Early Watermelons: The Terrible Secret Of The Striped Berry

Early watermelons can contain a large amount of nitrates that are dangerous to health. These substances decompose in the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting and profuse diarrhea. In addition, nitrates can lead to serious metabolic disorders and oxygen starvation.

Early watermelons can contain a large amount of nitrates that are dangerous for health. These substances decompose in the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting and profuse diarrhea. In addition, nitrates can lead to serious metabolic disorders and oxygen starvation.

Watermelons and melons are favorite summer treats that are enjoyed by both children and adults. What could be better than a ripe, cool watermelon on a hot day!

This large striped berry can be seen already in June. Some cannot resist the temptation and happily buy a watermelon. However, doctors strongly recommend waiting with this. What is the danger of early watermelons?

A source of vitamins and ... nitrates

Many people have heard about the benefits of watermelon. It really contains many vitamins, trace elements and other biologically active substances. Unfortunately, early watermelons are also high in nitrates.

Nitrates are salts of nitric acid that are added to mineral fertilizers. Plants actively use nitrates for growth. Early varieties of melon crops contain a fairly high concentration of nitrates (it can exceed the norm by ten times!), which poses a threat to human health.

What happens to nitrates in the body?

So, you still enjoyed an early watermelon, which may well be a real "nitrate bomb". Nitrates cannot be determined by taste, but the negative consequences can be felt. So, what happens to the body if it gets a high dose of nitrates?

Nitrates contained in watermelon enter the stomach and then the intestines. Under the influence of intestinal microflora, nitrates are decomposed, and nitrites are formed from them - dangerous compounds that have an irritating effect on the intestinal mucosa. Irritation can be so significant that a person experiences nausea, vomiting and profuse diarrhea.

But these are far from all the troubles that nitrites bring us. These substances are able to oxidize hemoglobin iron. In this state, hemoglobin does not carry oxygen, oxygen starvation develops.

Nitrites disrupt the process of normal absorption of vitamins and trace elements in the intestines, and also contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in the kidneys and liver.

As you can understand, nitrate poisoning is a big deal. Therefore, try not to take early watermelons. Better wait until the end of July, beginning of August when the season starts.