Superfood: the cantaloupe melon
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The name cantaloupe may sound exotic, but the chance that they won't sell this type of melon in your local supermarket is minimal. Fortunately! The cantaloupe is not only very tasty, the fruit is packed with vitamins, quickly gives you a satiated feeling and contains few calories. This makes the superfood ideal as a snack for people who want to lose weight. The cantaloupe is a tasty addition to a healthy lifestyle.
What is a cantaloupe?
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Cantaloupes are melons with orange flesh, originally from Iran, India and Egypt. There are different varieties of cantaloupes and their color can therefore differ slightly. The ones you find on our shelves are usually no bigger than a bowling ball. Their skin should be light green. It looks like a net has been stretched around the outside of the cantaloupe. This net, which by the way is just part of the shell, has a slightly lighter color. Bright green stripes run the length of the cantaloupe and converge at two extremes of the melon. At the heart of the bulbous cantaloupe are seeds that can be easily removed.
Nutritional values
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People on a diet can eat cantaloupe without feeling guilty. A medium-sized one-pound specimen contains just under 200 calories. This is due to the fact that there is a large amount of water in the pulp. However, an even more remarkable feature of this melon is the wide range of nutrients it contains. The cantaloupe provides you with the daily recommended amount of provitamin A (a substance that is converted in the body into vitamin A) and vitamin C. Half a cantaloupe is enough to provide you with these nutrients for a whole day. It is also a very good source of potassium. Other notable nutrients in the cantaloupe are vitamin K, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and folic acid (also known as vitamin B11).
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30 minDessertFull Milk, whipped cream, macaroon, custard powder, vanilla sugar, sugar, protein, amaretto, almond liqueur, basic recipe cooking pears,macaroon pastry with casserole
Health Benefits
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Lose weight The cantaloupe fits particularly well in a diet that aims to lose pounds. The water in the cantaloupe provides a large volume of pulp but contains few calories. So you can safely eat a large piece of the melon without having to worry about your weight. The size of a serving makes you think that you are eating a lot and so you feel satiated quickly, especially in combination with all the water you ingest. In practice, however, you only eat a minimum of calories.
Antioxidants
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Besides vitamin C and vitamin A, cantaloupe offers a whole range of other antioxidants. These protect our cells against substances that do not mean well with our cells. A diet without antioxidants allows the harmful substances in your body to run free, resulting in a whole range of conditions. For example, they can mess with your DNA which can lead to cancer.
Lower blood pressure
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The cantaloupe is rich in potassium. This mineral is badly needed by our body for a variety of reasons, but one of the main effects of potassium is that it helps lower blood pressure. Many people today have high blood pressure due to their unhealthy lifestyle. The causes of high blood pressure are usually obesity, smoking, high alcohol consumption and an excess of salt. Taking potassium lowers blood pressure, which greatly reduces the risk of heart problems and other conditions.
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Serving suggestions
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Cantaloupe can be eaten on its own as a juicy snack. In addition, the most famous way to serve the melon is in combination with Parma ham. This recipe is not only tasty, adding the proteins present in the meat makes it an extremely healthy starter. The cantaloupe can also be used as an ingredient in any fruit smoothie or even add a sweet touch to a salad.