Can't eat watermelon in autumn, will it cause stomach upset? The truth is...

gossip

"You can't eat watermelon after autumn, it will upset your stomach."

There is a rumor that "eating watermelon in autumn will easily lead to illness", which means that watermelon is "cold" and eating it in autumn will easily lead to illness.

Rumor Analysis

This statement is not rigorous.

For healthy people, watermelon is a harmless fruit that can be eaten at any time and in any season.

It has been a while since the beginning of autumn, but the autumn heat is still raging in many places. You continue your summer habit, sweating profusely as you return home. When you open the refrigerator and try to take a bite of iced watermelon to cool down, your old mother stops you.

"You can't eat watermelon after autumn!" This saying is prevalent across the country, and is almost the same across the country. Although the specific reasons vary, the common reason is that it is said to "cause stomach upset."

However, is there any scientific basis for the fact that we cannot eat watermelon after autumn?

Don't eat melons after autumn

There is no scientific reason

There is a rumor that "eating watermelon in autumn will make you sick", which means that watermelon is "cold" and eating it in autumn will make you sick. But in fact, there is no scientific basis for this saying. For healthy people, watermelon is a harmless fruit that can be eaten at any season and at any time.

There is a rumor that watermelons cannot be eaten after autumn. One speculation is that in the days when watermelon cultivation technology was not well developed, the temperature dropped, the rainfall increased, and the light became weaker as autumn approached. The taste of "earth watermelons" also deteriorated, which violated the meaning of "not eating in season", so there was a saying "don't eat watermelons after autumn". But this "don't eat" means "don't eat it if it doesn't taste good", not "can't eat it". But in recent decades, with the development of greenhouse technology, watermelons have not only been planted all year round, but also the taste can be guaranteed on this basis. Even in winter, you can eat watermelons if you want - if your wallet allows.

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But some people say that eating melon in autumn will cause diarrhea. Why is that? This may be due to the problem of eating it in the right way:

1. There is a problem with the storage method

The weather turns cooler in autumn, and people have already eaten melons for a whole summer, so their desire for melons gradually weakens. At this time, the probability of buying a watermelon, cutting it in half, and throwing the rest in the refrigerator for a long time becomes higher. Some people even take advantage of the fact that the weather is not so hot, eat two bites of half a watermelon with a spoon, and then put it directly at room temperature, and then continue to eat it after a few hours. After all, in their concept, it is not bad if it is not sour. But if the cut watermelon is not eaten and left for a long time, it is easy to be contaminated by bacteria. If there are pathogenic bacteria, it may cause food poisoning. If the knife is not clean, covering it with a layer of plastic wrap cannot stop this process. The most devilish way is to cut the watermelon into small pieces and store it in a bowl, which is simply a paradise for bacteria, not to mention the warriors who don't put it in the refrigerator at all. At the turn of summer and autumn, the temperature fluctuates greatly, the gastrointestinal state of people will be less stable, and the resistance will also decrease. At this time, if you eat melons with excessive bacteria, the infection rate will be higher.

2. Fructose intolerance

Another possible reason for stomach upset after eating watermelon is fructose intolerance. Fructose intolerance is usually a genetic factor, and the damage is caused by the mutation of the aldolase B gene to reduced activity. Watermelon itself contains a lot of fructose. If people with fructose intolerance eat a lot of watermelon in a short period of time, the thin transport protein in the stomach will not have time to transport too much fructose, which will cause the fructose to enter the large intestine and ferment, causing gastrointestinal reactions. It should be noted here that some people's fructose intolerance may not be so serious, and it is no big deal to eat some watermelon on a regular basis. The discomfort symptoms will only be revealed when excessive fructose is consumed. In autumn, the temperature is unstable, and coupled with the influence of air conditioning, irritable bowel problems become more common. At this time, people with fructose intolerance can eat half a watermelon, which is equivalent to stacking buffs.

3. Irritable bowel syndrome

Speaking of irritable bowel syndrome, it is a very complex gastrointestinal reaction, which is related to people's emotions, stress, external temperature and changes in intestinal flora. In autumn, the indoor and outdoor temperature changes are large and complex, and it is also a high-incidence period for emotional problems. At this time, the fragile gastrointestinal tract of people with irritable bowel syndrome is easily stimulated by a little ice watermelon or excessive fructose, and it is easy to "flow out".

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4. Mix with other foods

Autumn is a good season, with fish, shrimp and crab all delicious, and all kinds of river and seafood are frequently served on the table. Fish, shrimp and crab are rich in protein, and improper storage and consumption can cause poisoning or allergic reactions in some people. In addition, some foods that are too salty or too spicy can also increase the burden on the stomach. Watermelon has high water and sugar content. If you eat these and then eat watermelon, it is easy to "overload" the stomach and intestines, which can cause diarrhea.

In short, when it comes to the issue of causing stomach upset after eating watermelon in autumn, watermelon is really wronged. The main point is that the watermelon is good and people are bad.

Here are the things you should pay attention to in autumn diet

Autumn is a very delicate season. On one hand, it makes people feel comfortable, but on the other hand, the dry weather and the sudden drop in temperature can also make the body feel uncomfortable. Rather than eating melon or not, these are the real dietary issues that should be paid attention to in autumn:

1. Drink plenty of water

In autumn, the weather is dry, and the skin and mucous membranes will also become dry, causing skin problems. Some people are prone to nosebleeds. Some people tend to attribute this to "getting angry", but in fact it is because of less water intake. So although you don't sweat much in autumn, you must remember to drink more water.

2. Vitamin Supplement

Vitamin A can activate epithelial cells, and vitamin B (B group) can improve skin inflammation. Maintaining a balanced diet on the basis of eating more dark fruits and vegetables and animal liver, and increasing the intake of whole grains can compensate for mucosal damage, enhance skin resistance, and relieve dry eyes caused by the autumn wind.

3. Eat more nuts

There is a folk saying, "Eat sprouts in spring, melons in summer, fruits in autumn, and roots in winter." The fruits here include nuts and dried fruits. Nuts are nutritious and rich in protein, oil, minerals and vitamins. After the beginning of autumn, the sunshine time becomes shorter and the temperature drops sharply, which is prone to cardiovascular and psychological problems. Eating nuts can not only effectively protect the cardiovascular system, but the magnesium rich in nuts can also help the body regulate the content of serotonin and resist seasonal mood loss. The most important thing is that nuts are seasonal foods in autumn and are on the market in large quantities. If not now, when will you eat them?

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4. Eat a light diet

The light diet mentioned here refers to reducing the intake of foods high in oil, salt, and sugar. Autumn is dry, and if you do not drink enough water and eat foods high in oil and salt, it is easy to burden your body's metabolism and cause various diseases. In addition, people with weak stomachs should also pay attention to eating less spicy foods that irritate the stomach, and eat more refreshing, fresh, and nutritious foods.

Finally, although autumn is refreshing, bacteria still multiply very quickly, so you should pay attention to food hygiene and storage methods. Autumn is also a high-incidence season for respiratory infectious diseases, so you can exercise appropriately and maintain a healthy work and rest schedule to enhance your resistance, and pay attention to personal protection in public places.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

There are many kinds of rumors about "watermelon", including "watermelon cannot be eaten with xx" and "food incompatibility", "seedless watermelon is because of birth control pills", "the relationship between the sweetness of watermelon and sweeteners", and "misunderstandings about eating watermelon". But in fact, for healthy people, watermelon can be eaten in any season and at any time. For other claims involving science or medicine, it is necessary to find out whether there is scientific research support. Scientific verification is an important means to distinguish the truth from the false.

Author: Likely Popular Science Creator

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center