Is Watermelon Good For H. Pylori Gastritis?

Quick Facts about Watermelons and H. Pylori.

Watermelon is one of the most refreshing fruits you can eat. Watermelon is composed mainly of water. And it has many healthy compounds and antioxidants.

Watermelon is formed of (ref):

  • Water: 91.45%.
  • Total sugars: 6.2 g per 100g watermelon.
    • Fructose: 3.36 g %.
    • Glucose: 1.58 g %
    • Sucrose: 1.21 g %
  • Total Protein: 0.61 %
  • Total lipid (fat): 0.15 %
  • Vitamins: contains vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B5, and B6.
  • Minerals: potassium and copper.
  • Rich in the amino acid citrulline.
  • One of the richest sources of the powerful antioxidant is Lycopene. 

Watermelon has many health benefits:

  • Helps you hydrate.
  • Improve digestion.
  • Boosts your immunity.
  • Contains beneficial nutrients and plant compounds.
  • It may help prevent cancer and inflammation.
  • Improve heart and eye health.

Learn more about the benefits of watermelons.

Is watermelon good or bad for H. Pylori gastritis?

Watermelon is a weakly acidic fruit. Eating watermelon usually doesn’t worsen your H. pylori gastritis symptoms. However, eating large amounts or unripe watermelons can trigger your symptoms. Eating ripe watermelon in moderation is usually tolerated by most H. pylori and gastritis sufferers.

Watermelon is not known to trigger gastritis. It is a near-neutral fruit regarding its P.H. it is way more acidic than other fruits that may trigger H. pylori gastritis, such as tomatoes, lemons, oranges… etc.

We found no studies suggest that watermelon can worsen H. pylori and gastritis. However, we ran our own social media experience (in one of the Facebook groups about gastritis).

We created a poll with the question, ” Does watermelon trigger your gastritis?” and we received 34 answers:

  • 27 (79.4%) people said that watermelon is NOT a trigger for gastritis.
  • Seven people (20.6%) said that watermelon is a trigger.

watermelon and H. pylori gastritis

The possible reasons why watermelon may trigger H. pylori symptoms are:

  • Eating unripe watermelons.
  • Eating too-much watermelons.
  • Having FODMAP sensitivity (watermelons are high in FODMAPs). It is not suitable for people with IBS.
  • Having a severe form of gastritis (after a certain degree of stomach wall inflammation, any food or drink can trigger your symptoms). 
  • Having an alternate diagnosis of your condition, such as functional dyspepsia, GERD, or IBS. 

More: What to Expect After H. Pylori Treatment? 

Can watermelon kill H Pylori?

Watermelon is famous for its content of Lycopene. It is a very powerful antioxidant with many health benefits (ref):

  • Reduces the risk of various cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.
  • Improves heart health.
  • Helps healthy skin and protects from sunburns.
  • Protects your brain, eyes, and bones.
  • May help reduce neuropathic pain that is caused by nerve damage.

Some reports linked Lycopene in watermelon to the protection from h. pylori. In this 2012 study, researchers concluded that Lycopene in watermelon may help to protect against H. pylori’s harmful effects on your stomach.

Lycopene in watermelon may protect from H. Pylori.

However, Another study investigated the direct effect of Lycopene in H. pylori eradication. Two study groups received H. pylori treatment. the first group received a lycopene supplement together with the H. pylori treatment. While the second group received the H. pylori treatment only.

After analyzing the results, Dr. Farzad and his team concluded that there was no significant difference in H. pylori eradication rates between the two groups.

In conclusion, Lycopene in watermelon may protect from the harmful effects of h. pylori on your stomach (by decreasing inflammation and preventing cancer stomach). But there is no evidence that Lycopene in watermelon can directly kill the h. pylori organism. More studies are needed. 

Can Lycopene in watermelon protect from h pylori-related stomach cancer?

Lycopene is proved to be protective against many cancers. It is primarily present in red-stained fruit. Lycopene can protect you from breast, cervix, colorectal, esophageal, lung, and brain cancers (ref).

Lycopene in watermelon possibly protects you from h. pylori-induced gastric cancer.

Tomatoes are the richest source of Lycopene. But tomatoes are one of the acidic foods that may trigger h. pylori gastritis. So, watermelon is a reasonable choice to obtain Lycopene from.

In 2015, Dr. Mi Jung Kim and Hyeyoung Kim Published a study about the role of Lycopene in preventing gastric cancer (including h. pylori-related gastric cancer). They concluded that Lycopene (including Lycopene in watermelon) can protect against h. pylori-related stomach cancer.

Best Tips to eat watermelon safely for H. Pylori.

In conclusion, watermelon is ok to eat with H. pylori. Most h. pylori patients can tolerate watermelon if eaten in moderate amounts.

Furthermore, it can protect you from the harmful effects of H. pylori on the stomach wall such as inflammation and gastric cancer. 

Some tips to safely eat watermelon with H. Pylori:

  • Don’t overeat: stick to one serving (150-250 mg) per day. Or as suggested by your dietitian.
  • Eat only ripe watermelon. 
  • Double-check for IBS, GERD, and other conditions that can co-exist with h pylori gastritis. These conditions may alter your response to watermelons.
  • If watermelon continues to trigger your symptoms, consult your doctor or dietitian about the possible causes. 

MORE: Is Potato Good for Gastritis: Evidence from Research.