According to Healthline, watermelon also contains high amounts of fructose, which is a type of FODMAP that some people are unable to fully digest. These can cause many unpleasant digestive symptoms, such as bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, and even constipation.
Does Watermelon Make You Poop? ANSWERED!
If you’re a big fan of watermelon, then you’re probably wondering if it makes you poop more. I’ve done my research and here is what I discovered.
Watermelon can make you poop more because it’s packed with fiber, and it’s 96% water. The fiber helps to bulk up your stool, while the high water content helps keep your digestive tract working efficiently.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Looking for fruits that help to relieve constipation? Here are the 10 Best Fruits That Will Make You Poop better.
Keep reading to find out exactly how watermelon makes you poop more, as well as other benefits and how much you should be eating per day.
How Does Watermelon Make You Poop?
Watermelon is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a refreshing, healthy snack. However, what many people don’t know is that watermelon is very good for regulating your bowel movements!
According to Libby Mills, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the high water content of watermelon (approximately 99 percent water) makes it so effective in relieving constipation.
Watermelon contains approximately 0.4 grams of fiber per 100 g serving, which is relatively low but can still add some bulk to your stools to keep things moving along smoothly.
Therefore, regularly consuming water-rich and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, can be very helpful for improving regular, painless bowel movements.
Can Watermelon Cause Diarrhea?
Watermelon contains sorbitol which is a sugar compound commonly known to encourage loose stools and gas problems. Watermelon also contains lycopene, which is a pigmented antioxidant that provides watermelon with its bright color.
According to Healthline, watermelon also contains high amounts of fructose, which is a type of FODMAP that some people are unable to fully digest. These can cause many unpleasant digestive symptoms, such as bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, and even constipation.
If you suffer from IBS, it is therefore advised to steer clear of watermelons, as they may experience adverse side effects such as the ones mentioned above. However, your average, healthy person should not experience any issues, so long as they are consuming watermelon moderately.
Does Watermelon Make You Poop Red?
While the sight of red poop may be alarming at first, there is a scientific reason behind this, and no, you are not dying!
According to DiarrheaNurse.com, watermelon may make your poop red due to the fact that the pulp of the watermelon will often pass through the intestines without going through many changes. This may give your stools a reddish, mottled appearance that can appear to look like blood, which is certainly a cause for concern for most.
Red poop due to ingesting watermelon is not really common in adults (unless you eat extremely large quantities of watermelon), but is rather more common in young children and babies as their intestines are immature and will find it more difficult to break down foods.
However, if you do notice red poop and you haven’t eaten anything out of the usual, it is definitely recommended that you consult with your doctor to see if there is anything to worry about.
5 Additional Benefits Of Watermelon
Watermelon is simply brimming with health benefits since it is packed with a variety of vitamins and nutrients. Keep reading to find out more about these nutrients and how they help your body to fight off illness and improve digestion.
01. Watermelon contain vitamin C
According to Healthline, vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient. vitamin C that has not been absorbed creates an osmotic effect in your digestive tract, which means that it draws water into your intestines, which helps to soften your stools.
Watermelon contains approximately 8.1 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams, which means you are getting a healthy dose when you eat 1-4 cups of watermelon.
02. Watermelon keeps you hydrated
As we know, watermelon is extremely high in water (almost 100 percent)! This means that simply eating watermelon will hydrate you almost as effectively as a glass of water!
Keeping hydrated is also vital in keeping your body and digestion working smoothly!
03. Contains Potassium
Potassium is an important electrolyte that works by ensuring the muscles in your body are functioning optimally. This includes the muscles located in your colon! When your potassium levels drop, the muscles in your colon don’t move as much as they should, and this can result in constipation.
Watermelon contains around 112 mg of potassium per 100 grams of watermelon, which is not too bad at all!
04. Contains Magnesium
Magnesium is often used to treat constipation, as it relaxes the muscles found in the intestines, creating a smoother flow as the stools move through the bowels.
Magnesium also absorbs water into the intestine, so it acts as an osmotic laxative. The extra water stimulates bowel movements and softens and increases the size of the stools, resulting in a smoother bowel movement.
Watermelon contains about 10 mg of magnesium for every 100 grams of watermelon you consume.
Want to learn more about the incredible benefits of magnesium on body and digestion? Read our article here for all your questions answered and more!
05. Contains Vitamins B1, B5 and B6
Vitamin B, particularly B5, has been said to help ease constipation. This is because it may work by stimulating your muscles to contract in your digestive system, which in turn helps stools to move through your bowels more smoothly.
Watermelon contains 569 IU if Vitamin B5 per 100 grams, which may be a relatively small amount, but still significant when it comes to adding to your total RDA!
How Much Of Watermelon Should You Be Eating?
According to nutritionists, 100 grams of watermelon contains roughly 30 calories. Since watermelon is mostly water, it is pretty easy to consume up to 500 grams, which means you have eaten 150 calories.
It is recommended that you eat no more than 4 cups of watermelon per day, to stick to your RDA and reap the benefits rather than the drawbacks. Sticking to this amount will keep you hydrated, as well as keep your bowel movements regular.
Watermelon contains high amounts of sugar, with around 6 grams per 100 grams, so the same portion of watermelon would leave you consuming around 30 grams of sugar!
Ideally, the average person should be consuming between 100 to 150 grams of sugar daily, from all their food combined. This is why eating watermelon could rack up your count faster than you think!
Excess sugar that cannot be broken down and absorbed by the body is left to ferment in the bowels, causing it to move more slowly through the large intestine, which feeds bad bacteria and yeast and causes a build-up of gas. This in turn causes constipation, cramps, spasms, and pain.
Lycopene is a common nutrient found in watermelon, and too much of this can cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, and bloating, according to LiveScience. Consuming more than 30 mg of lycopene per day may result in the above-mentioned side effects.
Best Way To Eat Watermelon
In order to fully take advantage of the benefits of watermelon, it is important that you only eat it once it is fully ripe. The redder it appears, the higher the concentration of lycopene, beta-carotene, and phenolic antioxidants.
Lycopene is linked with heart health, bone health, and prostate cancer prevention, and is also good at decreasing inflammation and improving digestion.
Just remember to stick to your RDA of 30 mg so you don’t experience any negative side effects!
Final Thoughts
As with most things in life, too much of anything can be a bad thing, which is why eating watermelon in moderation, as part of a healthy balanced diet, can certainly do wonders for your digestion! Just don’t overdo it, or you could be overloading with your system with lycopene and sugar, which is not id
Related Questions
When is the best time to eat watermelon?
While watermelon can be enjoyed at nearly any time of the day, it is not recommended that you eat it right before you head to bed. Anytime before 7 pm should be okay. Watermelon is slightly acidic, so if you eat it in the evenings this may delay the process of digestion and may even keep you awake.
Is watermelon good for weight loss?
So long as you are not eating watermelon in excess, it can be incorporated into your diet as a tool to keep the weight off. A 100 g serving contains only 30 calories. It is also an excellent source of an amino acid called arginine, which helps to burn fat much faster.
Side Effects of Eating Too Much Watermelon
Loaded with potassium, magnesium and vitamin C, watermelon keeps you hydrated and balances your electrolyte levels — but you still need to be mindful of portion sizes. Eating too much watermelon may cause bloating and digestive discomfort, among other symptoms.
Watermelon Nutrition Facts
If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that watermelon can be a good ally in the battle against the bulge. This refreshing summer fruit is over 90 percent water, filling you up quickly. Plus, it’s chock-full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that fuel your energy and support overall health.
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The calories in watermelon are negligible. A large wedge (about 9.8 ounces), which equals one serving, has only 84 calories and 21 grams of carbs, including 1 gram of fiber and 17 grams of sugars. Although this fruit is low in protein, it boasts high doses of vitamin A, vitamin C and minerals. Each serving provides the following nutrients:
- 84 calories
- 21.1 grams of carbs
- 1.7 grams of protein
- 0.4 grams of fat
- 1.1 grams of fiber
- 25 percent of the DV (daily value) of vitamin C
- 9 percent of the DV of vitamin A
- 8 percent of the DV of thiamin
- 13 percent of the DV of copper
- 7 percent of the DV of potassium
- 7 percent of the DV of magnesium
- 5 percent of the DV of manganese
- 2 percent of the DV of calcium
As you see, watermelon is particularly high in vitamin C. This nutrient supports normal growth and development, tissue repair, iron absorption and wound healing, reports the U.S National Library of Medicine. It also serves as an antioxidant, protecting your cells from free-radical damage.
Vitamin C also benefits your brain, according to a December 2015 review published in Frontiers in Physiology. It promotes neuronal survival and differentiation while protecting the brain against oxidative stress. Low vitamin C levels may put you at risk for anemia, joint pain, gingivitis and weight gain, as the U.S National Library of Medicine points out.
Too much of anything can harm your health — and watermelon is no exception. Despite its high nutritional value, this fruit isn’t free of side effects.
Watermelon and Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common side effect of eating too much watermelon. This digestive problem can have several causes.
The Illinois Department of Public Health warns about the dangers of pre-cut melons. These fruits might be contaminated with Salmonella, a bacterium that causes stomach pain, fever and severe diarrhea. To stay safe, purchase whole melons and wash them thoroughly before consumption.
This fruit is also rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant that may protect against diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis and other health conditions due to its free radical scavenging activity. According to a June 2014 review featured in the EXCLI Journal, red-fleshed watermelon contains 40 percent more lycopene than tomatoes.
This naturally occurring compound, though, may cause gas, diarrhea and bloating in some individuals. Nausea and vomiting are common too. In a study cited by the National Cancer Institute, these symptoms subsided when lycopene was taken with food. However, researchers used lycopene supplements, which are more concentrated than watermelon and other lycopene-rich fruits and hence more likely to cause side effects.
Digestive Discomfort and Cardiovascular Problems
In addition to diarrhea, eating too much watermelon may cause bloating and digestive distress. That’s mostly due to its high water content. If you eat three or four wedges in one serving, you’ll ingest about 27 to 36 ounces of water plus fiber. Therefore, it’s normal to feel bloated and gassy afterward.
Luckily, watermelon boasts high doses of vitamin C, which acts as a natural diuretic, reports Johns Hopkins Medicine. This means that you’ll eliminate the excess water quite fast and regain your flat tummy.
Other adverse reactions are related to high potassium intakes. Each serving of watermelon provides 7 percent of the daily recommended allowance for this mineral, so overdosing is unlikely.
However, if your diet is already high in potassium and you eat too much watermelon, you may develop hyperkalemia. Individuals with kidney disease or poorly controlled diabetes are at greater risk. The same goes for those taking medications that prevent the kidneys from excreting potassium.
According to the American Heart Association, excess potassium in the bloodstream may affect cardiovascular function, leading to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). You may also experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, numbness and mood changes.
The best thing you can do is to prevent these issues in the first place. Enjoy watermelon in moderation as part of a healthy diet. Beware of its sugar content, too. If you overindulge, you might end up gaining weight.
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