Loaded with high water content and immense health benefits, cantaloupe is one of the super foods that offers cooling and hydrating effects, especially during the summer heat. In fact, it is considered as the ideal summer fruit because the water, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in this fruit helps in balancing the loss of fluid and electrolytes during the summer season. It also helps in regulating the body heat as well as in preventing various health problems due to extreme heat. Cantaloupe has a refreshing taste, aroma and sweetness, which makes you crave for more, once you have a bite of it. The seeds of this fruit are also found to be beneficial for your health.

Cantaloupe nutrition information

Blessed with a delicious taste and flavor, musk melons are extremely healthy for your body as they are very low in calories and fats. This fruit is also rich in numerous health promoting nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidant polyphenolic compounds which are responsible for the nutritional value of cantaloupe.. It is an excellent source of antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, zea-xanthin, lutein, and cryptoxanthin, all of which have the ability to protect the cells and tissues in the body from the oxidation damage caused by free radicals. Musk melon has a high content of Vitamin A, a nutrient which is a powerful antioxidant and very important for healthy vision. The other vitamins present in this summer fruit are vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K and B complex vitamins like folate, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and pyridoxine. In addition to vitamins, musk melon is also abundantly rich in essential minerals like potassium, copper, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron and zinc which adds to the nutritional benefits of cantaloupe.

Health benefits of Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is a wonderful summer fruit loved by many for its sweet and refreshing taste. This fruit possesses a wide range of medicinal properties, which makes it a great remedy for various ailments. It is also packed with immense health benefits, a few of which are described below:

1. Cantaloupe benefits to your skin

The highly nutritious cantaloupe offers numerous benefits to the skin. The high water content in this fruit hydrates your skin. It also contains Vitamin K and vitamin E which keeps your skin healthy, beautiful and radiant. Topical application of cantaloupe juice is found to help in hydrating and softening the skin. The good amount of B vitamins in cantaloupe rejuvenates and replenishes your skin. Cantaloupe is a rich source of vitamin C, which plays an important role in the formation of collagen, the connective tissue that increases the elasticity and suppleness of the skin. Furthermore, the antioxidants in this fruit provide anti-aging benefits to the skin by preventing the oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

[Read more: 12 home remedies for dry skin]

2. Cantaloupe lowers blood pressure

According to experts, eating foods rich in potassium is the best natural way to lower your blood pressure. Cantaloupe is a great source of potassium, which helps lessens the negative effects of sodium. This mineral is also a vasodilator, which means that it helps dilate the blood vessels, allowing blood to easily flow through them and reducing blood pressure.

3. Cantaloupe for weight loss

Low sugar in Cantaloupe makes it a low calorie fruit. It is an excellent source of fiber and other essential nutrients, which makes it an ideal weight loss food. The high water and fiber content in cantaloupes helps you stay full, which helps in controlling the amount of food and calories that you intake. Fiber is not digested by the body and it takes a long time to leave your stomach. Fiber rich foods are often bulky and occupy more space in your stomach, thus making you feel fuller for a longer period of time. This prevents you from overeating and snacking in between meals and hence is beneficial for weight loss.

[Read more: Ayurveda and weight loss]

4. Cantaloupe strengthens the immune system

Cantaloupe contains a high amount of Vitamin C, which is one of the best nutrients that help increase the strength of the immune system and improve its functioning. It helps to fight common disease like cold and flu and is very effective in preventing various types of infections. Vitamin C boosts immunity by stimulating the production of white blood cells in the body. Increasing the number of white blood cells is considered to be your body’s natural defense mechanism because they prevent pathogens and microbes from attacking the body. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, which fights off free radicals in the body and prevents deadly diseases like cancer and heart disease.

5. Cantaloupe supports cardiovascular health

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two important factors that increases the risk of cardiovascular problems. As mentioned before, cantaloupes are high in potassium content, which helps regulate high blood pressure. Also, high fiber in cantaloupe helps reduce cholesterol. The regular consumption of cantaloupe is beneficial in reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and in raising good cholesterol (HDL) levels. Cantaloupes contain a compound known as adenosine, which has blood thinning properties and so is beneficial for the heart. This compound prevents the clotting of blood in the cardiovascular system. Moreover, the Vitamin C content in this fruit helps prevent the hardening of arteries (arteriosclerosis) and folate helps in preventing heart attacks by lowering the levels of Homocysteine, an amino acid that is associated with the hardening and thickening of arteries.

6. Cantaloupe is beneficial for the digestive system

If you are suffering from constipation, try consuming cantaloupes on a regular basis. The high content of water and dietary fiber in cantaloupe help you to get relief from the constipation as well as other digestive disorders. It provides proper nourishment to the the digestive system, improves its functioning and helps in curing acidity, lack of appetite and other digestive system related problems. Cantaloupe improves your digestion and helps make your bowel movements regular.

[Read more: Health benefits of watermelon seeds]

7. Cantaloupe benefits for women

Cantaloupe is beneficial to women in many ways. It helps prevent heavy bleeding during menstruation. This fruit is super healthy for pregnant women and the growing fetus, as it is rich in folic acid and iron. These nutrients ensure proper growth of the fetus and helps prevent birth defects. Cantaloupe also provides relief from morning sickness during pregnancy.

8. Cantaloupe offers antioxidant protection

Cantaloupe is a great source of antioxidant carotenoids and flavonoids. These antioxidants protects the body against the harmful effects of the dangerous free radicals. They have anti-cancerous properties and helps inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells.  The antioxidant compounds in cantaloupe are found to be effective against various types of cancers like breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer,  prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and uterine cancer. It has been found that those who eat foods rich in antioxidants regularly age slowly when compared to those who don’t. The main cause of early aging is oxidative stress caused to the cells of your body by the free radicals. By destroying these free radicals, the antioxidants in cantaloupe helps slow down the aging process.

9. Cantaloupe is good for your eyes

Your eyes need vitamin A to stay healthy and for providing good vision. The orange color of the flesh of cantaloupe is due to presence of high levels of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A inside the body. Beta-carotene strengthens the retinas and the antioxidant properties of vitamin A helps prevent age related macular degeneration and cataract. The regular consumption of cantaloupes can thus improve your improve your vision and provide healthy and disease-free eyes.

[Read more: Natural ways to get relief from dry eyes]

10. Cantaloupe helps people with insomnia

Insomnia may be caused by medical or psychological reasons. The simplest way to get more sleep is to consume certain types of foods, also termed snooze foods. Cantaloupe is an excellent remedy for people suffering from sleeplessness or insomnia. Foods like cantaloupe contain minerals like potassium and magnesium that are very good for helping you sleep.  These nutrients helps in relaxing the nerves and in inducing sleep.

11. Cantaloupe supports brain health

Cantaloupe is excellent in helping to keep the brain healthy and functioning at its best. A 2-cup serving of this fruit gives your brain a steady and longer-lasting supply of glucose or energy. It improves memory power and helps in preventing stress, anxiety, depression, and other nervous system related problems. Cantaloupe also contains superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that fights off stress by relaxing the nerves and lowering the blood pressure. The potassium in cantaloupe helps your heart beat normally, as a result of which proper blood flow takes place and sufficient oxygen reaches your brain. This helps in the optimum functioning of the brain. Cantaloupe provides an abundant supply of vitamins and minerals that fuels your brain and improves its performance.

12. Cantaloupe for people with kidney disease

It is important for people suffering from kidney disease to be careful about what they eat, because an unhealthy and improper diet may cause further damage to the kidneys. Cantaloupe benefits the kidneys in many ways. Severe dehydration is one of the important factors that causes kidney problems. Cantaloupe has high water content, which keeps us hydrated and cleanses the kidneys by flushing out the wastes and toxins. It also helps to prevent urinary tract and kidney infections. Cantaloupe has high potassium content and so is not recommended for people with high levels of potassium in their blood. Diabetic nephropathy is a condition where the kidneys are damaged due to diabetes. High blood sugar levels destroy the blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste material from the blood. This may eventually lead to kidney failure. Cantaloupes have a low glycemic index fruits and it is made up of simple sugars like fructose and glucose that are safe diabetic patients.

Cantaloupe is a tasty and delicious fruit popular for its medicinal and nutritional benefits. Loaded with plenty of nutrients, the cantaloupe is a powerhouse of nutrition and health. They serve as the perfect snack during the summer season. The high water content in this fruit helps combat the heat and prevent dehydration. Their mild sweet and juicy flesh is enjoyed by even the finicky eater.