Before eating watermelon in the summer, many people like to put it in the refrigerator and take it out when it is cold. Although it feels comfortable in the mouth, it can cause harm to the spleen, stomach, and throat.
1. Refrigerating watermelon easily causes stomach problems
Watermelon itself is a cold food. Eating too much at once can easily harm the spleen and stomach. If you eat refrigerated watermelon for too long, the damage to the spleen and stomach will be even greater. In addition, watermelon contains a lot of water, which can dilute gastric acid and cause indigestion, leading to bloating and diarrhea. Especially after long journeys or intense exercise, if you eat a large amount of frozen watermelon, the smooth muscles and blood vessels of the stomach mucosa may contract and spasm due to the sudden stimulation of the cold food, which can easily cause stomach pain or worsen stomach problems.
2. Refrigerating watermelon easily causes pharyngitis
Eating a large amount of frozen watermelon can also cause pharyngitis or worsen discomfort in the throat. Because when watermelon is refrigerated at low temperatures, the water inside the melon will freeze into ice crystals. When consumed, the mouth is suddenly stimulated, causing a rapid cooling of the salivary glands, taste buds on the tongue, and periodontal nerves, leading to adverse reactions such as pharyngitis.
3. People with weak spleen and stomach should eat less
Infants with weak gastrointestinal tracts and people who usually have spleen and stomach deficiencies, coldness, and digestive problems should eat less.
4. Be cautious about eating during colds
Although watermelon is a good food for clearing heat and relieving summer heat, it should be eaten less during the early stages of a cold, otherwise it may worsen the condition or prolong the duration of the illness. However, when the cold worsens and symptoms such as high fever, thirst, sore throat, and dark yellow urine appear, it is appropriate to eat some watermelon, which can help the patient recover.
5. Avoid eating too much during menstruation
Women during menstruation, those with dysmenorrhea, and patients with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases should not eat too much frozen watermelon.
Therefore, it is best to buy and eat watermelon immediately. If the watermelon is warm when purchased, it needs to be cooled down. You can put it in the refrigerator and adjust the temperature to 15 degrees Celsius, but do not exceed 2 hours of storage time.
