About Muskmelon/Cantaloupe/Kharbuja
Cantaloupe is commonly known as muskmelon and kharbuja especially in India
however also famous as rock melon and sweet melon all over the world. It is
found in many varieties, shapes and colors and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae
family.
It was originated in the India, Iran and Africa whereas first cultivated in
the Europe and then spread in various regions of the world. It is greatly found
during summer season especially from April to August. It is a sweetest and
amazing fruit having cooling effect on the body during whole summer season. Its
high water, minerals and vitamins content are great source of nutrition
required to nourish the health.
Benefits of Muskmelon (Cantaloupe/Kharbuja) Fruit
It is considered as the ideal summer fruit because of its high water,
minerals and vitamins content which helps in balancing the fluid and
electrolytes loss during summer season. It involves in managing body heat as
well as helps in combating heat related health disorders because of its cooling
effects. Some of the outstanding nutritional health benefits of the muskmelon
are mentioned below:
Benefits of Muskmelon for Digestive System
Provides
Relief from Constipation - Its high water and dietary fibers content help
people to get relief from the constipation and other digestive disorders if
consumed regularly.
Provides
Relief from Acidity - This fruit is very good for the digestion provides
relief from the acidity and stomach problems.
Stimulates
Digestive Functioning - It properly nourishes the digestive system,
stimulates its functioning and helps in treating lack of appetite.
Regulates
Bowel Movements - It makes the bowel movement very smooth and easy thus
helps in keeping proper digestion.
Provides
Relief from Diarrhea - It provides relief from the diarrhea if it is eaten
by sprinkling the mixture of kali mirch, ginger powder, sendha namak and
roasted powdered jeera.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Skin
Contains all
Essential Nutrients - It is naturally loaded with the high level of
phytonutrients (alpha and beta-carotene), folates, folic acid, potassium,
vitamins like C, E, K and A which are highly required nutrients to keep skin
natural, soft, glowing, healthy and younger looking.
Including it as a part of daily diet gives fast result for skin
Maintains Skin
Texture - It contains a most essential element of the skin called collagen
which helps in maintaining the natural skin integrity and texture. It also
fastens the wound healing process as well as maintaining the skin firmness.
Removes all
Spots - It prevents from the rough and dry skin problems, removes black
spots, blemishes and other scars.
Hydrates Skin
- It helps in maintaining skin hydrated and rejuvenating as it contains
vitamins K, B and E.
Induce Skin
Regeneration - It helps in inducing skin regeneration process by inducing
the collagen formation thus provides skin youthful glow and natural elasticity.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Women
Regulates
Blood Flow during Menstruation - Its high potassium level helps in
excreting extra sodium in the body and maintains blood pressure to the normal
level thus helps women during menstruation by reducing the heavy blood flow and
clots formation.
Induce Breast
Milk Production - Regular consumption of the musk melon during lactation
helps mothers by enhancing the sufficient breast milk production to properly
feed their baby.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Weight Loss
Contains Low
Calorie - It is a very low calorie fruit having high amount of dietary
fibers, water, minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients which acts as a great
snack in between the meals.
Calms Down
Hunger Pangs - It calms down the hunger pangs in very healthy ways so it is
great to have as a snack instead of eating unhealthy items.
Manages Weight
- It is a very good option for those greatly conscious towards their health and
weight as it effectively helps in managing the weight without much effort.
Benefits of Muskmelon during Pregnancy
Rich in
Folic Acid and Iron - It is rich in folic acid and iron which are very
essential for both mother and baby.
Prevents Baby
from Birth Defects - It keeps baby healthy and provides better environment
for the proper growth and development by preventing baby from the birth
defects.
Provides
Reliefs from Morning Sickness - It provides relief from the morning
sickness during first trimester of pregnancy.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Heart
Reduces Risk
of Heart Diseases - It prevents from the risk of stroke and heart diseases
as it contains an anticoagulant compound called adenosine which has ability to
stop the blood clot formation.
Regulates
Blood Pressure - It contain high potassium and no cholesterol thus helps in
regulating the blood pressure under control and very helpful for the normal
heart functioning.
Prevents from
Hardening of Arteries - It prevents from the arteriosclerosis means
hardening of the arteries and reduces the risk of heart attacks.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Cancer Prevention
Prevents from
Cancer - It reduces the risk of cancer as it contains antioxidant
flavonoids and carotenoids which are anti-cancerous in nature and inhibits the
growth of cancerous cells.
Prevents from
Ageing - It safeguards the body against harmful effects of free radicals
thus prevents from early ageing and various cancers like colon cancer, breast
cancer, prostate cancer, uterus cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and etc.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Diabetes
Regularizes
Blood Sugar Level - It prevents from the diabetic nephropathy (damage of
the kidney cells due to high blood sugar level) as it is a fruit of low
glycemic index and contains simple sugar (fructose and glucose) thus safe for
people suffering from diabetes.
Benefits of Muskmelon for Hair
Promotes Hair
Growth - It is the richest source of vital nutrients and essential minerals
which helps in maintaining the growth of hair and health of scalp.
Prevents from
Hair Loss - It prevents from the hair fall and hair loss by promoting
proper hair growth if consumed regularly.
Nourishes Hair
Scalp - It acts as a good hair conditioner in the hot season if hair scalp
is massaged properly with muskmelon pulp and then wash.
Other Health Benefits of Muskmelon
Provides
Relief from Heartburn and Kidney Problems - Its high water and minerals
content provides natural cooling and soothing effects thus provides relieve
from the heartburn and kidney problems.
Reduces Risk
of Kidney Diseases - It is highly diuretic in nature which keeps kidneys
safe by keeping it away from the kidney diseases if it is taken once in the
morning regularly.
Prevents from
Stone Formation and Bone Loss - It reduces the risk of kidney stones
formation as well as prevents from the age related bone loss.
Makes Immune
System Strong - It is the rich source of vitamin C which acts as a powerful
antioxidant agent and provides body a disease fighting ability by enhancing the
immunity level.
Prevents from
UTI - It prevents from the urinary tract infections, ulcers and etc
problems.
Boosts Body
Energy - It is a very good energy booster because of the B group vitamins
availability.
Induces Better
Sleep - It has mild laxative property which provides relief from the
tiredness by promoting proper sleep.
Protects from
Eye Problems - Vitamin A found in it nourishes the nerve tissues of the
eyes thus prevents from the age related macular degeneration, loss of vision,
cataracts and etc.
Maintains
Electrolyte Balance - It helps in maintaining the proper nervous system
functioning by regulating proper electrolyte balance in the extracellular
fluid. It helps in reducing water retention in the body thus prevents from
being edematous.
Reduces Stress
Level - It is a mild anti depressant thus provides relief from stress by
stimulating the proper brain functioning.
Prevents from
Infections - It makes defense mechanism of the body stronger to check the
foreign bodies attack thus prevents from various infections.
Helps in
Various Problems - It reduces the bad cholesterol level in the blood,
stimulates weight loss, cures infections, ulcer, constipation, skin disorders,
acidity, and nervous system disorders. It makes body strong and healthy by
preventing from the sciatica, arthritis, bone diseases, urinary diseases and
various skin diseases.
Purifies Blood
- It helps in removing internal problems by purifying the blood and making the
joints healthy and strong.
Keeps Brain
Healthy and Improves Memory Power - It helps in keeping the brain healthy
and strong by improving brain power and preventing from the stress, depression,
sleeping disorders, summer heat and other brain problems.
Rehydrates
Body - It prevents from the heat stroke during whole summer season by
keeping the body cool and rehydrate.
Improves Liver
Health - It keeps liver healthy by regularizing its functioning and
removing swelling problems if it is consumed regularly.
Benefits of Muskmelon Juice
Prevents
from Digestive Disorders -It is a natural diuretic and laxative in nature
thus prevents from many problems like lack of appetite, infections, acidity,
constipation, ulcer, weakness and etc. Enhances Sexual Desire - It is a natural aphrodisiac which enhances sexual desire among men and cures erectile dysfunction.
Beneficial
with Mishri and Lemon Juice
Drinking musk melon juice by mixing with powdered mishri
and lemon juice prevents from the stone formation, constipation, urinary tract
infections and various digestive system disorders.
Benefits of
Muskmelon Seeds
Treats
Intestinal Worms Problem - Eating muskmelon seeds provides help to get rid
of intestinal worms and regulates proper digestion. It also helps in curing
cough, indigestion, fever and etc.
Provides
Relief from Stress - It helps in relieving from the mind tension if paste
of the musk melon seeds is applied to the forehead for some time.
Drinking juice (sarbat) of the musk melon seeds by mixing
it properly also keeps mind stress free and cool.
Nutritional Benefits of Muskmelon per 100 g
(Source: USDA
Nutrient database)
ü
Energy: 34 Kcal
ü
Carbohydrate: 8.6 g
ü
Protein: 0.84 g
ü
Fat: 0.19 g
ü
Dietary Fibers: 0.9 g
ü
Sugar: 7.86 g
Vitamins
ü
Thiamin (B1): 0.017 mg
ü
Riboflavin (B2): 0.026 mg
ü
Niacin (B3): 0.734 mg
ü
Pantothenic acid (B5): 0.105 mg
ü
Pyridoxine (B6): 0.072 mg
ü
Folates: 21 µg
ü
Choline: 7.6 mg
ü
Vitamin A: 3382 IU
ü
Vitamin E: 0.05 mg
ü
Vitamin C: 36.7 mg
ü
Vitamin K: 2.5 mcg
Electrolytes
ü
Sodium: 1 mg
ü
Potassium: 267 mg
ü
Minerals
ü
Calcium: 9 mg
ü
Copper: 41 µg
ü
Iron: 0.21 mg
ü
Phosphorus: 15 mg
ü
Magnesium: 12 mg
ü
Manganese: 0.041 mg
ü
Zinc: 0.18 mg
ü
Phyto-nutrients
ü
Alpha-carotene: 2020 µg
ü
Beta-cryptoxanthin: 1 µg
ü
Lutein-zeaxanthin: 26 µg
How to Enjoy
It can be enjoyed in variety of ways such as simple slicing, decorated
slicing, fruit salad, juice, seeds, jam, sorbet, ice-cream, cold soup, mix musk
melon slices with yogurt, lemon and mint.
How to Select
and Store
It is widely available in the market during summer season. Try to buy only
organically grown muskmelons as they contain more nutrients and no harmful
chemicals. It should be with intact, smooth, soft skin, well shaped and mature,
bright color and fresh. Avoid buying bruised, wrinkled skin, deformed, dull
color and unripe muskmelon.
Disadvantages,
Side Effects and Precautions
Muskmelon does not have any disadvantage, side effect or allergic fruit
however eating inorganically grown muskmelons should be avoided to get
prevented from pesticide residues. Eating more muskmelons should be avoided
during pregnancy, breast feeding or any serious condition of the health. Whole
muskmelon should be washed properly under running water as it may cause some
infections and digestive problems.
How Much
Muskmelon to Eat a Day
Eating muskmelon during summer season is very good and healthy for the body
nourishment however its high dose should be avoided. 300-400 gm of the
muskmelon can be eaten by any normal person during the summer season but should
be immediately consulted by the physician if any problem occurs.
For more details visit http://www.womenplanet.in/health-fitness/health-benefits-muskmelon-kharbuja-fruit-juice-seeds
