
Health
Watermelon health benefits may include:
- aided digestion and feelings of fullness
- hydration
- prevention and treatment of erectile dysfunction
- promoted regularity, normal bowel movements and reduced bloating
- eye health and protection against age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- muscle soreness relief
- boosted immunity and detoxification
- fight and prevent cancer and inhibit tumor growth
- heart health
- lowered cholesterol and blood pressure
- delayed onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease
- reduced inflammation, risk of heart attack and stroke
- supple skin and possible protection against sunburn
- weight loss
Watermelon is…
- Alkaline 9.5 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen

Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 235 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of watermelon / 28 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of watermelon
Carbon footprint: low, 0.14 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fresh watermelon, a car driving equivalent of 0.5 miles or 0.75 kilometers
Destruction: low, watermelon production is relatively sustainable, there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. buy Non-GMO/organic
Watermelon is…
- Sustainable

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Animals
Kills: none, watermelon production does not require any animals
Harms: none, watermelon production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, watermelon production does not indirectly kill or harm animals as long as there are no toxic chemicals, buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Watermelon is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may face dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: laborers often face exploitation and tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks
Wages: generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Watermelon…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
Where do most watermelons grow?
The world’s top watermelon exporting country is Spain. Mexico follows, then USA, Italy, Morocco, Greece, Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica. For the United States market, watermelons primarily come from Mexico or Central American countries. Most US watermelon production occurs in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California, producing approximately 69% of all grown in the USA. However, out of all watermelons consumed by Americans only 24% grow domestically!
Are watermelons nutritious?
Yes! Watermelons contain vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids.
watermelon is alkaline.

Is watermelon alkaline or acidic? Watermelon is alkaline when fresh. What is the pH level of watermelon? Watermelon has a 9.5 pH level when fresh, once digested. Most fresh fruit is alkaline food.
When we eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
watermelon is gluten free.

Is watermelon gluten free? Yes, watermelon is gluten free. Watermelon does not contain gluten when fresh. Watermelon is a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
watermelon is not a common food allergen.

Is watermelon a common food allergen? No, watermelon is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to watermelon but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
watermelon has a low water footprint.

Do watermelons have a low water footprint? Yes, it takes 235 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of watermelon / 28 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of watermelon.
But how much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
watermelon has a low carbon footprint.

Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
watermelon is sustainable.

A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
watermelon is vegan.

Is watermelon vegan? Yes, watermelon is vegan. Watermelon is a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments. So much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Additionally, the meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
watermelon is a product that may or may not have labor issues.

Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
In fact, known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Additionally, workers can experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
In fact, fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards. Therefore, we can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Conclusion
Watermelon pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Watermelon cons include:
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
Sources:
Watermelon, raw – FoodData Central – USDA
Watermelon – SNAP-Ed Connection
Agricultural marketing resource center: watermelons
Adriane Marie
As an educator, author and conscious consumer advocate, I study and organize ethical info for you to quickly see how our purchases impact animals, people and the planet. I hope you find this HEALabel knowledge useful and can apply it to your life for personal and societal improvement and empowerment.
Get ethical insight before you buy.