Watermelon Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More! - PharmEasy Blog (2024)

Introduction:

When you think about describing summer, many things might come to your mind, but all these descriptions will be incomplete without the image of a slice of watermelon. What can be better than watermelon on a hot summer day? Cool watermelon juice. Sounds better, right? Apart from being super refreshing, watermelon juice has a host of nutrients that make it a great addition to your regular diet.

Watermelon is a fruit native to the hot deserts of Africa named Kalahari. In recent times, it has been widely cultivated in tropical regions of the world. It is being grown in Egypt, the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, Iran and Turkey.¹

The scientific name of watermelon is Citrullus lanatus, and it belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae, to which vegetables like cucumber and pumpkin belong.¹ Watermelon is a fruit and might have potential health benefits. Read on to learn more about why this light and tasty fruit could become your everyday favourite!

Nutritional Value of Watermelon Juice:

The nutrients present in watermelon juice and their percentage contents are as follows:

Citrulline, an amino acid, is quite abundant in watermelon. According to studies, this amino acid may help in the synthesis of muscle protein, increase muscle mass, and improve other aspects of output obtained from exercise. In my experience, those who use citrulline supplements gain the most from these advantages.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

Minerals present in watermelon juice:

• Iron
• Phosphorous
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Manganese
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Copper²

Vitamins present in watermelon juice:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• Vitamin B3 (niacin)
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
• Folate²

Also Read: Orange Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and More!

Properties of Watermelon Juice:

Watermelon juice might have the following properties due to the various nutrients present in it:

• It might help in diabetes
• It might have an effect on cancer
• It might help with macular disorders of the eye
• It might help with the oxidative stress
• It might help with blood cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

Also Read: Pineapple Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, and More!

Despite having a lot of vital elements, watermelon is also very heavy in sugar. For diabetics or someone who isseeking to regulate blood sugar levels, this maymake it a troublesome option. Furthermore, consuming alcohol may be problematic due to watermelon’s high lycopene concentration. When consumed simultaneously, they might irritate the liver. I recommend having watermelon juice in regulated quantity and in case of any problem, immediately reach out to your doctor.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Potential Uses of Watermelon Juice for Overall Health:

The red colour of the watermelon is due to the presence of a bioactive compound called lycopene in it. This compound (lycopene) is known to impart a red colour to fruits and vegetables. It is hypothesised that the potential health uses of watermelon may be due to the presence of lycopene in it.¹ This is the same lycopene that makes tomatoes red. The potential uses of watermelon juice are described as follows.

1. Potential uses of watermelon juice for oxidative stress

Multiple studies have shown that a bioactive compound (lycopene) present in watermelon juice might have the potential to protect cells from oxidative stress and free radicals by exhibiting potential antioxidant activity (neutralising free radicals). In a study conducted by Kim et al. in 2011 on smokers showed that lycopene might help reduce oxidative stress. Therefore, watermelon juice might have potential use for reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory diseases caused by them.¹

2. Potential uses of watermelon juice for cancer

Studies conducted by Rao et al. in 2007, Wu et al. in 2007 and Moussa et al.in 2008 hypothesised that drinking watermelon juice might be able to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer in women. Other studies have shown that watermelon juice might have a positive effect on colorectal cancer (cancer of the small intestines). It might be helpful for various other types of cancers as well. However, there is a need for more research on the benefits of watermelon juice for cancer. Cancer is a serious condition and requires proper diagnosis and treatment by a doctor.¹

3. Potential uses of watermelon juice for diabetes

A study conducted in 2008 showed that watermelon might have the potential to help with increased blood glucose and may have potential in increasing insulin levels. Watermelon might owe this property to the presence of lycopene. In a huge study conducted over 10 years, from 1992 to 2003, researchers found that there might be a correlation between the bioactive compounds present in watermelon juice (lycopene) and insulin levels in the body. However, there is a need for more studies to prove such claims. Diabetes is a serious condition and should be diagnosed and treated by a qualified doctor.¹

4. Potential uses of watermelon juice for the heart

Watermelon juice might help in lowering the risk of heart diseases. This effect might be due to the presence of certain vitamins (A, B6 and C) and lycopene. For example, a study conducted by Zhang and Hamauzu in 2004 showed that the bioactive compounds present in watermelon might help with the thickness of blood vessels and may help decrease the risk of myocardial infarction. However, more research and studies are required to ascertain the potential use of watermelon juice for human heart health. You should consult a doctor for discomfort and problems related to the heart as it can be serious.¹

5. Potential uses of watermelon juice for the eyes

Watermelon might have the potential to help with degenerative diseases of the eye like macular degeneration (causes blurring of vision). This might be due to the presence of certain compounds and vitamins present in watermelon. However, there is not much research related to the potential use of watermelon juice for the eyes. Therefore, there is a need for extensive research in laboratories, animals and humans to prove the claims mentioned earlier.¹ Please consult a doctor for problems related to the eye for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Though there are studies that show the potential uses of watermelon juice in various conditions, these are insufficient, and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of watermelon juice on human health.

Also Read: Pomegranate Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

How to Use Watermelon Juice?

You can make watermelon juice at home. First, you need to take a watermelon and clean it. Then, cut it open and dice it into small pieces. You may or may not remove the seeds of the watermelon. Next, take the cut pieces of watermelon and blend them in a juicer or mixer. Some people suggest adding mint leaves and sage or squeezing a little bit of lemon into it to enhance the taste.

Nevertheless, you can drink it without adding anything else too. If you prefer to drink it cold, you can also put it in the refrigerator before drinking it. You don’t have to add any extra sugar or syrup. You might even find bottled watermelon juice on the market. However, you should not use it as a medicine, in excess quantities or for daily use without consulting an Ayurvedic physician first.

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Likewise, do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.

A wide range of vitamins and antioxidants are abundant in watermelon. From my knowledge, it has lycopene, which may be beneficial for heart health and may shield the skin from UV rays.

Dr. Smita barode, BAMS

Side Effects of Watermelon Juice:

There is too little evidence in the form of studies to confirm the side effects of watermelon juice on human health. Thus, it cannot be confirmed if it doesn’t have any side effects. Therefore, there is need for more research to study the side effects of watermelon juice. It is advised that you consult an Ayurvedic physician before using it. Please do not self-medicate.

Also Read: Can You Freeze Watermelon? Exploring Storage and Preservation Tips

Precautions to Take with Watermelon Juice:

General precautions should be taken before using watermelon juice. Ensure that you ask your doctor if it is safe to drink watermelon juice when you are pregnant or breastfeeding and while giving it to children, older individuals or people who are diagnosed or suspect any condition. Kindly do not self-medicate.

Also Read: Lauki Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Interactions with Other Drugs:

More research is required to assess the safety of watermelon juice with other drugs. It may react with medications. It is advised that you consult your doctor about drinking watermelon juice in large quantities for its properties. They will be able to guide you appropriately as they might know your health condition in detail. Kindly do not alter, replace, avoid or discontinue any ongoing treatment. Please do not self-medicate.

Frequently Asked Questions:

References:

1. Naz A, Butt MS, Sultan MT, Qayyum MMN, Niaz RS. Review article: watermelon lycopene and allied health claims. EXCLI J. 2014;13:650–66. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464475/

2. USDA. Watermelon Juice, 100% [Internet]. FoodData Central. 2019 [cited 2022 Jun 29]. p. 1–4. Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170096/nutrients

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