Watermelon and Cashews

golfwaymore · 08-25-2002, 07:19 PM

Wondering how many people incorporate watermelon and cashews into their diets to any extent?

Seems to me too many calories from fat from cashews, but always hear people say "yeah but it's good for you"... So are they or arent they?

Also, wondering if anyone knows the GI from watermelon and if anyone looks to it as a source of carbs?

Golfwaymore

slashmash · 08-25-2002, 07:25 PM

cashews have a hella lot of fat, thats all i know about cashews. but i do know that watermelon has a lot of fructrose and sugar. not too healthy.

Tim · 08-25-2002, 07:42 PM

Cashews have a lot fat, like all nuts do. I would think that it is good fat though, just like the fat in almonds and peanuts is good fat. I think that almonds and peanuts may be a bit more nutritious than cashews, but I am not 100% sure. Cashews are by no means unhealthy though. And watermelon has a high glycemic index. It is not necessarily the best fruit to eat since it will spike you insulin levels. It's better to stick with low GI fruits such as apples, oranges, grapefruit, berries, etc..

golfwaymore · 08-25-2002, 08:12 PM

Thanks guys. I was mainly wondering about the watermelon for immediately after a workout when I do need some hi-GI carbs.

Wonder how it compares to say, Gatorade, as far as GI is concerned?

Sartoriousnz · 08-25-2002, 09:00 PM

I quite like some cashews occasionally - but pays to plan when you eat them - see below!

A half cup has the following:

374 cals
19g CHO
10g Protein
31g FAT

Watermelon and fructose. - Hope u aren't too sleepy because this will push you off in no time!

Fructose is metabolised differently from other sugars. Basically it is is converted to glucose by cells without the aid of insulin. This means that you don't get an insulin spike (it does cause a small rise in insulin, but not significant) after you eat some fruit. So you won't fall over and will have sustained energy levels.

To start to have a problem you would have to eat something like 6-7 apples etc at one sitting.

So in a "nutshell" your watermelon should be a good post workout source of carbs.

Cheers