Experts evaluate the effectiveness of watermelons for recovery from COVID-19

Watermelons are a good source of carbs and improve kidney function, but don't provide much of the vitamin C needed to recover from covid-19 . Experts interviewed by RBC told about this in response to a request to evaluate the benefits of this seasonal berry for those who have had a CORONAVIRUS infection.

Earlier, pediatrician Marina Lerman and general practitioner Elena Tikhomirova, interviewed by RIA Novosti, said that watermelons help recover from coronavirus due to the high content of vitamin C and other vitamins.

However, according to doctors interviewed by RBC, there are many fruits and berries, where there is more vitamin C than in watermelon. “Watermelons are generally useful, especially seasonal ones. A person who has had any infectious disease needs to pay attention to nutrition, include foods rich in vitamins and protein in the diet. There are indeed antioxidants in watermelon, and as for vitamin C, there is more of it, for example, in blackcurrants, in apples - they also contain iron, ”Galina Kozhevnikova, an infectious disease specialist, HEAD of the Department of Infectious Diseases at RUDN University, told RBC. According to her, the nutrition of recovered people should be balanced.

Infectious disease DOCTOR, chief physician of the medical center "Leader-Medicine" Evgeny Timakov told RBC that not every watermelon is suitable for recovering the body after COVID-19. According to him, they should be eaten according to the season, so as not to burden the body. The infectious disease specialist explained that if a recovered person eats the “wrong” watermelon, then the nitrates contained in it can aggravate the condition, “especially from the side of the kidneys,” which were already affected by the coronavirus.

Roskachestvo called the signs of a good watermelon Society
Timakov also noted that watermelon contains not so much vitamin C. Apples, citrus fruits and cranberries contain much more of this substance, he pointed out. According to the infectious disease specialist, watermelon is good as a source of carbohydrates that support the energy balance of the body: they contain fructose, sucrose and various trace elements. “Watermelons also improve kidney function and flush out remaining toxins from the body. In this capacity, watermelon can be used, provided that the person’s kidney function is not impaired, ”the expert concluded.

Earlier, general practitioner Elena Tikhomirova told RIA Novosti that people who had recovered from COVID-19 should eat watermelons, since the berry is rich in antioxidants, in particular vitamin C. At the same time, she emphasized that you should not “get carried away” with watermelons, and recommended eating no more 500 g of watermelon per day. Pediatrician Marina Lerman agreed with her, adding that the berry can cheer you up, “remove toxins and toxins from the body,” and also strengthen the cardiovascular system. According to her, watermelons should not be combined with dairy products because of the high risk of food poisoning.