While all cucurbits start out with white seeds, watermelons are the only ones with seeds that can then change into various colors. Despite the childhood myth that swallowing watermelon seeds will cause you to grow a watermelon inside your stomach, all watermelon seeds—mature and immature—are perfectly edible.
Why can you eat white watermelon seeds but not black ones?
White seeds are really just immature black seeds. They’re soft and almost translucent because they are only just beginning to grow and develop. The seeds are infertile, so they won’t sprout into a watermelon plant if you planted them. They are, however, so soft that they aren’t a bother to swallow along with the flesh.
What watermelon seeds can you not eat?
The soft, white seeds are much easier to chew and are more enjoyable to eat than the hard, black seeds. “Although both are safe to eat, most people spit out the black seeds since they are hard to chew and make eating the flesh of the watermelon more cumbersome,” Shames says.
Is it OK to eat white watermelon seeds?
White Seeds. A common tale you may have heard is that the white seeds are safe to eat, while the black seeds aren’t, or vice versa. Well, consider that myth busted. Both of these seeds are safe to eat, and the only reason they appear different is just maturity.
Is it OK to eat black watermelon seeds?
Totally safe to eat, the extra crunch from watermelon seeds isn’t always welcomed. Although you could spit them out, you could also turn them into a tasty snack! Food52 recommends roasting seeds to take advantage of their protein, amino acids, B vitamins, and magnesium.
Can your body digest watermelon seeds?
Do you digest them, or do they just pass right through you? When you swallow watermelon seeds raw, not much happens. They basically just move through your digestive tract without being digested, similar to what happens when you swallow a piece of gum.
What does watermelon seeds do to the body?
Watermelon seeds are known to be rich in nutrients like folate, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, amino acids and Vitamin B complex. These nutrients are extremely helpful in regulating as well as boosting the natural metabolism of the body.
What happens if you eat watermelon everyday?
If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society (opens in new tab).
What does watermelon and milk do to the body?
Milk is a high-fat, high-protein food. If you eat watermelon and drink milk at the same time, the acid in the watermelon may bind the protein in the milk. The milk will then curdle and possibly ferment. This is what can make you feel ill after consuming these food groups together.
Can seeds grow in your stomach?
The possibility of seeds germinating and growing in the stomach is zero. While there have been rare cases of plants growing in the lungs, the stomach is much too harsh an environment for any seed to survive there.
How can you tell if a watermelon seed is good?
Pour the “guts” into a large bowl and fill it with water. Healthy seed sinks to the bottom and dead (not viable) will float along with the majority of the pulp.
Do white watermelon seeds turn black?
Maturity. All watermelon seeds start off small and white before growing into larger black, red, tan, or dotted seeds.
Why is my black diamond watermelon white inside?
Cross-Pollination
If you buy seed from an unreliable nursery, or are new to saving your own seeds, you may mistakenly grow the offspring of a red-fleshed watermelon that has cross-pollinated with a citron melon — the watermelon with the hard, white flesh that cannot be eaten fresh.
What happens if you eat a black seed?
Black seed has proven to reduce inflammation and relax smooth muscles, easing the symptoms of people with asthma in clinical studies. Combined with its antioxidant properties, these effects help prevent gastrointestinal disorders and relieve related symptoms.
Why are my watermelon seeds brown?
Seedless watermelon may have small white seeds that are soft or partly developed brown seeds that are empty. These are probably due to the following factors during production: 1. Stressful environmental factors may induce development of empty brown seeds.
Are seeded watermelons healthier than seedless?
The flesh of the fruit (and the rind for that matter) is also nutritious, so both seeded and seedless still have great health benefits. Watermelon is a good source of potassium and is 91% water making it great for hydration.
Is it OK to eat watermelon at night?
Watermelons are not digestion friendly when it comes to consuming it at night and may cause irritable bowel syndrome and other problems, making your stomach upset the next day. The digestive process is slower than usual at night, hence, it is recommended to keep off sugary and acidic foods.
How do you prepare watermelon seeds to eat?
* First take the seeds out of the fruit and let them dry. * Then roast them in a pan and keep them stored in an airtight container. * After some days, when you feel like snacking, these seeds can be a healthy option. * They are extremely nutritious, so you can use them in salads, as well.
How much watermelon is too much?
People with high potassium content in their body or those who suffer from serious hyperkalaemia should not eat more than about one cup of watermelon a day. Over consumption can result in irregular heartbeat and other cardiovascular problems, says the US National Institute of Health.
How much watermelon seeds should I eat daily?
One cup of watermelon seeds give your metabolism the kick it needs and nourishes your body with essential nutrients as well. However, they still are high in calories and eating too much of them can induce weight gain so be mindful of your portions.
How much watermelon should you eat a day?
The USDA food database recognizes one serving of watermelon to be approximately 280g (about 1/16th of a watermelon). A healthy adult can safely eat 1-2 servings of watermelon per day.