Is Watermelon Good Before Bed Or Not?

Watermelon is a tasty and hydrating fruit that’s especially popular in the hot summer months. It’s sweet and full of water, making it a nice choice for a quick cool-down. Many people also like having watermelon in the evening, maybe even right before they go to sleep. However, is it really a smart choice to eat watermelon before bedtime? Let’s find out. 

Why Watermelon Might Be Nice to Eat at Night

Here are some thoughts on why watermelon could be good to have before you go to bed:

1. It’s Full of Lycopene

Lycopene is a nutrient that a lot of plants have, and watermelon has lots of it. It’s great for reducing swelling, shielding your skin from the sun, keeping your cholesterol in check, and it might even help keep some cancers away.

This nutrient also defends your cells from damage and can be good for your heart health. So, eating watermelon at night could be a way to get these health benefits while you’re asleep.

2. It’s Packed with The Amino Acid Citrulline

Watermelon is rich in an amino acid named citrulline. This stuff helps your blood vessels relax which is good for blood flow and can even bring down high blood pressure. Being relaxed is great for sleep, so the citrulline in watermelon might help with that.

3. It Could Ease Muscle Soreness

If you eat watermelon before bed, it might reduce muscle pain and tiredness. This is because of L-citrulline, another amino acid that lowers swelling and helps improve blood flow.

Research shows that taking L-citrulline before working out can ease muscle pain after. Since watermelon has L-citrulline and also stuff like electrolytes, it could even help avoid muscle soreness the following day. With less soreness at night, you might sleep better too.

4. It’s Got Some Magnesium & Potassium

Even though it’s not a lot, watermelon contains magnesium and potassium. Magnesium can calm down muscles and nerves, and potassium helps nerves work and muscles contract. Together, these minerals could help you feel more relaxed at night. But the small amounts in watermelon might not make a huge difference.

5. It’s Mostly Water

Watermelon is about 90% water, which is great for keeping you hydrated. When you’re well-hydrated, you tend to sleep better. Not drinking enough can interrupt your sleep, so a water-rich fruit like watermelon could stop that from happening.

6. It Might Help You Cool Off

Some folks find that watermelon helps them cool down when they eat it at night, probably because it has so much water. Feeling cooler might help you sleep more comfortably, especially when it’s hot. But there’s not a lot of research on whether watermelon really has this cooling effect.

7. It’s Low in Calories

When compared to other snacks, watermelon doesn’t have a lot of calories. It also has vitamins and minerals you need, like vitamin A and C, potassium, and magnesium.

A cup of watermelon only has 46 calories, and eating it at night might be a tasty way to get nutrients and manage your blood sugar levels while you’re asleep."p>

How to Enjoy Watermelon in the Evening

Want to have some watermelon at night? Here’s how to do it in a way that won’t mess with your sleep:

• Try not to eat it right before lying down. Wait about 2-3 hours to lower the chances of acid reflux and needing to go to the bathroom a lot at night.
• Combine watermelon with foods that have protein, fat, or complex carbs. This helps handle the sugar rush. You can try it with foods like cottage cheese, nuts, seeds, or whole wheat toast.
• Keep it to a reasonable amount, like 1-2 cups. Don’t eat too much just before bed.
• Having a cup of chamomile tea after can also help you relax if the watermelon’s sugar makes you feel too lively.
• If you’re someone who gets stuffed up or has too much mucus when you sleep, you might want to skip the watermelon since it could make that worse.
• Remember to brush your teeth after eating to prevent sugar from sticking around and causing cavities.

Wrapping It Up

Watermelon isn’t the best or the worst snack to have before bed. While the water in it is a plus, and it has some good nutrients, the sugar content and the fact that it might make you pee more could mess with your sleep.

Having watermelon before bed can be okay sometimes, especially if you eat it a few hours before sleeping. But if you’re looking for the best snack before bed, you might want to go for something with proteins and complex carbs instead of a sugar-rich food like watermelon. Pay attention to how your body reacts. If watermelon causes any tummy trouble or keeps you awake, it might be best to leave it out of your bedtime routine.

Some people have no problem having watermelon at night, while others might find it too exciting or that it changes their sleep. If you want to find a great bedtime snack, watermelon might not be the number one choice, but it could be a nice option for some, as long as you have it with a bit of time before sleep. Give it a try and see if it fits into your nighttime habits!