Melons are practically one giant vitamin pill and despite their light watery consistency, they are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Melons are also highly alkaline which makes melons a fantastic ingredient in an alkaline diet and all melons can be used as part of the treatment for acid reflux and heartburn. Due to high water content, melons are also excellent hydrators of the body and are fantastic ingredients when one is recuperating from illness.
The watermelon contains significant amounts of Vitamin A and vitamin C and lycopene, a fantastic antic-oxidant that can help prevent different varieties of cancer. Lycopene is also found in tomatoes although the watermelon has more quantities of lycopene.
The cantaloupe melon also contains good quantities of vitamin C and vitamin A and there is even a possible link between healthy eyes and cantaloupes.
The honeydew melon has high levels of vitamin B6 as well as vitamins C and some vitamin K. Honeydew melons also contain important minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron and even important fatty acids normally found in fish and olive oil.
When it comes to choosing a melon it is important that they are not over ripe under ripe. With honeydew melons and the cantaloupe melons, you can smell them before purchase to check for a sweet aroma. Everyone knows about thumping watermelons to test ripeness, but this is best done by slapping the watermelon and watching for that unique hollow sound. You also need to check for the side of the watermelon that rest on the ground; this should be a pale gold colour, not white.
Melons of all varieties are great breakfast ingredients and as a light night snack, they are wonderful. In fact, eating melons before bed can hydrate you for the night and will help you awake fresh and revitalized. It is best to eat all melons on an empty stomach and preferably wait an hour or so after eating other foods before you eat your melon. Melons are great on their own or can be mixed with papaya for a super-salad, full of vitamins and minerals. Melons are also a traditional appetizer, although as outlined above, it is best if one waits about thirty minutes before eating something else; this will allow the melon to be absorbed quickly and easily without having other food for the body to deal with.
With nutrients and high water content, melons have been used for eye health, as an antacid, to regulate blood pressure and many other important healthy uses.
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