Cantaloupe Nutrition Facts

Cantaloupes, or more popularly termed as muskmelons, are one of the most popular varieties of melons in the United States. For people who are conscious of maintaining body weight and extra calories but have an affinity towards tasty stuff, cantaloupes form the perfect choice for their palette. The refreshingly rich aroma and delicious flavor of cantaloupes can hardly fail to tickle the taste buds of a food lover.

The origin of cantaloupe is in the Italian papal village of Cantaloupe, where it was first cultivated around 1700 A.D. Hailing from the same botanical family of Cucurbitaceae, cantaloupes grow on the ground with the support of a trailing vine. Cantaloupes have a ribless rind with a characteristic netted skin and hence Cantaloupes are also called netted melon. Inside the Cantaloupes or netted melon, there is a hollow cavity containing seeds encased in a web of netting. Cantaloupes are also popularly known as.

There are countless health benefits of cantaloupes. A great natural source of vitamin A on account of its concentrated beta-carotene content, cantaloupes are responsible for reducing the risk of developing cataracts to around 39%. Researches suggest that cantaloupes are more beneficial than carrots for the eyes cells. Beta-carotene has also been the subject of wide research in relationship to cancer prevention and prevention of oxygen-based damage to cells and tissues. The benefits of cantaloupes are not confined within this aspect only. Being a good source of Vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, folate, dietary fiber, and niacin or vitamin B3, along with its fiber, cantaloupes lend an efficient support to the body by allowing good carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar stability. Besides all these nutrient values, recent researches held at various renowned universities as the Kansas University has suggested that consumption of cantaloupes may reduce the risk of lung cancer in passive smokers.

Without doubt, cantaloupes are one of the healthiest and nutritious of all foods. So including them in the daily diet would be one of the healthiest choices to make a diet plan. But this does not mean that the daily diet would monotonous with these Cantaloupes. There are a wide variety of cantaloupe recipes that can really tickle the taste buds. Cantaloupe is normally eaten as a fresh fruit, in salad, or as a dessert with custard or ice cream.

Cantaloupes have smooth gray-green rinds and very aromatic orange flesh that keeps well when stored in a cool, dry place and ripens after several days in a warm room. It is essential to choose the right kind of cantaloupe while shopping. People should choose a melon that is heavy for its size with a sweet but not over-powering smell and no soft spots. If it is ripe, people should store it in the refrigerator and just be sure to seal it tightly since cantaloupes can take on the odors of nearby foods. If it is a bit hard or green, people can also store it at room temperature until it is ripe. These little tips are helpful to let people enjoy the natural taste of cantaloupes and its wide array of recipes.

• Juliana Breckinridge
• 27/12/2008, 12:59 AM
• 0 Comments