Interviewer

But if watermelon contains so much water, can it replace the water we drink on a day when we eat a lot of watermelon?

Nutritionist

It can complement it, but it doesn’t replace it entirely.

Watermelon is fantastic for hydration. In other words, in addition to water, it also contains the so-called natural electrolytes that we have been hearing so much about lately: potassium, magnesium…

Watermelon will thus help replenish lost minerals, whether through sweat on hot days or after training. Therefore, it provides quick hydration and natural sugars to replenish energy.

Look, there’s so much talk about coconut water as an excellent way to hydrate after training, which we don’t produce in Portugal, but we do have watermelons! So, take advantage of that.

And an interesting fact is that a large slice can provide up to 150ml of water, plus electrolytes. But of course, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to drink water throughout the day.

Interviewer

Is there an ideal portion of watermelon per day?

Nutritionist

Not per day, per meal.

The so-called three-finger-thick slice weighs about 150 grams. That amount is within the recommended range. It’s the equivalent of eating an apple, a pear, an orange, half a papaya, 230 grams of strawberries…

The problem is that many people eat huge slices.

Interviewer

And more than one, perhaps…