After exercising, you need to pay attention to nutritional intake as part of your exercise routine. This is important, considering that after exercise the body usually experiences fatigue and muscle pain.
So, one of the right foods to eat after exercising is fruit, for example, watermelon. This fruit contains various beneficial nutrients that can help you regain energy.
The following is a list of the benefits of eating watermelon after exercise :
1. Rehydrate
The high water content of watermelon, namely 92%, makes it a natural thirst-quenching food.
Watermelon is also a good source of sodium and potassium. Much of this potassium is lost through sweat.
To add sodium after a high-intensity workout, top the watermelon with a pinch of salt, which will also make it even more delicious!
2. Reduces muscle pain
One of the effects of exercise, especially strenuous exercise, is muscle pain. Consuming watermelon after exercising will help you reduce muscle pain.
The benefits of watermelon are obtained thanks to the amino acid L-citrulline, which is known to speed up muscle recovery.
In general, athletes take citrulline supplements to improve blood flow to tissues and muscles. Citrulline is also useful for reducing the buildup of lactic acid which makes muscles feel sore after exercising.
A glass of watermelon juice contains at least 600 mg of citrulline, which is enough to provide good effects.
3. Stabilizes blood pressure
It turns out that eating watermelon after exercise is beneficial for your blood pressure. Watermelon has been shown to stabilize blood pressure when you rest after exercise.
A 2010 study published in the Journal of Hypertension revealed that the L-citrulline and L-arginine content in watermelon is effective in improving artery function and lowering blood pressure.
Please note, that arteries play an important role in oxygen delivery during exercise. Eating watermelon after exercise can make the body more stable and not feel the effects of extreme fatigue.
4. Supports Health
When you hear fruit with the compound lycopene, tomatoes may be the first to come to your mind. In fact, this compound is found in many watermelons, you know.
This potent antioxidant is known for its ability to nourish the heart, reduce the risk of some cancers, and protect against sunlight.
5. Easy to Prepare and Delicious
Not only is watermelon useful, it is also very practical to serve after exercise. Apart from whole fruit, you can also make it into juice. Of course, making watermelon juice is hassle-free!
Make watermelon juice by blending 2-3 glasses of watermelon pieces, adding ice cubes, then squeezing lime. After that, add chopped mint or basil leaves and a pinch of salt to taste.
6. Replenish the Body’s ‘Gasoline’
A glass of watermelon juice contains at least 22 grams of simple carbohydrates. Thanks to these contents, watermelon is useful for helping recovery after exercise.
How can consuming carbohydrates after exercise restore tired muscles? The mechanism of action is to replace lost glycogen. This glycogen is later used by the body as energy.
7. Healthy skin and hair
Have you ever noticed that after exercising regularly a few times, your face and skin become more radiant? This can be further supported by eating watermelon after exercise.
Watermelon is good to consume after exercise because it contains vitamin C so it can trigger the body to form collagen. Collagen is a protein that keeps skin supple and hair strong. an-watermelon-seeds-for-health
Watermelon has quite abundant water content. Apart from that, there are various other nutrients that support the benefits of watermelon for the body, such as lycopene, citrulline, and vitamins A and C.