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“da Silva Dias, João Carlos. “Nutritional and health benefits of carrots and their seed extracts.” Food and Nutrition Sciences 5, no. 22 (2014): 2147.”
Fruits and vegetables play a significant protective role in disease prevention in the human body. While it is the berries that usually take the spotlight when it comes to health quotient, cantaloupe or muskmelon, research shows, is also highly nutrient-rich. Vitamins A, B, C, and K, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and even omega-3 fats are all present in the fruit making cantaloupe a very healthy fruit.[ref]Laur, Lisa M., and Li Tian. “Provitamin A and vitamin C contents in selected California-grown cantaloupe and honeydew melons and imported melons.” Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 24, no. 2 (2011): 194-201.[/ref]
Apart from this, cantaloupes have also been shown to possess analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties. [ref]Mehra, Manika, Vani Pasricha, and Rajinder K. Gupta. “Estimation of nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant activity of seeds of musk melon (Cucumis melo) and water melon (Citrullus lanatus) and nutritional analysis of their respective oils.” Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 3, no. 6 (2015): 98-102.[/ref] Little wonder then that the cantaloupe is considered to be a nutritionally balanced source of dietary antioxidants and nutrients.
Here are a few more muskmelon advantages that will convince you to make the fruit a part of your regular diet.
1. Prevents Cancer
The beta-carotenes found in cantaloupes are believed to be powerful antioxidants.[ref]Vouldoukis, Ioannis, Dominique Lacan, Caroline Kamate, Philippe Coste, Alphonse Calenda, Dominique Mazier, Marc Conti, and Bernard Dugas. “Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of a Cucumis melo LC. extract rich in superoxide dismutase activity.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 94, no. 1 (2004): 67-75.[/ref] Studies have shown that antioxidants protect against oxidative damage and effectively reduce the risk of cancer.[ref] Borek, Carmia. “Antioxidants and cancer.” Sci. Med 4 (1997): 51-62.[/ref] Since muskmelons are rich sources of antioxidants, beta-carotene, consumption of cantaloupes can result in the eradication of free radicals within the body which also means reduced chances of cancer.[ref]Van Poppel, Geert, and R. Alexandra Goldbohm. “Epidemiologic evidence for beta-carotene and cancer prevention.” The American journal of clinical nutrition 62, no. 6 (1995): 1393S-1402S.[/ref]
2. Helps Manage Diabetes
Another benefit of eating muskmelon is that it can help control diabetes. Studies show that cantaloupes are beneficial in improving insulin metabolism in diabetics. This means that the much-feared fluctuations in blood sugar can be controlled better. It can also reduce oxidative stress, one of the main culprits of complications like diabetic nephropathy.[ref]Naito, Yuji, Satomi Akagiri, Kazuhiko Uchiyama, Satoshi Kokura, Norimasa Yoshida, Goji Hasegawa, Naoto Nakamura et al. “Reduction of diabetes-induced renal oxidative stress by a cantaloupe melon extract/gliadin biopolymers, oxykine, in mice.” Biofactors 23, no. 2 (2005): 85-95.[/ref]
3. Prevents Arthritis
One other advantage of cantaloupe is that it is also rich in phytochemicals. Phytochemicals have anti-inflammatory properties. This means, including cantaloupe in your diet can help prevent oxidative stress on your joints and bones. This, in turn, will reduce the chances of inflammation in the joints and bones, a key symptom of arthritis.[ref]Vouldoukis, Ioannis, Dominique Lacan, Caroline Kamate, Philippe Coste, Alphonse Calenda, Dominique Mazier, Marc Conti, and Bernard Dugas. “Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of a Cucumis melo LC. extract rich in superoxide dismutase activity.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 94, no. 1 (2004): 67-75.[/ref]
4. Boosts Immunity
Apart from the antioxidant and free radical-scavenging properties of beta-carotene, it also has a positive impact on the body’s immune system.[ref]Yashan, Han. “Advances of the Function of Beta-carotene and Carotenoid [J].” Journal of China Agricultural University 1 (1999): 001.[/ref] Moreover, cantaloupes are also rich in vitamin C which, apart from fighting free radicals, boosts the immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells, the body’s disease fighting cells.[ref]Pei-bing, L. I., J. I. N. Hong, Ji-xue ZHONG, D. E. N. G. Bing-nan, W. A. N. G. Yong-hui, and N. A. N. Wen-kao. “EFFECT OF MUSKMELON JUICE ON IMMUNE FUNCTION OF AGING MICE INDUCED BY D-GALACTOSE [J].” Acta Nutrimenta Sinica 2 (2010): 017.[/ref]
5. Improves Skin Health
Beta-carotenes are precursors of vitamin A. Vitamin A is believed to be soothing on the skin and is considered to possess anti-aging properties. This is because vitamin A enters the skin membranes and stimulates it, increasing regrowth and repair. This protective activity helps keep the skin from aging prematurely. Studies also show that muskmelon juice can relieve the deterioration of immune organs in the aging process and improve immune function, thus working like an anti-aging substance. This goes on to show that the fruit can prove quite beneficial if you want to flaunt a flawless skin.[ref]Pei-bing, L. I., J. I. N. Hong, Ji-xue ZHONG, D. E. N. G. Bing-nan, W. A. N. G. Yong-hui, and N. A. N. Wen-kao. “EFFECT OF MUSKMELON JUICE ON IMMUNE FUNCTION OF AGING MICE INDUCED BY D-GALACTOSE [J].” Acta Nutrimenta Sinica 2 (2010): 017. [/ref]
6. Improves Vision
If carotenoids are the reason carrots are good for the eyes, cantaloupes too can be trusted to give you better vision because cantaloupes are chockful of carotenoids.[ref]da Silva Dias, João Carlos. “Nutritional and health benefits of carrots and their seed extracts.” Food and Nutrition Sciences 5, no. 22 (2014): 2147.[ref] Carotenoids are believed to reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.[ref]Bernstein, Paul S., Da-You Zhao, Steven W. Wintch, Igor V. Ermakov, Robert W. McClane, and Werner Gellermann. “Resonance Raman measurement of macular carotenoids in normal subjects and in age-related macular degeneration patients.” Ophthalmology 109, no. 10 (2002): 1780-1787.[/ref] Vitamin C in it, too, is beneficial for the eyes. An increased intake of vitamin C was shown to reduce the risk of cataract as well as play a protective role on the aging lens.[ref]Valero, María Pastor, Astrid E. Fletcher, Bianca L. De Stavola, Jesús Vioque, and Vicente Chaqués Alepuz. “Vitamin C is associated with reduced risk of cataract in a Mediterranean population.” The Journal of nutrition 132, no. 6 (2002): 1299-1306. [/ref]
7. Reduces Stress
One of the essential nutrients found in cantaloupes is potassium.[ref]Lester, Gene. “Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit nutritional quality and health functionality.” HortTechnology 7, no. 3 (1997): 222-227.[/ref] A vasodilator, potassium plays an important role in relaxing blood vessels and reducing blood pressure.[ref] Bünger, Rolf, Francis J. Haddy, Axel Querengässer, and Eckehart Gerlach. “Studies on potassium induced coronary dilation in the isolated guinea pig heart.” Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology 363, no. 1 (1976): 27-31.[/ref] High blood pressure can cause stress, and can even induce the release of stress hormones like cortisol. Potassium also helps increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, which is beneficial in relaxing the individual. Reducing the presence of stress hormones in the body can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety.[ref]Haddy, Francis J., Paul M. Vanhoutte, and Michel Feletou. “Role of potassium in regulating blood flow and blood pressure.” American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 290, no. 3 (2006): R546-R552.[/ref]
The health benefits of cantaloupes also include wound healing, treating psoriasis, improving symptoms of chronic fatigue, protecting the heart, and preventing stroke.[ref]Kader, Adel A., Penelope Perkins-Veazie, and Gene E. Lester. “Nutritional quality of fruits, nuts, and vegetables and their importance in human health.” US Dept. Agric Handbook 66 (2004).[/ref]
What Are The Benefits Of Cantaloupe Seeds?
Like the fruit, muskmelon seeds are also full of nutritional benefits. All of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and unsaturated fats present in the fruit are present in the cantaloupe seeds, too.[ref]Lazos, Evangelos S. “Nutritional, fatty acid, and oil characteristics of pumpkin and melon seeds.” Journal of Food Science 51, no. 5 (1986): 1382-1383.[/ref] Apart from this, muskmelon seeds are a rich source of protein. For vegetarians and vegans who need to be extra careful about obtaining the required amount of protein from their diet, chewing on some muskmelon seeds might just be the answer to your problems.[ref]de Melo, Maria Ladjane S., Narendra Narain, and Pushkar S. Bora. “Characterisation of some nutritional constituents of melon (Cucumis melo hybrid AF-522) seeds.” Food Chemistry 68, no. 4 (2000): 411-414.[/ref]
Are Cantaloupes Safe During Pregnancy?
While cantaloupes provide all the health benefits to the fetus of a pregnant mother consuming the fruit, there is a risk of listeriosis infection, a foodborne bacterial infection, associated with cantaloupe consumption. Hence pregnant women may be advised to not eat cantaloupes during the course of the pregnancy.[ref]McCollum, Jeffrey T., Alicia B. Cronquist, Benjamin J. Silk, Kelly A. Jackson, Katherine A. O’connor, Shaun Cosgrove, Joe P. Gossack et al. “Multistate outbreak of listeriosis associated with cantaloupe.” New England Journal of Medicine 369, no. 10 (2013): 944-953.[/ref]
