Summer treat or health threat? The hidden dangers of watermelon overindulgence
18 April 2024 15:09
Watermelon is rich in vitamins, low-calorie, juicy, and tasty. It's synonymous with summer and aids in quenching thirst. It works well as a snack or as part of savory dishes. However, excessive consumption of this fruit can cause muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, and, in extreme cases, death.
Watermelon is not just delicious but also packed with health benefits. It contains a variety of valuable vitamins (notably A, C, and B-group, including folic acid) and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. However, this last element can pose a problem.
Watermelon's high potassium content – who is at risk?
Potassium enables neurons to transmit nerve signals, including those responsible for muscle contractions and blood pressure. This makes watermelon's high potassium content potentially harmful to individuals with chronic kidney disease. In the worst-case scenario, it could be fatal.
A single slice of watermelon (weighing about 280-300 grams) contains around 320-330 mg of potassium, which makes up about 12 percent of the recommended daily intake for women and about 9 percent for men.
Critically, if a person with healthy kidney function consumes excessive watermelon, the "excess" potassium is filtered out by the kidneys and expelled through urine. However, this filtration process is compromised in people with chronic kidney disease.
Excess watermelon consumption may cause hyperkalemia
Experts included three individuals previously diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in their study. These patients ingested large quantities of watermelon—in its natural form or as juice—daily for three weeks to two months.
The outcome? For all participants, such a diet prompted severe hyperkalemia (an excessively high concentration of potassium in the blood), which manifested as arrhythmias and a decreased heart rate. After reducing the daily watermelon intake, the potassium levels in the patient's blood normalized within a few months.
While mild hyperkalemia may not cause symptoms, an increase in potassium levels can lead to heart issues, muscle weakness or paralysis, and even death.
The research highlighted that individuals with CKD need to monitor their consumption of potassium-rich foods; thus, they should limit their intake of watermelon. Astonishingly, around 10% of the UK population is affected by this condition.
