Have you ever heard about Muskmelon? Well, it’s a sweet and flavored fruit, also known for its culinary versatility and vibrant flesh.
Muskmelon is not just filled with flavors, it’s also a storehouse of nutrients and is recommended due to its health benefits.
The fruit comes in summer and is recommended due to its higher water content. And so, it greatly helps you get rid of dehydration issues in summers. Muskmelon is often confused with cantaloupe though.
The post will give readers an insight about Muskmelon fruit health benefits, nutritional value and how it is different from Cantaloupe.
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Muskmelon vs. Cantaloupe
Muskmelon is basically a fruit which belongs to the gourd family. It’s also known as Cucumis melo which is considered a species of melon. The fruit is closely associated with some other fruits like watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin and squash.
It’s loaded with smooth, netted or ribbed skin having a sweet or bland flavor with or without a musky aroma.
You must have noticed so many varieties of muskmelon being introduced over the years including cantaloupe.
Let’s discuss about “cantaloupe” which mainly refers to two varieties of muskmelon including European cantaloupe (C. melo var. cantalupensis and the North American cantaloupe (C. melo var. reticulatus).
Since both these types of cantaloupe happen to be the varieties of muskmelon, they have the same nutritional value and associated health benefits.
However, it’s been noticed that the skin of the North American cantaloupe has a net like appearance with a subtler along with a less distinct flavor.
On the other hand European cantaloupe has a sweeter flesh that comes with light green skin.
Please note that all cantaloupes are muskmelons, but all muskmelons are not cantaloupes.
There are some other varieties of muskmelon widely available including Santa Claus melon, Persian melon and honeydew.
Muskmelon Benefits
Muskmelon is a summer fruit having a sweet taste. The fruit is full of nutrients and also has higher water content as compared to other fruits of the same family. Take a look at some health benefits of muskmelon that you should not miss.
Great for your blood pressure
The reason why Muskmelon is recommended for blood pressure patients is due to the presence of potassium content.
Along with it, the fruit is also loaded with high fiber and water content which helps controlling blood pressure. And so, it’s highly advisable that you include muskmelon in your diet to reap its benefits.
Promotes digestion
Due to the presence of fiber and water content, muskmelon is recommended for your digestive system.
And so, it can readily help you get rid of constipation issues. If you eat muskmelon, it can help regulating your bowel movement quite efficiently. It finally leaves a cooling effect on your stomach.
Helps to maintain hydration
muskmelon has 90% water. In order to prevent from dehydration, you just need to drink more water. It also helps if you consume some more fruits and vegetables that are loaded with water.
It’s highly recommended that you consume fruits like berries, kiwi, mangoes, watermelon and muskmelon.
Supports immune function
Since Muskmelon is a great source of vitamin C, it is recommended to support your immune system. Please note that vitamin C is a micronutrient which is essential for your immune system.
As per a research conducted in this regard, getting enough vitamin C can greatly reduce the duration and severity of some known respiratory infections like common cold.
Promotes weight loss
Muskmelon helps in weight loss in a number of ways.
The first thing to know is that the fruit is quite low in calories and is also a source of many crucial vitamins and minerals required for maintaining your overall health.
As the fruit has high water content, it can help you meet your hydration needs by supporting weight loss.
Decreases inflammation
Acute inflammation is a kind of normal immune response to help and fight your body with pathogens. On the other hand chronic inflammation can lead to conditions like diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
As per an animal study, cantaloupe extract has been found with some powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
It may be because of the presence of superoxide dismutase which is an antioxidant and is found to decrease oxidative damage to your cells.
Boosts skin health
Muskmelon is also recommended to boost your skin due to the presence of high amounts of antioxidants. When you consume the fruit, it purifies your skin.
The fruit also has skin friendly collagen. Due to such a benefit of this fruit, it is also used to prepare face packs.
Has a variety of nutrients
Muskmelon is rich in nutrients like vitamin C, protein, potassium, folate, vitamin A and fiber.
Culinary uses
Muskmelon is quite delicious to eat and you can easily add it to your diet. You can cut it in cubes or any other shape to include it in the form of tasty salad. You can also make muskmelon juice.
Additionally, you can also wash and dry muskmelon seeds and roast them to make a tasty snack. You can also try sprinkling them over salads and soups.
Nutritional Value of Muskmelon
Do you know how many calories in muskmelon are there? Well, the fruit is loaded with as many as 53 calories. Along with that it is a great source of crucial vitamins and minerals.
The fruit is high in vitamin C (water soluble vitamin) which is known to strengthen your immune function.
Some other nutrients present in this fruit include vitamin A which is essential for your healthy vision along with cell texture, development and growth.
Muskmelon also contains antioxidants that have the ability to fight with cellular damage. Some antioxidants present in muskmelon include caffeic acid, ellagic acid and gallic acid.
If you take one cup of (156 gm) of diced cantaloupe (a type of muskmelon), it will contain the following nutrients:
- Calories: 53
- Carbohydrate: 13 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Vitamin C: 64%
- Vitamin A: 29%
- Potassium: 9%
- Folate: 8%
- Niacin: 7%
- Vitamin B6: 7%
- Magnesium: 5%
- Thiamine: 5%
- Vitamin K: 3%
Now, if you wish to compare the nutrient value of one cup (170 gm) of honeydew (a type of muskmelon), it has the following nutrients:
- Calories: 61
- Carbs: 15 grams
- Fiber: 1.5 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Vitamin C: 34%
- Vitamin A: 2%
- Potassium: 8%
- Folate: 8%
- Niacin: 4%
- Vitamin B6: 9%
- Magnesium: 4%
- Thiamine: 5%
- Vitamin K: 4%
As you can see, the nutritional compositions of different types of muskmelons are almost the same.
Still, cantaloupe contains somewhat more quantities of vitamin A and vitamin C as compared to honeydew. In the same way, it also has fewer carbs and calories but is slightly higher in fiber content.
Conclusion
Muskmelon is quite popular and is known for its sweet flavor and nutrients. Cantaloupe is another fruit which belongs to the same family.
Muskmelon not only aids in better health due to its nutritional value, it also helps improve your immune function, reduce inflammation and promotes weight loss.
Further, the fruit can well make it a delicious addition to your diet. You can try this fruit in a number of dishes.
Also Read: How to Reduce Breast Size in the Natural Ways?
