Cantaloupe is the most popular type of melon in America. And it’s no small wonder with the rich taste and texture and wonderful aroma. The cantaloupe is originally from Cantlup, Italy where it was first grown around 1700 A.D. Cantaloupe is also known as the nettle melon because of it’s veined skin and the netting around the seeds on the inside which is hollow.
Cantaloupe has a very high vitamin A content due it’s heavy beta-carotene concentration. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A once inside the body. Cantaloupe has very little calories, about 56 calories per cup but has 103.2% vitamin A in that one little cup. Both beta-carotene and vitamin A are important vision nutrients. In fact, a recent study showed that women who ate the most food containing high vitamin A content reduced their risk of cataracts by 39%. Much research is also being done on beta-carotene as a possible deterrent for cancer and oxygen-based damage to cells.
Cantaloupe is also very high in vitamin C content. Vitamin C functions as a antioxidant in the more water soluble areas of the body such as cells. It protects all areas of the body from free radical cell damage. Vitamin C is also critical for immune function and stimulates the white blood cells to fight infection as it directly kills many bacteria and viruses. It also regenerates the vitamin E. It has also been proven that diets high in vitamin C content is associated with reduced risk of death from all diseases including cancer, heart disease and
Cantaloupe is also a very high source of niacin, potassium, vitamin B-6, fiber and folate. All of these vitamins plus the fiber increase the carbohydrate metabolism and thus boosts energy and levels out blood sugar stability.
The vitamin A in cantaloupe also is good news for those of us who smoke. Making vitamin A rich foods a part of your diet may just save your life. In a study of the relationship between smoking and lung diseases, it was found that benzoapyrene which is one of the carcinogens in cigarette smoke causes a vitamin A deficiency. A diet heavy in vitamin A can reverse this effect and reduces emphysema.
Cantaloupes are better than carrots for protecting your eyes against macular degeneration, which is the primary cause of loss of vision in the elderly.
Cantaloupe has a very high vitamin A content due it’s heavy beta-carotene concentration. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A once inside the body. Cantaloupe has very little calories, about 56 calories per cup but has 103.2% vitamin A in that one little cup. Both beta-carotene and vitamin A are important vision nutrients. In fact, a recent study showed that women who ate the most food containing high vitamin A content reduced their risk of cataracts by 39%. Much research is also being done on beta-carotene as a possible deterrent for cancer and oxygen-based damage to cells.
Cantaloupe is also very high in vitamin C content. Vitamin C functions as a antioxidant in the more water soluble areas of the body such as cells. It protects all areas of the body from free radical cell damage. Vitamin C is also critical for immune function and stimulates the white blood cells to fight infection as it directly kills many bacteria and viruses. It also regenerates the vitamin E. It has also been proven that diets high in vitamin C content is associated with reduced risk of death from all diseases including cancer, heart disease and
Cantaloupe is also a very high source of niacin, potassium, vitamin B-6, fiber and folate. All of these vitamins plus the fiber increase the carbohydrate metabolism and thus boosts energy and levels out blood sugar stability.
The vitamin A in cantaloupe also is good news for those of us who smoke. Making vitamin A rich foods a part of your diet may just save your life. In a study of the relationship between smoking and lung diseases, it was found that benzoapyrene which is one of the carcinogens in cigarette smoke causes a vitamin A deficiency. A diet heavy in vitamin A can reverse this effect and reduces emphysema.
Cantaloupes are better than carrots for protecting your eyes against macular degeneration, which is the primary cause of loss of vision in the elderly.
