Is Watermelon Alkaline Or Acidic?

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Watermelon has a medium to high alkaline pH and the least amount of acid compared to similar fruits. Watermelon is considered to be highly alkaline when it is fully ripe and has a pH of 9.

It is well recognized that maintaining a healthy diet is a crucial habit for delaying the start and progression of non-communicable diseases. The maintenance of fluid pH balance may impact diet-induced metabolic health.

The alkaline diet, consisting of meals high in fruits and vegetables, has been demonstrated in several human intervention studies to enhance the acid-base balance and increase urinary pH.

What is the pH of watermelon?

The pH level of watermelon is from 5.10-5.60, reaching to pH of 9 when fully ripe. Understanding pH is crucial when talking about alkaline foods such as watermelon.

In simple terms, pH measures foods’ acidity or alkalinity. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14 as follows:

Acid: 0.0 to 6.9

Negative/Neutral: 7.0

Basic or alkaline: 7.1–14.0

It’s crucial to remember that our body’s pH changes significantly, though. There is no predetermined degree of acidity; certain areas are acidic, and others are alkaline.

With a pH of 2-3.5, our stomach has a lot of hydrochloric acids, making it quite acidic. This acidity is essential for the digestion of meals. On the other hand, human blood always has a pH of 7.36–7.44, making it neutral to alkaline.

Significant to emphasize is that blood pH imbalance that is outside of the normal range can cause the development of diseases.

Is watermelon alkaline-forming?

Watermelon is alkaline-forming fruit when fully ripe, and its pH level reaches 9. Alkaline-forming foods are foods that have an alkaline effect on the body when digested and metabolized, balancing the body’s pH to neutral, as it should be all the time.

In comparison, acid-forming foods such as meat, poultry, and milk… are mainly highly processed foods. When consumed, our organism uses calcium and other nutrients from our muscles and bones in order to restore the pH level to alkaline.

As a result, our kidneys work much more challenging to excrete the calcium throughout the urine, which eventually might lead to loss of muscle mass, as well as depletion of bone minerals.

Additionally, as a result of the substantial amounts of calcium salt acids that are deposited in the kidneys during the process of excreting calcium from the body, kidney stones may also form.

Related: Is Coconut Acidic or Alkaline?

Is seeded and seedless watermelon alkaline?

First, explaining the nutritional difference between seeded and seedless watermelon is important. Both varieties contain similar nutrients in their flesh and more than 90% water.

Seedless watermelons has been cultivated for more than 50 years. Chromosomes are the fundamental units that give living things, such as plants and watermelons, their distinctive properties.

When a tetraploid plant (which has four sets of chromosomes) is crossed with a diploid plant (which has the typical two sets of chromosomes), a fruit that produces triploid seeds occurs.

Watermelon breeders found this fact. The triploid seed then results in seedless watermelon. Simply put, seedless watermelon is created by cross-breeding, i.e., it is a hybrid fruit, man-made.

There is no in-depth research done on the difference in the pH level between seedless and seeded watermelon, but it is assumed that both types are alkaline-forming fruits.

The primary factor, however, remains that the seeded watermelon contains additional nutrients in the seeds, which enter our organism together with the flesh, and it is an entirely natural product recommended by Dr. Sebi’s methodology.

Related: Is Ginger Alkaline Or Acidic?

Is yellow watermelon alkaline?

Yellow watermelons are believed to have undergone natural cross-breeding for organoleptic characteristics (flavor, color, and texture) when they were originally cultivated in Africa thousands of years ago.

When the presence of lycopene, a plant ingredient, started to become apparent, the watermelon’s inside changed from yellow to pink before turning red.

Citrullus lanatus, the scientific name for yellow watermelons, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, making them a close relative of pumpkins and squashes.

When fully mature, the outside appearance of yellow and red watermelons is nearly identical, as is their flavor.

According to findings, yellow watermelon has a pH similar to pink watermelon, i.e., a value of 6, making it a low acidic fruit with an alkaline-forming effect on the body.

Related: Is Date Sugar Alkaline?

Does watermelon cause acidity?

Like most other fruits, watermelon contains specific acid-forming characteristics. But it’s one of the fruits that our stomach can digest easily. Therefore, it is recommended by experts for heartburn.

Additionally, rich in vitamins and minerals, watermelon also contains potent plant compounds that can support the health of the digestive tract. Eating it can also aid in preventing the onset of a number of health problems.

Watermelon may cause acidity when taken in excessive amounts, which is usually the case for almost every fruit intake.

However, this applies only to fresh watermelon since watermelon juice has a higher sugar concentration and may have an acidic effect on our body.

Related: Is Soy Alkaline or Acidic?

Is watermelon good for an acidic stomach?

As mentioned above, watermelon is one of the healthiest fruits for those who have acid reflux, but it might be a trigger food for certain people.

For instance, sugars make up most of the calories in watermelon’s carbs. In reality, you get 9.5 g of sugar from one cup of watermelon, which is a lot.

The sugar in watermelon is natural and nutritious. Still, consuming too much watermelon can result in heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms if you have a particular sensitivity to highly sweet foods.

Sugar can cause your digestive tract to become inflamed and irritated, which can cause heartburn. This may increase the amount of gastric acid your stomach produces, resulting in heartburn. So, if you experience acid reflux, attempt to limit your intake of sugary foods.

There are also some additional side effects of excessive watermelon consumption, which are rare but possible. These include intestinal problems, cardiovascular disorders, fatigue, and irregular blood glucose level.

Intestinal problems occur due to the high lycopene content in watermelons, and these usually cause bloating, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, and flatulence.

These symptoms mostly happen when watermelon is consumed individually, without an additional intake of protein-rich foods.

Additional Effects of Watermelons

Also, watermelons are rich in potassium. While this is an essential mineral for regulating blood pressure, consuming watermelon in high quantities can lead to irregular heartbeats and weaker pulse due to reduced blood pressure.

Regarding the sugar present in watermelons, even though it is a natural type, they are not recommended for diabetics and people at risk of getting diabetes. If you must consume them, it is recommended to consume in moderation, combined with foods with low glycemic index and rich in protein and fiber.

Pregnant women should also avoid overeating watermelon since they are at risk of getting gestational diabetes.

Lastly, excessive use of watermelon may cause extra water reduction in the body, which might lead to swelling of the legs and weakened function of the kidneys to excrete harmful substances.

Therefore, like many things in life, watermelon consumption also should be in moderation to fully maximize its’ benefits.

Related: Is Soursop Alkaline?

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