Why can't I eat watermelon immediately after eating a peach?

Generally speaking, the reasons why one should not immediately eat watermelon after eating peaches include effects on digestive function, risk of blood sugar fluctuations, gastrointestinal discomfort, interference with nutrient absorption, and excessive gas production. The specific explanations are as follows:

1. Impact on Digestive Function

Peaches are rich in dietary fiber and require a certain amount of time to be digested and broken down in the stomach. If watermelon is consumed immediately afterward, the water content in the watermelon may dilute gastric acid, affecting the digestion of pectin from the peaches in the stomach, possibly causing discomfort symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, and stomach distension.

2. Risk of Blood Sugar Fluctuations

Both peaches and watermelons contain relatively high amounts of sugar. Consuming large amounts in a short time—such as fructose and glucose from peaches, and glucose and sucrose from watermelons—can rapidly elevate blood sugar levels. This is not conducive to stable blood sugar control for individuals with diabetes or those with poor blood sugar regulation ability, potentially triggering health issues.

3. Gastrointestinal Discomfort

Peaches are considered warm in nature, while watermelons are cold in nature. Consuming these two fruits with opposing properties together may subject the gastrointestinal tract to alternating hot and cold stimulation, leading to gastrointestinal spasms and causing symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. This kind of discomfort may be more pronounced among individuals with inherently weaker digestive systems.

4. Interference with Nutrient Absorption

The vitamin C, minerals, and other nutrients in peaches may interfere with the absorption of nutrients in watermelons. For example, certain components in peaches might combine with substances in watermelons to form complexes that are difficult for the body to absorb, thereby reducing the absorption efficiency of nutrients from both fruits.

5. Excessive Gas Production

Both peaches and watermelons contain certain amounts of carbohydrates, which can produce gas when decomposed by intestinal bacteria. If watermelon is eaten immediately after peaches, the gas produced by both fruits may accumulate, potentially leading to excessive gas in the intestines and causing symptoms such as bloating and increased flatulence, which can be uncomfortable.

Moderate consumption of these two fruits generally does not cause serious problems, but attention should still be paid to individual constitution and intake quantity.