Cantaloupe (melon) is the most popular variety of melon of the cucumber family. Cantaloupes range in color from orange-yellow to salmon and have a soft and juicy texture with a sweet, musky aroma that emanates through the melon when it is ripe. Cantaloupes feature a hollow cavity that contains their seeds encased in a web of netting. This fruit has a refreshingly rich flavor and aroma and minimal number of calories.
When choosing cantaloupe, choose a fully ripened melon, because according to research as fruits fully ripen, almost to the point of spoilage their antioxidant levels actually increase.
Vitamin and Mineral Content :
* Vitamin A : 3,420 I.U.
* Thiamine : .05 mg.
* Riboflavin : .04 mg
* Niacin : .5 mg.
* Vitamin C : 33 mg.
* Calcium : 17 mg.
* Iron : .4 mg.
* Phosphorus : 16 mg.
* Potassium : 242 mg.
* Fat : .2 gm.
* Carbohydrates : 4.6 gm.
* Protein : .6 gm
* Calories : 20
Health Benefits:
* Cantaloupe is a rich source of vitamin A, a cup of cantaloupe provides about 103.2% of the daily value for vitamin A and beta-carotene and important nutrient for a healthy vision.
* Cantaloupe is also rich in Vitamin C, a cup of cantaloupe provides 112.5% of the daily value for vitamin C. Vitamin C protect our immune from free radicals and it also help stimulate white cells to fight infection.
* Cantaloupe folate content is important for the production and maintenance of new cells, especially during pregnancy.
