The juicy pulp of a melon can be both beneficial and harmful to the body.
There is an eastern parable about how, rolling out of the hands of one of the spirits, a melon got into the world of people from heavenly booths. The heavenly fruit, which gave pleasure only to the gods and the righteous, came to people. The melon taste, as well as its healing effect on mortals, was amazing, and since those distant times in the East, these sweet fruits with tender, melting pulp have been revered and grown.
Today you can taste the "divine fruit" without expecting the gift of heaven and without traveling to Asia Minor and Central, where melons are rightfully revered and loved. You can feel the usefulness of a melon for the body by buying your favorite pumpkin in the store or by growing a fragrant fruit on your own garden bed.
Melon chemical composition
Crispy or, depending on the variety, delicate melon pulp not only replenishes moisture reserves, but also improves health, invigorates and cheers up.
What determines the health benefits of melon and is there harm from its use? In addition to the fact that 90% of the melon consists of water, 100 grams of juicy pulp contains 0.6 grams of protein, negligible amount of fat and 7.4 grams of carbohydrates. With this composition, the calorie content of a 100-gram slice of ripe fruit is 35 kcal.
But, in addition to nutritional value, melon also has a unique biochemical composition, the main active ingredients of which are: ascorbic acid, iron, fiber, vitamin A and carotenoids, which are present in bright orange fruits. What else is melon useful for the human body?
A slice of melon, eaten as a light dessert, can help replenish your supply:
- vitamins, including such compounds as vitamin E and PP, B1, B2 and B5, B6 and B9;
- sodium, potassium and magnesium, chlorine and sulfur, phosphorus present in the form of macronutrients;
- iron, iodine, manganese and cobalt, silicon and zinc, in the form of trace elements;
- valuable organic and amino acids.
An average serving of melon dessert, weighing about 150 grams, is able to provide the body with 45% of the daily requirement of vitamin C, a tenth of the iron and retinol consumed per day.
Such a dish is a weighty addition of potassium and magnesium, sodium and calcium, tocopherol, niacin and fiber, important for life. The undoubted usefulness of melon for the body is also due to its easily digestible carbohydrates, which quickly replenish energy reserves and relieve fatigue.
The inositol contained in the pulp prevents the deposition of fat in the liver tissue; fiber is an excellent cleansing agent for normalizing the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Melon has a mild diuretic and laxative effect, which is useful for the body of both women and men.
How is melon useful for the human body?
The healing properties of melons, including melons, have been well known since antiquity. The benefits of melon for the body and the harm possible with its thoughtless consumption were described by the greatest physician and scientist of the East Avicenna.
Today, based on the data obtained from the biochemical analysis of sweet fruits, we can talk about the use of melon and its seeds for the treatment of a wide range of human diseases.The fruits are also used as an effective prevention of atherosclerosis, colds and cardiovascular disease, nervous disorders and diseases of the genitourinary sphere.
Old folk recipes have come down to our times, where melon is used as a remedy for hemorrhoids and constipation, gout and other ailments. A slice of melting, refreshing pulp helps to calm down and recover after a busy day.
The efficacy and usefulness of melon for the body is determined not only by its composition, but also by the fact that all substances are easily absorbed, practically without exerting any negative or irritating effect.
Without the slightest harm, melon, which is useful for women and men, thanks to its fiber, cleans the intestines from harmful accumulations, activates digestive processes, and prevents cholesterol from accumulating on the walls of blood vessels. This is an effective prevention of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and a way to prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Compared to other crops growing on melons, melon useful for the body contains significantly more ascorbic acid. This explains its active immunomodulatory, tonic and anti-inflammatory effect. In the complex, the substances contained in the pulp cause:
- calming and invigorating effect, fatigue and irritability disappear, sleep is normalized;
- stimulation of metabolic processes, the composition of the blood improves, which helps to cope with anemia, depression and decreased performance;
- beneficial effect on the cerebral cortex.
Due to the choleretic and diuretic effect, melon, with the benefit of the human body, can be used as a natural remedy for disorders of the kidneys and gallbladder, as well as for the risk of stones and sand formation. The antiparasitic capabilities of melon seeds and pulp have been well studied since antiquity. This culture is well established as a natural antihelminthic agent.
The juicy pulp has a rejuvenating, tonic effect when used externally, which is why melon is useful for the body of women and men who look after their appearance. The ability of the melon to activate intestinal activity and facilitate the cleansing of the body is used for constipation, as well as in the fight against excess weight.
How is melon useful for a woman's body?
Melon is a great helper for women who want to maintain their external attractiveness for many years and feel fit and healthy throughout their lives.
Melon is useful for the female body not only high in vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids, but also the presence of silicon:
- positively affecting the condition of hair, nails and skin;
- playing an important role in metabolic and digestive processes;
- which has an active effect on the nervous system, mental activity and performance.
During pregnancy, melon in reasonable quantities helps to better endure all the hardships associated with a change in physical condition.
Laxative and diuretic action helps to reduce the risk of developing toxicosis and edema, and facilitates bowel movement.
Sweet, vitamin-rich melon is useful for a woman's body and thanks to the ability to easily and pleasantly replenish the supply of trace elements and other active substances.
The folic acid in melon is extremely important:
- supporting hormonal balance;
- regulating mood swings not only during pregnancy, but also during menopause;
- strengthening memory and immune system.
However, with the mass benefits of melon for women, harm from eating the fruit is also possible. It is especially dangerous during pregnancy to use fruits of dubious origin for food, because nitrates and other toxic compounds accumulating in them can cause serious damage to the health of both the mother and the unborn baby.The same applies to nursing women.
Since the melon has a laxative effect, and brightly colored varieties can cause an allergic reaction, these factors must be taken into account during breastfeeding so that the baby does not feel the melon through the milk.
How is melon good for men?
A strong half of humanity can also feel the beneficial effect of melons and gourds on well-being. For men, melon is useful primarily for its zinc content, which has a positive effect on sperm quality.
In addition, due to the content of iron and other active elements, the melon improves the blood composition, increases efficiency, soothes and positively affects the resistance in stressful situations and the self-esteem of men.
Contraindications when eating melon
The harm of melon to health, like the benefits of the fruit, is due to the high content of bioactive substances in all parts of the melon culture, and especially in the pulp and seeds of the plant.
And although there are no strict contraindications to taking melon, it is worth refusing to eat a large amount of sweet fruit if a person has diseases:
- the gastrointestinal tract, especially associated with inflammatory and infectious processes, including peptic ulcer and gastritis;
- pancreas, gallbladder and urogenital area, accompanied during an exacerbation by the discharge of large stones and sand;
- diabetes mellitus or there is a risk of developing it.
Do not eat melon on an empty stomach or after a hearty meal.
It is much more correct to enjoy a couple of slices 2-3 hours after a meal, while not adding to the dessert or washing down the treats with water, milk drinks and alcohol, since such a neighborhood with a melon is not useful, but unhealthy.
As a child, he ate melons and couldn't even look at them for ten years. Then, once I tried it, I liked it and now I eat it with pleasure. True, you need to be able to choose the right one.