Will eating watermelon after ice cream cause diarrhea?

Eating watermelon after consuming ice cream may or may not cause diarrhea.

Both ice cream and watermelon are considered “cold” and “cooling” foods in traditional Chinese medicine. Consuming them together intensifies their cooling effect, potentially overburdening the digestive tract and irritating the gastrointestinal (GI) system, leading to discomfort. However, individuals with robust constitutions may experience no adverse effects—such as diarrhea—after eating both foods. Conversely, those with weaker constitutions or compromised GI function may suffer significant gastric irritation following this combination, resulting in accelerated intestinal motility, rapid food transit, and subsequent diarrhea. Additional symptoms such as abdominal distension and abdominal pain may also occur.

If diarrhea develops after eating watermelon following ice cream, initial management includes applying a warm compress (e.g., a hot water bottle) to the abdomen, combined with gentle abdominal massage to alleviate symptoms. Under medical guidance, oral probiotics may also be used to restore gut microbiota balance; commonly prescribed agents include *Bifidobacterium* and *Bacillus subtilis*.