Melon

If you thought that only melon served as dessert, you're wrong. The most famous cold appetizer of us is a combination of prosciutto and melon, and summer is excellent preparation for the cold soup with the addition of orange and lemon juice, cinnamon and mint.

Description and Origin

Melon is a hardy plant originally from Asia, and belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae, or pumpkin.

The fruit is round or elongated oval-shaped mass of 1-2 kg. Hard crust can be smooth, wrinkled or reticulated with flaps. The inner, usually edible part of an orange or zelenkastobijeli and the cavity filled with seeds.

In China it was known for 1000 years before Christ. The Bible mentions that the Israelites when they left Egypt with Moses forty years wandering in the desert, complaining to his favorite food, especially cantaloupe.

Images from the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii (AD 79) suggest that the Romans knew the melon.

Salubrity

Very important positive effects on the health of the organism melon: The most cold appetizer in us is the combination of prosciutto and melon, and goes excellently in salads with chicken or seafood.

content of vitamin C and A, which also act as antioxidants, protecting the body against cardiovascular disease and aging

water and potassium stimulate kidney function, assisting in the removal of harmful substances from the body, and potassium has a beneficial effect in people with high blood pressure because it reduces

the beneficial effect of fiber helps digestion and helps to reduce body weight and abdominal bloating

because of its high content of beta-carotene, cantaloupe is among anticancer foods

lump of squeezed melon juice or grated melon is used for pain relief.

Energy and nutritive value

According to the guidelines of proper nutrition pyramid, melon is in a group with other kinds of fruit. For this group of foods is recommended 2-4 servings a day.

Low energy value of melons and a high proportion of water make that food is very popular in the summer. Melon fruit for consumption must be fully ripe, very juicy, sweet flavor, aroma and refreshing effect.

Energy value of melon is only 34 kcal per 100 g of fresh foods.

In 100 grams of fresh melon has an average of 91 g of water, 0.1 g fat, 0.8 g protein, 7.9 g carbohydrates, 8 g sugar and 0.9 g fiber.

Melon is extremely rich in vitamin C (31% of the RDA in 100g), and some species (eg cantaloupe) are rich in vitamin A, which is present in the form of beta-carotene (10% of RDA in 100g).

It also contains other vitamins and minerals, although in smaller amounts: thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, phosphorus.