Cantaloupe (muskmelon) nutrition facts

Cantaloupe (muskmelon) nutrition facts

The surprisingly tasty and unique musk-flavored muskmelon or “cantaloupe” is a member of the large Cucurbitaceae family. Some of the popular fruits and vegetables in the Cucurbita family include pumpkin, squash, cucumber, squash, etc., And like its relatives, melons grow along the surface of the earth like a hanging vine.

It is believed that he was from India, ancient Persia or Africa. Inside the Australian subcontinent, they are commonly called "stone melons." They grow best on well-drained sandy soil with good watering and need bees for adequate pollination. Melons, like mangoes, watermelon, etc., are fruits of the summer season. Their season lasts from April to August, when they are at their best. Many varieties of melons are grown around the world. However, two common types, which are named after their place of origin, have become popular in the Western world. The European cantaloupe (Cucumis melo cantalupensis) got its name from the Italian papal village Cantalup and has slightly ribbed, pale green skin that looks completely different than the North American cantaloupe. Galia melon and charentais belong to this category. The North American cantaloupe (Cucumis melo reticulatus), known in the US and parts of Canada, is called reticulatus because of its reticular (or reticular) skin. The honey melon has a sweet, characteristic pale green juicy flesh.

Yubari melon (Yubari king) is a special hybrid variety grown in the city of Yubari in Hokkaido, Japan. Surrounded by mountains and well-drained volcanic ash soil, this product deserves a special prize for its sweet, mild aroma.

As a rule, cantaloupe fruits are round or oblong, have a diameter of 4.5-6.5 inches and weigh 450-850 g, often more than a kilogram. Internally, its flesh color ranges from orange-yellow to salmon, has a soft texture and juicy texture with a sweet musky aroma, which is best manifested in fully ripe fruits. In its center is a hollow cavity filled with small off-white seeds enclosed in a network of mucous membranes.

Cantaloupe Health Benefits
Surprisingly delicious with a rich taste, cantaloupe is very low in calories (100 g of fruit has only 34 calories) and fat. However, the fruit is rich in many healthy polyphenolic plant compounds, vitamins and minerals, which are absolute for optimal health.

The fruit is an excellent source of vitamin A (100 g provides 3382 IU or about 112% of the recommended daily levels), one of the highest among pumpkin fruits. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant and is essential for healthy vision. It is also necessary to maintain a healthy mucous membrane and skin. It is known that consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A helps protect against lung and oral cancer.

It is also rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants have the ability to protect cells and other body structures from oxygen-free radicals and therefore; provide protection against cancer of the colon, prostate, breast, endometrium, lungs and pancreas.

The total antioxidant strength with respect to the oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) of cantaloupe melons is 315 μmol TE / 100 g. The value for honey dew melon is 241 μmol TE / 100 g.

Zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid, is selectively absorbed by the yellow spot of the retina, where it is believed to perform antioxidant and protective UV filtering functions. Thus, it protects the eyes from old age against disease associated with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

It is an ideal source of electrolyte, potassium. 100 g of fruit give 267 mg of this electrolyte. Potassium is an important component of cellular and body fluids and helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Thus, it provides protection against stroke and coronary heart disease.

The fetus also contains moderate levels of B complex vitamins such as niacin, pantothenic acid and vitamin C, and minerals such as manganese. The consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the human body develop resistance to infectious agents and cleanse it of harmful oxygen-free radicals. The human body uses manganese as a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. On an industrial scale, cantaloupe is used to extract the superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme, which plays a vital role as a first-line antioxidant defense in the human body. Selection and storage
Cantaloupes grow best in the summer months. In markets, try to buy natural cantaloupes, as they have a richer flavor and nutrients.