Melon or watermelon? Nutritionists reveal the best fruit for the diet

Melan or watermelon? Have you chosen the favorite fruit for your diet? We don't mean the melon with the ham and cheese to go with it. And when we talk about watermelon, it's not the gums!

Still, nutritionists reveal to Very Well Health that they also do not need to completely exclude these options.

However, when it comes to electing the healthier fruit, they clarify that everything depends on what you mean by diet – especially because there are diets for fat loss and others for increased muscle mass. 

Ideally, it should alternate in the type of food and not be limited to a single source of nutrients. Take note of what you need to know about each of these fruits, according to these experts.

Watermelon

Watermelon may not contain as much vitamin C, for example, as melon, but may be higher in other respects. 

“ As it consists of about 92% water, watermelon is one of the fruits that promotes better hydration, which makes it an intelligent choice during the days of heat, both after the practice of physical exercise, and whenever one tries to stay hydrated ", describe.

In addition, these experts also ensure that this fruit is one of the richest sources of lycopene, “the antioxidant responsible for the vibrant red color of this fruit”, and its intake has been associated with a “better pace for heart health and a lower risk of developing certain types of cancer”.

In addition, this sweet fruit provides citrulline, a natural amino acid may “help promote healthy blood flow and recovery from physical exercise, although usually larger amounts are needed than would normally obtain a portion of watermelon to observe perceptible effects”, add.

Watermelon may be the best choice in terms of hydration, heart health, aid in summer training and lycopene intake.

Melon

Compared to watermelon, this fruit has slightly less water. Although there are also few calories, the melon has 90% water and is known to be strong in the supply of vitamin C and potassium, “which favors blood pressure, muscle function and fluid balance”.

If it is still undecided between watermelon and melon, you should choose this fruit if you want to prioritize hydration, potassium levels, the desire to eat a sweet and support blood pressure.

The famous melon with an orange color, also known as cantalupo melon, which is a variety of rounded melon, is strongly associated with antioxidant beta-carotene, which then “the body converts into vitamin A” and therefore can also be an excellent option to include in the diet, or at least in a healthy diet.

How to increase the benefit of these fruits to the meal?

Whether for a snack in the middle of the morning or in the afternoon, the ideal is that you never limit yourself to a piece of fruit.

Although the ham slice is not, in fact, always advised, these nutritionists suggest that combine these fruit pieces with some healthy protein or fat source, like greek yogurt, cottage cheese or a handful of chestnuts, for a more nutritious satiating snack.