So much sugar in watermelon

RobP1192
RobP1192 Posts: 310 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Maybe i'm reading nutritional facts incorrect on websites, but i cut my watermelons up into wedges, and eat 3-4 of them, sometimes 5 in one sitting. I never thought it was a big deal, but when i started to look up the nutritional info on watermelons, and i go to wedges, the sugar/carb content is ridiculously high. Maybe 4-5 sliced wedges is too much in one sitting, but it's watermelon. It's not like it's heavy.

Am i using the wrong data when looking up watermelon nutritional facts?
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Replies

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Nope. Ton of sugar.

    I can't have them around too often. Because I'm of the mind that if you cut one open you have to eat it before it goes bad, and they don't store... :D

    You see the problem when it's a 10# watermelon and there is just two of us.
  • AmyP619
    AmyP619 Posts: 1,137 Member
    I just ate a cup and a half of little watermelon cubes!
    Delicious!!!!!
    :P
  • RobP1192
    RobP1192 Posts: 310 Member
    I will say this though, i remember going through watermelons last summer, sometimes two whole watermelons a week. I wasn't tracking calories back then, but ate fairly healthy. And i never got fat over that summer. So i don't know what to make of it. But i definitely ate watermelon like crazy last year, but now i'm all "cautious" because i just found out what the calorie content is for what i typically eat. Kinda sucks. My refreshing summertime fruit.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Great source of potassium, helps with muscle repair. Just eat 1-3 slices.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    I don't know anyone who got fat from eating too much watermelon.

    I've been known to eat an entire one in a day on more than one occasion, and I'm still a normal size.
  • RobP1192
    RobP1192 Posts: 310 Member
    Lol, maybe i'm just not going to count fruit calories anymore. I'll do a test run, because this whole calorie tracking thing has me eating less fruit than i used to eat before i started using MFP. Decisions decisions...
  • AmyP619
    AmyP619 Posts: 1,137 Member
    It's all natural sugar. I really wouldn't worry about it! Enjoy that watermelon! Noms :)
  • LGrill27
    LGrill27 Posts: 337 Member
    Fruits Very High in Sugar...

    Tangerines

    Cherries

    Grapes

    Pomegranates

    Mangos

    Figs

    Bananas

    the sugar you find in soda is added, but the sugar you find in grapes or any other kinds of fruit or vegetables are natural. there is a BIG difference between the two; natural sugars = good, refined/added sugars = bad.
  • whatjesseats
    whatjesseats Posts: 228 Member
    I don't think it's so bad, compared to other fruits (except for berries).

    Sugar per 100g fruit (according to http://nutritiondata.self.com/)--

    watermelon: 6g
    cantaloupe: 8g
    kiwi: 9g
    orange: 9g
    apple: 10g
    banana: 12g
  • Whipppets
    Whipppets Posts: 267
    Watermelons are an excellent source of several vitamins: vitamin A, which helps maintain eye health and is an antioxidant; vitamin C, which helps strengthen immunity, heal wounds, prevent cell damage, promote healthy teeth and gums; and vitamin B6, which helps brain function and helps convert protein to energy.

    Tomatoes have been highly touted as a great source for lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight heart disease and several types of cancer — prostate cancer in particular. Watermelon, however, has the highest concentrations of lycopene of any fresh fruit or vegetable.



    Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-watermelon.html#ixzz2W1zD87Q6
  • RobP1192
    RobP1192 Posts: 310 Member
    Alright, well, since the sugar and nutrients are good, i'll disregard all fruit calories and not add them to my daily allotment of carbohydrate intake. I was worried about excess calories, but it appears i don't have to worry about it.
  • turboturtlepower
    turboturtlepower Posts: 79
    Great vitamins, but as some people said if you're after a goal as far as body fat is concerned I'd cut it out of your diet as much as you can. I was having it often not thinking how it could be bad for me (since they are so low in calories) and I truly feel it was one of the reasons why I wasn't losing body fat. Seeing more progress since I'm doing my best to limit fruit.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    and androstenone, testosterone!
  • joseejolie
    joseejolie Posts: 50 Member
    I similarly had this realization this morning. I eat a ton of fruit and just realized that that was what was throwing my macros off. A lot of the fruits I love are so carb/sugar heavy its ridiculous. I guess I have to rein it in as well.
  • Caitychuu
    Caitychuu Posts: 33 Member
    Sugar from fruit =/= processed sugar.
    Eat away.
  • ebailey710
    ebailey710 Posts: 271 Member
    I tend to use a general rule of not worrying about sugar in fruit. It's a healthier choice than a donut, and has lots of other great vitamins and minerals also.
  • airen123
    airen123 Posts: 149
    Watermelons are full of water. The sugar is natural, don't worry about it. You only get one season to enjoy the really good ones, so why pick apart eating something that's soooo good?
  • marywilsoncline
    marywilsoncline Posts: 301 Member
    Fruit is naturally made as are eggs and people seem to find something bad to compare it too. I eat a ton of fruit everyday and look at my ticker folks :wink:
  • RobP1192
    RobP1192 Posts: 310 Member
    So for those of you who use MFP to track your foods, do you enter fruit and account for that in your daily caloric budget? I'm thinking of just not including it, and only worrying about carbs/sugar from the non-fruit sources. Or do i add it and just disregard it and let my carb budget go over?

    I guess deep down, i really don't care, because i'm happy with how i am. I'm just curious how others incorporate it into their diets and whether you track it or not.
  • operation_cute
    operation_cute Posts: 588 Member
    Lol, maybe i'm just not going to count fruit calories anymore. I'll do a test run, because this whole calorie tracking thing has me eating less fruit than i used to eat before i started using MFP. Decisions decisions...

    I would count the calories (because there still calories!) but not think so much about the sugar... think of sugar in regards to cookies, cake, candies, if its coming from natural foods like fruit don't worry about it :)
  • CarlieeBear
    CarlieeBear Posts: 325 Member
    Unless you have issues with high blood sugar, I wouldn't worry about it at all. I also wonder how you know if the wedges you eat are the same size as the ones on the lists.
  • hungryhobbit1
    hungryhobbit1 Posts: 259 Member
    Lol, maybe i'm just not going to count fruit calories anymore. I'll do a test run, because this whole calorie tracking thing has me eating less fruit than i used to eat before i started using MFP. Decisions decisions...

    I replaced my "sugar" tracker with Vitamin C in my diary. I shoot for at least 100% of RDA of Vitamin C from food sources every day, and this often forces me to make room for fruit.
  • LadyElby
    LadyElby Posts: 151 Member
    Watermelons are full of water. The sugar is natural, don't worry about it. You only get one season to enjoy the really good ones, so why pick apart eating something that's soooo good?


    This.

    I'm no expert, and won't claim to be one. But I, too, could eat half a watermelon in one sitting. Sure it has a lot of *natural* sugars, but it's also loaded with water and other great nutrients. I think those things help to naturally balance out the sugar content. I say, if you've kept your melon addiction this long and don't feel like it's adding on any extra weight, keep enjoying. If you start to notice a little extra weight, try eating one or two less wedges at a time.

    Personally, though, I wouldn't sweat it. There are much worse things you could be indulging in.
  • marvybells
    marvybells Posts: 1,984 Member
    as others have said, natural fruit sugars are not the same as the processed stuff, and watermelon is a very nutrient rich fruit. It has lycopene, potassium & a bunch of other good stuff in it.

    eat away!
  • AmyP619
    AmyP619 Posts: 1,137 Member
    Yes, I count them because calories still add up no matter what it is. But your original post was worrying about the sugar in watermelon, and when you compare watermelon to a candy bar there's a big difference in the type of sugar we're talking about. Fruits have natural sugars, which are a lot better for you than processed. I really wouldn't worry about my whole lifestyle being thrown off from eating a few wedges of watermelon, though! It's good for you!
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    So much more than "too much sugar"



    Surprising Health Benefits of Watermelon

    Some foods are fun to eat, and watermelon is definitely one of them. That triangular wedge of bright red/white/green, sweet juiciness forbids us to take life too seriously and shouts, "SUMMER!!!" As if that weren't enough, watermelon is packed full of nutrition, hydrates and is low-fat. While many of us think of watermelon as a great snack option, when you tally up its nutritive value, you might consider making this all-star a feature player in your cuisine.

    Watermelons are an excellent source of several vitamins: vitamin A, which helps maintain eye health and is an antioxidant; vitamin C, which helps strengthen immunity, heal wounds, prevent cell damage, promote healthy teeth and gums; and vitamin B6, which helps brain function and helps convert protein to energy.
    Tomatoes have been highly touted as a great source for lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight heart disease and several types of cancer — prostate cancer in particular. Watermelon, however, has the highest concentrations of lycopene of any fresh fruit or vegetable.
    If your little ones don't dig into their swiss chard, lima beans or spinach — all great sources of potassium — consider offering them a serving of watermelon instead. It is a great source of potassium, which helps muscle and nerve function, helps maintain the body's proper electrolyte and acid-base balance, and helps lower the risk of high blood pressure.
    Watermelon also contains the amino acids citrulline and arginine, which can help maintain arteries, blood flow and overall cardiovascular function.

    Alone or in a fruit salad are the most common ways many of us eat watermelon. While eating the meat of the fruit is the best way to take advantage of all of its nutrients, this is one of my favorite bits of summer refreshment. I get a version of this from my local burrito truck. The key to making this great: don't oversweeten it. With just a touch of sweetness, it's heavenly.

    Watermelon Agua Fresca (Fresh Water)


    - 3 cups cubed, seeded watermelon
    - 1 1/2 cups water
    - juice from 2-3 limes
    - natural sweetener, to taste
    In a blender, puree the watermelon, then strain it through a fine sieve. In a pitcher, mix the strained juice with water. Add lime juice and natural sweetener to taste. Serve cold over ice.
  • _Pseudonymous_
    _Pseudonymous_ Posts: 1,671 Member
    Excess fructose can cause inflammation which will make it hard to cut when you are doing a cut cycle. So keep that in mind.

    That being said... you can still eat your delicious sugary treat (which is a million times better than the simple sugar products you could eat) but it's a matter of when you eat it.

    Here is a very informational article that may be of service for you:

    http://thenaturalnutritionist.com.au/nutrient-timing-for-athletes-how-the-right-types-of-sugar-can-help-you/

    I found it incredibly helpful and hopefully you will too!

    Have a great day and best of luck in your fitness endeavours! ^__^
  • Kelley528
    Kelley528 Posts: 319 Member
    Lol, maybe i'm just not going to count fruit calories anymore. I'll do a test run, because this whole calorie tracking thing has me eating less fruit than i used to eat before i started using MFP. Decisions decisions...

    Count the calories of fruit, not the sugar.

    Eating a bag of sugary candy is not the equivilent of eating a bowl of watermelon. People concentrate on the wrong things.
  • aerochic42
    aerochic42 Posts: 843 Member
    mmmm frozen watermelon slushies or throw it ina blender and pour into icecube traysand freeze for a quick treat ( you can baggy them after frozen0
  • pfgaytriot
    pfgaytriot Posts: 238 Member
    I had a lot of watermelon in the last couple of weeks and I also eat three to four servings of fruit a day. It doesn't seem to be holding me back from my fitness goals. As long as you're not eating a ton of junk food type sweets, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

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