Healthy Fruit: Health Benefits of Melon

Health benefits of melon - Melon that has a high economic value, has significance for health. Nutrients they contain good for the skin, eyes, nerves, and kidneys, as well as able to ward off cancer.

Melon plants come from the Valley Heat Persian or Mediterranean area, which is the border between West Asia with Europe and Africa. This plant is then spread to the Middle East and Europe.

Melon (Cucumis melo L) included in the family Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin). The other type is a cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, bitter melon, pumpkin.

So, what are the health benefits of melon?

Melon can smooth your skin and good for the Kidney. Levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) per 100 grams of melon around 34 mg. Vitamin C can be relied upon as an effective antioxidant to counteract free radicals. Oxidants (free radicals) are dangerous substances that can attack the body's cells.

The function of vitamin C is also associated with collagen. Collagen is a protein compound that affects the integrity of cell structure in all connective tissue, like skin. The presence of collagen can accelerate wound healing and maintain skin firmness.

Red and orange Melon containing Carotenoids compounds that can protect cells from free radicals and can also be converted into vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining tissue epidermis of the skin to stay healthy.

If there is enough vitamin D, skin so soft and moist. Often eat melon, skin will not be rough and dry.

High levels of Carotenoids can boost immunity, thus reducing the risk of cancer. Carotenoids with vitamin E and C in melon act as antioxidants to prevent lung cancer.

Melon is a source of vitamin B. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) plays a role in the metabolism of carbohydrates to produce energy optimally. Melon is also rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and niacin. Riboflavin plays to maintain healthy skin, eyes and nerves, whereas niacin prevents indigestion.

Melon rich in minerals. Calcium helps prevent blood clots, eliminating the acidity of the mineral content of the body and cure constipation.

The water content of melons could reach 95 percent, giving the soothing effect. Therefore, the melon can relieve heartburn and cleanse the kidneys of metabolic waste.

Water serves as a solvent, a part of lubricants, chemical reagents, helps regulate body temperature, and maintain the shape and body composition. Melons have a very good diuretic power, thus preventing kidney disease.

What are the other health benefits of melon?  

Dietary fiber per 100 g of melon is 0.7 g. Benefits of fiber:

• Affect the Gut Microflora and prevent the formation of carcinogenic compounds (cancer-triggering)
• Lowers cholesterol, thus preventing atherosclerosis and heart disease
• It absorbs a lot of water in the digestive tract, so the stool so soft and simplifies the process of waste of water
• Helps weight loss
• Controlling blood sugar, so it is useful to prevent diabetes

Best way to consume melons

Melon should be harvested when perfectly ripe. Maturation cannot be done with the technique of curing. Signs of a ripe melon are skin looks smooth, shiny, and his voice echoes when tapped with the hand. Harvesting late led to fruit cracking, resulting in lower quality and selling price.

Melons should be consumed at the right maturity. If too ripe contain much sugar, so it has a higher Glycemic index (GI).

Glycemic index is a measure of how quickly carbohydrates ingested, enter the blood, and raise blood sugar levels. Foods with low GI into the bloodstream slowly and not fast trigger insulin response, so that blood sugar levels more stable.

In order for the amount and quality of vitamins and minerals awake, melon should not be washed or soaked in water, simply stored in the refrigerator (fridge). Vitamins and minerals are easily damaged if exposed to heat, air, copper, or alkali.

So that’s all health benefits of melon, what do you think? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know.