Melon
Melon health benefits
Melon is a unique product with incredible aroma and juicy pulp. It contains water, sugar, starch. By consuming melon regularly, you can enrich your body with proteins, carbohydrates, organic acids, potassium. Vitamins C, B2, B1, PP and carotene regulate and normalize the work of many systems. Due to its high iron content, melon has a positive effect on the processes of hematopoiesis. The presence of silicon contributes to skin health.
Vitamin C and folic acid have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, magnesium keeps the heart muscle in good shape. Melon contains gold - the rarest element that is not found in the fruits of other plants.
Composition and calorie content
The calorie content of melons of different varieties varies from 30 to 38 kcal per 100 g. Low energy value allows you to consume melon on fasting days.
- Fats: 0.3 g
- Proteins: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.3 g
- Water: 90 g
- Ash: 0.7 g
- Cellulose: 0.9 g
| Vitamins | amount | % RDA |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 20 mg | 22% |
| Beta carotene | 400 mcg | eight% |
| Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) | 0.2 mg | five% |
| Minerals (in 100 g): | amount | % RDA |
| Silicon | 82 mg | 273% |
| Rubidium | 77 mcg | 77% |
| Cobalt | 2 μg | 20% |
| Boron | 11.7 mcg | 17% |
| Vanadium | 4 μg | ten% |
| Potassium | 118-287 mg | ten% |
Other important connections:
- Phytosterols - 10 mg (18% of the RDI)
- Purines - 8 mg (6.7% of the RDI)
- Oxalic acid - 2.7 mg (0.7% of the RDI)
Complete chemical composition ➤
Melon application
Melon has been known as a dessert vegetable for a long time. During the time of Avicenna, the healing properties of melon were widely used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Melon pulp has a laxative effect. Since the melon contains fiber, the fruit is successfully used for obesity. Melon relieves fatigue, improves mood, eliminates anxiety and nervous tension.
Traditional medicine recommends using the yellow fruits of this melon plant for the preparation of drops, solutions for rinsing the mouth, compresses, lotions. Melon juice and rinds are added to the water used for bathing for allergies. For bronchitis, asthmatic manifestations and pneumonia, melon pulp is used as compresses, which significantly improves the patient's condition.
Dressings with juice or pulp remove bruises, resolve hematomas, and eliminate abscesses. The beneficial effect of melon juice is used for the common cold. If you take 1 glass of melon juice daily with the addition of parsley juice, urolithiasis can be cured. A glass of juice drunk in the morning on an empty stomach relieves helminthic infestation within a week. The high content of nutrients allows melon to be called a valuable nutritious and vitamin product.
The diuretic properties of pulp and juice are useful for diseases of the kidneys, bladder, disorders of the cardiovascular system, hypertension.
By flushing the body, melon juice helps to remove fluid, along with which germs and infection are removed. This has a positive effect on the treatment of rheumatism, allergies, psoriasis and dermatoses. The help of melons in the treatment of anemia, hemorrhoids and constipation is invaluable.
Melon varieties
Today many varieties of melon are known. They are varied in their taste and shape. Melon "Musk" - round, flattened. On the surface of the thickened peel, veins and deep longitudinal cracks are visible. The sweet and aromatic flesh is juicy, pale yellow or orange, almost red. Melon quenches thirst well, this variety was bred in North Africa.
No less amazing variety "Ogen" - melon is round, oval or slightly flattened, with yellow, yellow-green or greenish peel. The surface has longitudinal cracks or spots. The pulp is sweet, green in color, aromatic. This variety was imported from Israel.
The Charente melon is grown in France. This is the smallest, most delicious melon, the qualities of which are identical to the cantaloupe. This variety has a round shape, slightly flattened, has an almost smooth yellow-white or green-blue skin with barely noticeable dark stripes. The pulp is orange, sweet and aromatic.
Melons "Honey" are from Morocco. They are elongated, the surface of the fruit is smooth, the skin color is ocher with a greenish tint. Melon has yellow-white, yellow-red or green flesh, extremely sweet, honey-tasting, with a pleasant aroma.
The varieties, whose homeland is considered to be Southeast Asia, are those melons that can be bought on the Russian market; they are imported in huge quantities during the season and are called "our" melons. Such varieties include "Canaria", "Torpedo", "Kolkhoznitsa", "Lada", "Melba", "Cantaloupe", "Sweet Pineapple", "Charlotte", "Zolotistaya", "Imperial" and many others, their pulp contains almost the same substances useful for the body.
Melon Seed Recipes
Melon seeds, like the fruit, have healing properties. Traditional medicine offers many different ways to consume seeds as a natural remedy. Miracle seeds are prescribed for the treatment of prostatitis, for this you need to grind them almost to a powder state and take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day: in the morning - on an empty stomach, in the afternoon - after a meal, in the evening - before dinner. Since in large quantities the action of the substances of the seeds has a negative effect on the spleen, it is recommended to use them with honey.
Traditional healers believe that melon seeds cleanse the intestines. Their beneficial properties help in the treatment of liver, kidney and genitourinary system. The seeds are able to eliminate cough, have an expectorant effect, eliminate chest pain, and help get rid of dry mouth.
Melon milk can be prepared from seeds, it is used for irritation of the urinary tract and chronic cough.
Milk recipe: melon seeds should be dried, chopped and, gradually adding boiled water (slightly warm), grind until a liquid similar to milk appears. The ratio of seeds to water should be 1: 8. Milk, filtered and sweetened with sugar, should be taken in 0.25 cups 5-6 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Melon seed infusion: 1 tablespoon of seed powder is required to pour 1 cup of boiling water and insist at room temperature until completely cooled. It is recommended to take the remedy for 1 glass three times a day before meals. This infusion lowers blood sugar levels.
The seeds have a good effect on the body with cholecystitis.
Decoction of seeds: 1 teaspoon of powdered seeds should be poured with 1 glass of boiling milk, cook for 2-3 minutes, drink 1 glass 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 1 week.
Melon fruit
The melon fruit is a polyspermous pumpkin, it is also called a false berry, it can have a spherical or cylindrical shape. The color of the peel is green, yellow, brown or white. The surface of the melons can have stripes and grooves, or it can be absolutely clean and smooth. Melons replenish vitamin reserves, increase immunity, lower blood cholesterol levels, thereby preventing vascular atherosclerosis. The content of vitamins and microelements in the melon contributes to the prevention of cancer.
Cantaloupe melon
Melons of this type were cultivated in the estate of the Pope - Cantaluppia, and this was the name. You can enjoy the fruits in June-July. The rind has longitudinal stripes and is covered with a dense, coarse "mesh". The pulp is orange in color, has a strong aroma and pleasant taste. This group of cultivated melons stands out among others for the high content of carotene.
Melon green
Among the variety of varieties, one can single out the Galia-Diamant melon of Israeli origin. It has an oval fruit, the rind is covered with a "net", when ripe it turns orange. The flesh, sweet and fragrant, is characterized by a green-white color. Energy value -100 g / 28 kcal / 117 kJ. The pulp contains tannins and minerals.
Contraindications to eating melon
There are some precautions to take when eating melon. Melon is a heavy product, its fiber can cause stomach laxation, and this is a huge burden for the body. Melon should be eaten separately from other foods. It is not recommended to combine it with alcohol, milk. Knowing the measure and eating a melon two hours before the main meal, you can feel all the benefits and splendor of this sunny melon culture.
In large quantities, melon can harm breastfed babies, people with diabetes, and people with circulatory problems. You will also have to give up melon for peptic ulcer disease and overweight.
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
