One of the most popular seasonal gourds is melon. Juicy, sweet and fragrant - she gained a lot of 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 in the midst of harvesting. At this point, she reaches maximum maturity, and even less likely to buy low-quality fruit. Many unscrupulous melon growers in pursuit of high profits feed the crop with nitrates for quick ripening. Such a melon is a very suspicious and of little fruit.
Melon as a plant
What is this plant and its fruits? Melon belongs to the pumpkin family. By many signs, one can guess that the cucumber is its 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 a 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 of melons of different varieties is also different. But ideally, each product should be sweet and fragrant.
Fruit or berry?
Melon, the benefits and harms to the body of which will be discussed below, tastes sweet. That is why many attribute it to 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 in internal structure. But growing Asian beauty on the whips, like some vegetables. Therefore, botanists attribute them to different groups. In addition, melon has much 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, unsweetened varieties are even grown. They are eaten as vegetables.
Melon composition
Melon contains a large amount of vitamin C. It takes first place among gourds on this indicator. Also in its fruits you can find a large amount of vitamin A, B and E. It is enough in melon and silicon, which is necessary for better assimilation of minerals by the body and prevention of calcification of blood vessels. The fruits of this plant contain iron 17 times more than in milk. And if you eat watermelon and melon alternately, 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 internal organs and systems, enriches them with nutrients.
Melon is a natural cure
What diseases does a melon help to fight? For its 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 fruit, the benefits and harms of the body of which are carefully studied not only by nutritionists, are also used in cosmetology. They have a lot of silicon, B vitamins and folic acid. These components significantly improve the structure and quality of hair and skin. Therefore , cosmetologists recommend masks from melons for the face, hair and the whole body.
Contraindications
Does melon have contraindications? Like any culture, the fruits of this plant have their drawbacks. They are insignificant, but they must be known. The benefits and harms of melons for the human body are especially pronounced with excessive use of it. The fruits are very sweet and fragrant. And to keep from the temptation is very difficult. However, it should be remembered that they contain many useful substances. Therefore, eating large amounts of melon can lead to hypervitaminosis.
Digestive problems and cardiac abnormalities may also occur. Therefore, from the use of this culture should refrain from those who have diseases of the intestine, duodenum, diabetes mellitus. In addition, these fruits are not recommended for women who feed infants with breast milk. Melon juice can provoke an upset stomach in the baby.
Calorie content
Is melon suitable for weight loss? It should be noted: despite its taste, the fruits of this plant do not have high calorie content. They are ideal for diet food. What is a part of a melon? 90 percent of this sweet vegetable is made up of water. And only the remaining 10% is healthy fiber and sugar. Therefore, the calorie content of ripe melon is not more than 38 kcal per 100 grams of product. Dried slices of these fruits and candied fruits made from them are much more nutritious. In this case, the indicator ranges from 350 kcal.
Nutritional composition in grams
If you take the amount of nutrients in grams, then these indicators 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 melon are organic acids, starch and fiber. The latter helps to cleanse the body and improve the digestive system.
Ascorbic acid predominates in the amount of 20 mg per 100 grams of product. Group B vitamins occupy 6 mg, and provitamins and folic acid at 0.4 grams per 100 grams. Elements such as calcium, zinc, iron, manganese, phosphorus, iodine and magnesium are present in the melon in its natural form, which is best absorbed in the body.
How to use?
How to eat melon to get maximum benefit and pleasure? It is better to eat the ripe fruits of this plant between meals. You should not eat melon on an empty stomach, especially those who have digestive problems. The pulp can be frozen and then used to prepare various dishes and cocktails.
From the fruits of melon make candied fruits, which turn out to be very tasty and do not lose their beneficial properties. It also makes jam, jams and jam. There are recipes and pickled sweet vegetables, which have a very unusual taste. Enjoy vitamins in the summer and harvest them for the future to keep a piece of heat for cold times.
Pickled melon
The taste of the melon, the benefits and harms for the body of which have been considered, make it possible to prepare 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.
Separately prepare the marinade. For 200 milliliters of water you need to take 30 grams of honey, 200 grams of vinegar, 10 grams of salt and two cloves. Fill cans with 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 goodies are not high-calorie. The exception is candied fruit. Jam from the fruits of this plant is one of the best sweets. To prepare it, you need to take 500 grams of sliced fruit, the same amount of sugar and a liter of water. To improve the taste, you can add a little lemon zest.
We put everything in a suitable container and bring the mixture to a boil. You can not give jam to boil for a long time and strongly. Melon pieces will be digested, which will not affect the taste, but spoil the appearance. It should be noted that the calorie content of such a treat 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 products. This is not entirely true. Yes, melon is a versatile sweet vegetable that makes friends with many foods. Americans start their meal with a glass of water and a slice of this sweet treat. Italians serve melon to the meat as a side dish. In the East, it is considered a good addition to fish.
In cooking, there are many recipes using melon, both as the main and additional ingredient. But still nutritionists do not recommend consuming it on an empty stomach and along with fermented milk products. This can cause indigestion, colic, and bloating. Especially 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, the food does not harm, but will benefit the body.
Interesting Facts
There are many myths and prejudices associated with this plant. Many of them relate to eating melon. The benefits and harms for the body have long been studied by specialists, so there are qualified answers to all questions. Many indicators of this sweet vegetables we have already examined. But there are tons of interesting facts that seem very entertaining.
For example, the largest melon, which weighed about 500 kilograms, was raised 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 fruit is considered a natural aphrodisiac. It will be useful for men to eat a handful of dried seeds of this fragrant plant daily. 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 health, but know the measure in everything.