Water is only one piece of the equation, however; the other piece is fiber. Experts at Parade say coupling watermelon with a variety of fiber-rich foods may work wonders for constipation, but that neither food can do it alone. “Watermelon is mostly water,” registered dietitian Vanessa Rissetto told the outlet. “When we consume more fibrous food, we need water to help with digestion.”
More fibrous foods will have at least 5 or 6 grams of the nutrient, but a single wedge of watermelon has only a little over 1 gram of fiber, according to the USDA. Don’t be so quick to forgo watermelon in place of excess fiber, however. Water and fiber go hand in hand, and focusing solely on fiber intake without adequate hydration can work against fiber’s positive effects on gut motility. “Fiber alone without the addition of water is almost counteractive when talking about bowel movements—the two are needed together,” registered dietitian Nicole Roach told Parade.