Tracing its origin to Africa and Asia (more so India), cantaloupe is a fruit that belongs to Cucurbitaceae family. It is also known by the name of muskmelon, mainly because of the musky odor that characterizes the ripe fruit, and rockmelon, because of the rock-like nature of its netted skin. Described as a medium-sized melon, the fruit is usually round or oblong in shape, measures around 5 to 7 inches and can go up to 5 kg in weight. Cantaloupes are usually eaten like a fresh fruit, as a part of salad or in the form of a dessert, with ice cream or custard. Want to know more about the fruit? The following lines would surely prove to be useful.
Nutritional Facts About Cantaloupes
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Nutrients
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Amounts/ 100 gm of Cantaloupes)
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Proximates
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Water
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89.78 g
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Energy
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35 kcal (146 kj)
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Protein
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0.88 g
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Total lipid (fat)
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0.28 g
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Carbohydrate, by difference
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8.36 g
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Fiber, total dietary
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0.8 g
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Ash
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0.71 g
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Minerals
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Calcium, Ca
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11 mg
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Iron, Fe
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0.21 mg
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Magnesium, Mg
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11 mg
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Phosphorus, P
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17 mg
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Potassium, K
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309 mg
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Sodium, Na
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9 mg
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Zinc, Zn
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0.16 mg
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Copper, Cu
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0.042 mg
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Manganese, Mn
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0.047 mg
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Selenium, Se
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0.4 mcg
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Vitamins
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Vitamin C
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42.2 mg
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Thiamin
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0.036 mg
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Riboflavin
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0.021 mg
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Niacin
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0.574 mg
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Pantothenic acid
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0.128 mg
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Vitamin B-6
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0.115 mg
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Folate, total
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17 mcg
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Folic acid
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0 mcg
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Folate, food
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17 mcg
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Folate, DFE
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17 mcg_DFE
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Vitamin A, IU
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3224 IU
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Vitamin A, RE
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322 mcg_RE
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Vitamin E
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0.150 mg_ATE
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Tocopherol, alpha
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0.14 mg
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Lipids
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Fatty acids, total saturated
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0.071 g
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Fatty acids, total monounsaturated
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0.007 g
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Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated
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0.110 0 g
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Cholesterol
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0 mg
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Phytosterols
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10 mg
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Health Benefits Of Cantaloupes
- Being rich in vitamin C, cantaloupes help the body gain immunity from free radicals and develop resistance against infectious agents.
- The magnesium present in the fruit serves as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.
- Muskmelons are full of antioxidants flavonoids, such as zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin, which can help provide the body protection against various types of cancer.
- A good source of potassium, the fruit can help keep coronary heart diseases at bay, by keeping a check on the heart rate and blood pressure.
- Yet another benefit of the potassium in cantaloupes manifests in the form of preventing muscle cramps, lowering the risk of injury and even aiding in speedy recovery from an injury.
- The high amount of vitamin A present in the fruit makes it one of the best foods for maintaining healthy skin.
- Lowering the risk of cataract, improving eyesight and protecting the body against lung cancer and oral cavity cancer are some of the other benefits of the vitamin A present in muskmelons.
- The folic acid present in the fruit helps in preventing neural tube defects in small children.
- Consumption of cantaloupes helps the body excrete excess sodium, thus reliving it of water retention.
- The high folate content in the fruit helps in the production and maintenance of new cells, especially in pregnant women.
