Can I eat watermelon with tonsillitis?
May 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Watermelon is a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family and mainly contains water, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium, lycopene, citrulline, fructose, and other components. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The main cause of tonsillitis is pathogenic infection; acute cases are often caused by bacteria or viruses, while chronic cases are usually due to recurrent infections or incomplete treatment. In general, patients with tonsillitis can eat watermelon.
In general, patients with tonsillitis can eat watermelon. Specific details are as follows:
Watermelon is a common fruit containing water, vitamins, and minerals. When tonsillitis is in the early or recovery stage, and the patient does not have significant symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or persistent high fever, moderate consumption of watermelon is acceptable. Watermelon is rich in water and vitamins, especially vitamin C, which helps enhance immunity and promote physical recovery. Meanwhile, watermelon has a soft texture that is easy to chew and swallow, causing no additional burden to the throat.
However, patients with tonsillitis should pay attention to the amount of watermelon consumed, as excessive intake may cause diarrhea. In addition, chilled watermelon should be avoided, as overly cold watermelon may irritate the throat mucosa, causing blood vessel contraction and decreased local immunity, thus delaying recovery.
In daily life, if tonsillitis is in a more severe stage, and the patient experiences sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and is accompanied by high fever, eating watermelon is not recommended to avoid worsening physical discomfort. During the period of tonsillitis, the patient's diet should be light and easy to digest, avoiding overly raw, cold, greasy, spicy, and other irritating foods to prevent aggravating the condition.
