The cantaloupe is a member of the cucumber family, and it is the most popular type of melon. It is a juicy, fleshy fruit that tastes excellent as part of a dessert or a fruit salad, and many people enjoy simply snacking on cubes of raw cantaloupe. In addition, it turns out that cantaloupe can improve your health by influencing a number of different parts of your body. Read on to discover the ten main reasons why eating more cantaloupes could improve and extend your life.
1) Cantaloupe reduces your risk of developing cataracts:
The cantaloupe is an extremely good source of vitamin A, and this will help to keep your eyes healthy. In one study that involved more than 50,000 post-menopausal women, it was discovered that those who ate the most cantaloupes (and other sources of vitamin A) were an impressive 40% less likely to suffer from cataracts. Cataracts cause the gradual loss of vision, so it is worth doing all you can to prevent them. When measured against other fruits and vegetables, cantaloupes were shown to be one of the best sources of vitamin A, so they are a great addition to your diet if you want to preserve your sight.
2) It can ease the physical symptoms of stress:
Since cantaloupes contain a third of your recommended daily intake of potassium, eating them helps to slow your heartbeat to a healthy pace and also provides your brain with more oxygen. When you have a regular heartbeat and a plentiful supply of oxygen, you will feel calmer and more mentally sharp.
3) It improves lung health:
One fascinating study has shown that eating cantaloupes (and other foods that are rich in vitamin A) can improve the health of smokers. Cigarettes contain a particular carcinogen that promotes vitamin A deficiency, and this deficiency increases your risk of developing serious lung problems such as emphysema. When you eat cantaloupe, you help to replenish the depleted supply of vitamin A. This health benefit also makes the cantaloupe an ideal food to eat if you are a passive smoker who is regularly exposed to fumes from cigarettes.
4) It boosts the immune system:
The cantaloupe contains plenty of vitamin C, and vitamin C promotes the production of white blood cells. Since white blood cells defend your body against bacteria and viruses, this means that your resistance to disease can be improved by regularly eating cantaloupes.
5) It helps to prevent unwanted blood clots:
Cantaloupes contain a compound called adenosine, which is sometimes administered to heart disease patients as an anti-coagulant (i.e. in order to help thin the blood). Having thinner blood reduces your risk of developing dangerous blood clots in your veins. This is an extremely significant health benefit, as clots can sometimes be fatal if they end up in blood vessels in your lungs or cardiovascular system.
6) It aids in the development of unborn children:
If you are pregnant, eating plenty of cantaloupes is an excellent idea. They are a very good source of folate, and many studies have established that folic acid substantially reduces the risk of birth defects (such as spina bifida) in your unborn child.
7) It reduces your risk of suffering from cancer:
The vitamin C and carotenes found in cantaloupes help to protect your whole body from the damage caused by free radicals. This protection reduces the chances that your cells will be damaged and replicate out of control (which means you will be less likely to develop any malignant tumors).
8. It helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system:
The carotenes and vitamin C in cantaloupes also make it the case that regularly eating these fruits can help to keep your cholesterol at a healthy level. They prevent cholesterol from oxidizing and therefore prevent it from sticking to the walls of your blood vessels. This means that you are less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke.
9) It reduces your risk of macular degeneration:
The older you are, the more you are at risk of developing blindness due to macular degeneration. Cantaloupes are a source of antioxidants, which means that regularly eating them in old age can make sure that you are up to 36% less likely to suffer from macular degeneration.
10) It promotes healthy blood pressure:
As mentioned above, the cantaloupe provides a healthy amount of potassium. This means that eating more cantaloupes can help to keep high blood pressure under control.
As is obvious from the above health benefits, the cantaloupe is an excellent choice if you want to increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Cantaloupes are at their best during the summer months. In addition to eating them alone or as part of a salad, why not use them to create a smoothie or a cooling sorbet?
