2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
One of the most popular seasonal gourds is the melon. Juicy, sweet and fragrant - it has gained many fans. But choosing a truly sweet fruit is not easy. Melon, the calorie content and benefits of which will be discussed below, is a seasonal product. It is better to use it at the height of the harvest. At this point, she reaches maximum maturity, and there is less chance of buying a low-quality fruit. Many unscrupulous melon growers, in pursuit of high profits, feed their crops with nitrates for quick ripening. Such a melon is a very suspicious and useless fruit.
Melon as a plant
What is this plant and its fruits? Melon belongs to the gourd family. By many signs, one can guess that the cucumber is her closest relative. One bush can produce about 6-8 fruits, the weight of which ranges from 200 grams to 20 kilograms. But the melon reaches full maturity only after 6 months.
A well-ripened fruit has a beautiful appearance and delicious aroma. The color of the melon can be yellow, brown and even green depending on the variety. Modern selection is constantly evolving, offering new varieties that differ in taste, size and color. There are white and striped fruits. The taste qualities of melons of different varieties are also not the same. But ideally, every product should be sweet and flavorful.
Fruit or berry?
Melon, the benefits and harms of which will be discussed below, is sweet in taste. That is why many refer to it as a fruit. It is used in the preparation of desserts and salads. At the same time, some believe that melon is a berry. And this is what connects it with another popular melon culture - watermelon. Yes, they are quite similar internally. But the Asian beauty grows on lashes, like some vegetables. Therefore, botanists refer them to different groups. In addition, melon has a lot in common with vegetables such as cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin. And although it is sweet, it belongs to this group, calling it a sugar vegetable. In Asian countries, even unsweetened varieties are grown. They are eaten as vegetables.
Composition of melon
Melon contains a large amount of vitamin C. It ranks first among gourds in this indicator. Also in its fruits you can find a large amount of vitamins A, B and E. There is enough in melon and silicon, which is necessary for better absorption of minerals by the body and prevention of calcification of blood vessels. The fruits of this plant containiron is 17 times more than in milk. And if you eat watermelon and melon alternately, then the positive effect will be much higher. After all, these cultures complement each other perfectly. Even nutritionists recommend eating melon, the benefits and harms of which have long been studied. The product cleanses the internal organs and systems, enriches them with nutrients.
Melon is a natural medicine
What diseases does melon help fight? For the unique chemical composition, this fruit has deservedly been called a natural medicine. It can be eaten by both adults and children. Melon should be in the diet of those who suffer from heart disease, gout, have problems with the intestines, kidneys and liver. Eating sweet fruits helps fight depression. A large amount of vitamin C improves immunity and increases the body's resistance to colds.
The qualities of melon fruits, the benefits and harms for the body of which are carefully studied not only by nutritionists, are also used in cosmetology. They are rich in silicon, B vitamins and folic acid. These components significantly improve the structure and quality of hair and skin. Therefore, cosmetologists recommend melon masks for face, hair and the whole body.
Contraindications
Does melon have contraindications? Like any culture, the fruits of this plant have their drawbacks. They are minor, but they must be known. The benefits and harms of melon for the human body are especially pronounced with its excessive use. The fruits are verysweet and fragrant. And it is very difficult to keep from temptation. However, it should be remembered that they contain many useful substances. Therefore, eating a large amount of melon can lead to hypervitaminosis.
Also, there may be problems with digestion, a violation of cardiac activity. Therefore, those who have diseases of the intestines, duodenum, diabetes mellitus should refrain from using this culture. In addition, these fruits are not recommended for women who feed babies with breast milk. Melon juice can provoke an upset stomach in a baby.
Calories
Is melon good for weight loss? It should be noted: despite their taste, the fruits of this plant do not have a high calorie content. They are ideal for diet food. What is in the melon? This sweet vegetable is 90 percent water. And only the remaining 10% is he althy fiber and sugar. Therefore, the calorie content of ripe melon is no more than 38 kcal per 100 grams of product. Dried slices of these fruits and candied fruits prepared from them are much more nutritious. In this case, the indicator fluctuates within 350 kcal.
Nutritional composition in grams
If you take the amount of nutrients in grams, then these figures will please lovers of goodies. The main thing is, of course, low calorie content. In addition, melon contains about 1% fat and protein. The amount of carbohydrates is 7.5 percent. Important elements in the composition of the melon are organic acids, starch and fiber. Lasthelps to cleanse the body and improve the functioning of the digestive system.
Ascorbic acid prevails in the amount of 20 mg per 100 grams of product. B vitamins take 6 mg, and provitamins and folic acid, 0.4 grams per 100 grams. Elements such as calcium, zinc, iron, manganese, phosphorus, iodine and magnesium are present in the composition of the melon in its natural form, which is best absorbed in the body.
How to use?
How to eat melon to get the maximum benefit and pleasure? It is better to use the ripe fruits of this plant between meals. You should not eat melon on an empty stomach, especially for those who have digestive problems. The pulp can be frozen and then used to prepare various dishes and cocktails.
Candied fruits are made from melon fruits, which are very tasty and do not lose their beneficial properties. It is also used to make jams, jams and marmalades. There are recipes for a pickled sweet vegetable, which has a very unusual taste. Enjoy your vitamins in the summer and stock them up to keep warm for colder times.
Pickled melon
The taste of melon, the benefits and harms of which have been considered, allows you to cook many original, tasty and fragrant dishes from it. For example, many will like pickled melon. For cooking, you need a ripe fruit weighing about 500-700 grams. It must be cleaned of seeds and peel, cut into cubes. Then put the melon in prepared jars.
Separatepreparing the marinade. For 200 milliliters of water, you need to take 30 grams of honey, 200 grams of vinegar, 10 grams of s alt and two cloves. Pour jars of melon with cold marinade, sterilize for about 40 minutes. Then close and send to a cold place. Melon prepared in this way goes well with meat dishes.
Melon Jam
Almost all melon treats are not high in calories. The only exceptions are candied fruits. Jam from the fruits of this plant is one of the best options for sweets. To prepare it, you need to take 500 grams of fruit cut into pieces, the same amount of sugar and a liter of water. To improve the taste, you can add a little lemon zest.
Put everything in a suitable container and bring the mixture to a boil. Do not let the jam boil for a long time and strongly. Pieces of melon will be digested, which will not affect the taste, but will spoil the appearance. It should be noted that the calorie content of such a delicacy is not high. She leaves only 170 kcal. That is why such culinary delights can be consumed even by those who care about their figure.
Combination with other products
There is a misconception that melon goes well with any food. This is not entirely true. Yes, melon is a versatile sweet vegetable that goes well with many foods. Americans start their meal with a glass of water and a slice of this sweet treat. Italians serve melon with meat as a side dish. In the East, it is considered a good addition to fish.
There are many recipes in cooking using melon, both as a main and an additionalingredient. But still, nutritionists do not recommend using it on an empty stomach and together with fermented milk products. This can cause indigestion, colic and bloating. Especially you should not combine dishes where there is a lot of milk and eggs. In general, the use of any product should be moderate. In this case, food will not harm, but will benefit the body.
Interesting facts
Many myths and prejudices are associated with this plant. Many of them relate to the use of melon. The benefits and harms to the body have long been studied by experts, so there are qualified answers to all questions. We have already considered many indicators of this sweet vegetable. But there are a lot of interesting facts that seem very entertaining.
For example, the largest melon, which weighed about 500 kilograms, was grown by a resident of Austria. It happened in 2009. Since then, the record has not yet been broken by anyone. In some eastern peoples, melon fruits are considered a natural aphrodisiac. Men will benefit from daily eating a handful of dried seeds of this fragrant plant. Turkmenistan even celebrates Melon Day. In all churches at this moment, a prayer service is held for a good harvest. Melon is valued not only for its excellent taste, but also for its nutritional composition. Therefore, eat on he alth, but know the measure in everything.
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