Watermelon also known as “tarbooj” in India is a hydrating fruit that possesses several health benefits. It is one of the highest cultivated fruit in the world and is filled up with vitamins and minerals. We are all aware of the several health benefits that watermelon has to offer us and today we are not going to talk about that. Instead, we are going to discuss about a specific question related to watermelon generally asked by bodybuilders and gym freaks all over the world. “Does watermelon have any gym benefits” or “Does eating watermelon before or after gymming helps to develop your muscles” are the main questions that will be answered with proper scientific reasoning. Let’s begin.
Mangoes and watermelons are the most preferred fruits during the summer months. Watermelon is a seasonal fruit and actually has certain benefits to offer if you are working out on a regular basis.
How does watermelon help you to enhance your gymming experience?
1. Presence of Vitamin B6
Watermelon is enriched with Vitamin B6. When you are working out you are definitely taking up protein in the form of supplements, food. The more you take up protein the more amount of Vitamin B you need in your body. Vitamin B is highly necessary for your nervous system. Vitamin B6, being one of the major vitamins of the B group serves this cause. Vitamin B6 helps in breaking down amino acids (protein) in your body for better absorption. Vitamin B6 already present naturally in watermelon increases the protein absorption rate and enhances the protein breakdown process. This is great if you are on a high-protein diet.
2. Presence of Vitamin C
The main mantra of Vitamin C is boosting your immunity which is highly necessary during this pandemic period. During gymming or workout, the more your immune system is boosted the more you can workout without any risks of getting affected by foreign viruses. Vitamin C is naturally present in watermelon and consuming it as a pre-workout meal will definitely help you.
3. Presence of citrulline
What do you actually need during a workout session?
You obviously need a better blood flow for better nutrient delivery. Watermelon contains citrulline which is a type of amino acid. Our body breaks down this citrulline and converts it into arginine.
Arginine, as we all know helps to open up our blood vessels which result in increased blood flow ultimately resulting in faster delivery of nutrients to other parts of the body. Arginine also helps in providing the pump that you get while you are gymming. Watermelon if consumed before gymming helps in enhancing the delivery of nutrients and at the same time provides the pump in your muscle. Most body-builders take arginine as supplements but watermelon already has citrulline present in it naturally which converts itself into arginine.
4. Lycopene
Lycopene is a type of antioxidant that is present in watermelons. Generally, fruits that are red in color from the inside are high in lycopene and have great antioxidative properties. Lycopene helps in reducing the inflammation in the body caused by smoking, drinking and stress. It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which treats inflammation caused in the interior of the body. While working out your body generally tends to develop inflammation and injury. Eating watermelons as a pre-workout fruit will help you to minimize the risks if you are into intense gymming.
5. No dehydration
Watermelon consists of more than 90% water which again helps you to prevent dehydration while you are working out. Especially in summers, when you are working out in a Non Ac gym, your workout regime gets affected and you start developing the condition of dehydration if you are not having enough water. Having it as a pre-workout snack will help you to maintain hydration and you can last longer in gyms.
6. Erectile dysfunction can be solved
The presence of Vitamin B6 and citrulline in watermelon helps in increasing blood flow. Increased blood flow is a solution that helps in fixing erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be treated by oral pills, ayurvedic measures, supplements but watermelon can solve this condition naturally.
How much watermelon should you eat before working out?
It is always considered great to consume watermelon before working out instead of after working out. This is because the gymming benefits watermelon has to offer can only be witnessed if you are consuming it before working out.
You can consume 2 cups of watermelon per serving before 1 hour of working out. It can be consumed as a pre-workout quick fruit. It is very low in calories so that won’t affect your body if you are a gym freak. But yes its Glycemic Index is high compared to other fruits. You do not need to worry about this since you are consuming watermelons before working out the fruit gets easily digested.
So basically if you love watermelons you can definitely add them as a pre-workout fruit to get its workout health benefits.
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1 Comment
Thanks for posting such a great post and sharing a piece of excellent information. really you deserve an appreciation and glad that you have shared the useful information with us.