper digestion.
2. Regulates optimal acid-base balance.
3. Perfectly cleanses liver cells.
4. It copes with the formation of stones and sand in the kidneys, is an excellent prophylactic.
5. It helps with wounds and scratches, burns and inflammations.

How to use watermelon seed oil

1. First of all, aromatic essential oil on watermelon seeds is an excellent tool for moisturizing the skin and hair. It has a very light structure and a delicate pleasant aroma. It is good to apply the oil if you are injured or burned, its regenerating properties help in healing.
2. Oil can be used to moisturize children's skin, mixing with cream and using "under the diaper." It will help prevent and treat rashes, redness, and peeling. Oil can also be added to sunscreen for added protection.
3. If you add a few drops of oil to the face cream and tonic for washing, you get a great cosmetic product to combat acne and acne.

Important: oil should not be stored for more than 6-7 months, since all its beneficial properties by this time evaporate and evaporate.

Harm and contraindications

The huge benefits of watermelon seeds are directly related to the rich mineral composition. For example, a handful of seeds contains 565 mg of magnesium, which is 145% of the daily intake for an adult. And magnesium is necessary in order to regulate blood pressure, in addition, it helps to properly absorb carbohydrates in the body, reduce and stabilize blood glucose, which is important for diabetes.

But for those who have diseases of the genitourinary system, neither a watermelon, nor even its seeds, should in any case be abused. The seeds contain citrulline, which, when ingested, is transformed into ammonia. If a healthy person removes it from the body without difficulty, then those who suffer from renal insufficiency will have a very hard time.

How to store watermelon seeds

The best solution for storing raw or already dried watermelon seeds is a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. It is recommended to put it in a dark, possibly cool place so that the product does not lose its beneficial properties.

How to dry

Watermelon seeds can be dried in the oven, for this they need to be distributed in a thin layer on a baking sheet and held in the oven for 18–20 minutes at a temperature of 160 ° C.

Advice! If necessary, you can add a little fine salt or your favorite seasonings to the seeds to give them an additional taste. Such seeds will be used only for a snack and add to other dishes.

Is it possible to eat watermelon with seeds

Almost every one of us, eating a watermelon, strives to spit out annoying bones from our mouth as soon as possible. Meanwhile, completely in vain, because they have a lot of useful things. In total, a couple of handfuls of this product contain almost a third of the daily protein norm necessary for a person to feel good and healthy.

Interesting: Having eaten a large handful of watermelon seeds, we can assume that you got at least a full snack, and all thanks to the rich mineral composition, protein, carbohydrates and fats useful for hair and skin.

That is why it is not worth throwing such a useful and valuable product, for example, in Asian countries they learned to make flour from these seeds and even squeeze aromatic oil. Although in most cases they are simply eaten, appetizingly clicking after thoroughly drying or roasting with the addition of salt. After all, their taste is very close to peanuts, and they are not at all like pumpkin seeds.

How to take watermelon seeds

Watermelon grains can be used not only in cooking, but also for treatment and healing, and used for cosmetic purposes. Most often, they are simply used as a snack or a savory treat between meals or drinks are prepared for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for diseases of the kidneys, bladder, to normalize pressure and against parasites (worms).

For recreational purposes, watermelon seeds can be dried and added as a seasoning in salads, creamy soups and morning granola.

However, it is worth noting that the daily rate should not exceed the amount that fits in the palm of your hand. Another product is quite high-calorie.Therefore, if you follow a diet, seeds can and should be included in the menu, but reducing their number.

How to fry

The easiest recipe to dry watermelon seeds is to fry them in a pan without adding oil. To do this, rinse and dry the seeds on a clean kitchen towel. Then put on a dry frying pan and fry over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes with constant stirring. Cool and transfer the product into a jar with a tight lid for the preparation of infusions and decoctions.

As a treat! It is necessary to dissolve a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in 50 ml of boiled water and mix thoroughly, wait until all the grains have dissolved and pour the saline solution into the pan into the seeds. Increase the heat and continue to fry the seeds until all the liquid has evaporated.

Watermelon Seed Tea Recipe

From watermelon seeds you can make a very tasty and fragrant tea, which will not only energize, but also help to normalize blood pressure, cope with infections and inflammation of the genitourinary system and improve kidney function.

To prepare you will need:

• 45 grams of dried watermelon seeds;
• 950 ml of clean cold water;
• 165 grams of watermelon.

Cooking
First, boil water in a teapot or pan. While the water is boiling, use a mortar and pestle to grind the pre-dried grains into fine powder. You can also use a coffee grinder or food processor. Now pour the crushed seeds with boiling water, put on a small fire and simmer for half an hour. Remove the finished infusion from the stove, close the lid and wrap it so that it slowly cools to room temperature.

After complete cooling, strain the broth through a sieve and clean gauze, folded in several layers. Now cut the watermelon into pieces, transfer it to a blender with a decoction and beat until smooth. Pour into a clean bottle with a tight cap and put in the refrigerator.

How to drink tea from watermelon seeds

Tea must be taken warmed up or removed from the refrigerator in advance so that it is at room temperature. The first cup must be taken warm on an empty stomach, the rest - half an hour before meals. The course of admission is two weeks, then you need to take a month break.

It is very important not to add granulated sugar to the drink. If you want to add sweets, it is best to use high-quality honey, but not more than a teaspoon per glass of broth.

Important! Since watermelon is a seasonal berry, and seeds can be prepared in large quantities for the whole year, the pulp itself for making such a drink can easily be frozen in special bags.

It is very important to remember and not exceed the specified number of seeds for the preparation of the infusion, carefully monitoring the state of your health.

How to make a decoction

For 1 liter of water, take about 150-200 grams of watermelon seeds that have already dried. Pound the seed in a mortar, add water and simmer on the fire for about 30–40 minutes. Then strain the broth through clean gauze.

Is it possible to give watermelon seeds to hamsters and chickens

Yes, watermelon seeds can be given to both hens and hamsters, for the latter this product will be considered a big treat at all and will pleasantly diversify their diet.

However, veterinarians advise adding a little watermelon seeds to the diet of animals a little, otherwise they will lose their nutritional value.

Interesting facts about watermelon

In the season, to refuse to buy ripe and juicy watermelon is simply impossible - because you want to enjoy sweet fruit, as long as you have the opportunity. But what do we know about this “berry”?

1. You can eat the whole watermelon whole. As for the pulp, then there’s no need to talk about it, in a cool form everyone loves it. From crusts, if desired, you can make jam or delicious candied fruits, which are subsequently used for a bite or home baking.Well, dried seeds can be fully eaten and used to make healing broths.
2. The berry contains up to 92% of water, the remaining 8% is fiber.
3. Watermelons without seeds - yes, yes, do not be surprised to eat such fruits. Of course, they are genetically modified derived, but it is absolutely safe for humans. You can give them to animals, such as hamsters.
4. Due to the content of lycopene, watermelon effectively fights the formation of malignant tumors, protecting the body from negative effects.
5. In the south of Russia, where many watermelons grow, residents learned how to make honey from berries. To do this, seedless watermelon juice is evaporated to a thick state, cooled and put away for storage.
6. Is a watermelon a vegetable, fruit, or berry? In fact, he still refers more to vegetables, as he belongs to the family of gourds. So it’s most logical to consider it a big and juicy pumpkin.
7. The average weight of ripe, sweet and juicy watermelon ranges from 5 to 10 kg. And it’s not at all a fact that the larger the fruit, the sweeter and tastier it is. It all depends on the degree of ripening of the fetus.
8. You can not just enjoy watermelon by cutting it into pieces. It is added to summer refreshing salads, and juices, smoothies and even summer fruit soups are prepared on the basis of pulp whipped in a blender. Watermelon can even be salted or pickled with spices and seasonings - it turns out a very tasty and spicy preparation for meat dishes.

Photo of watermelon seeds