Cantaloupe is a type of musk melon fruit with high content of water. It is used as a refreshing snack during summer to dehydrate the body. Experts link this fruit to a wide range of health and nutritional benefits aside from the hydration. Among them, here are the health benefits and side effects of cantaloupe.
Fruits are essential to your health as they have a rich nutritional value vital to your body. Cantaloupe is one of the best fruits to consider when looking for health benefits, not mention its taste and flavors that make it sweet and juicy for consumption. Therefore, this blog outlines all you need to know about the benefits of cantaloupe musk melon fruit.
Nutrients Present in Cantaloupe Musk Melon
The fruit has varieties of nutrients that are beneficial to the body. Beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, fiber, folate, water, zinc, copper, folic acid, iron, vitamin K, niacin, and choline. Consumption of these nutrients in the right amount has the following benefits:
Reduces the Risk of Obesity
The fiber in cantaloupe musk melon increases feelings of fullness, so you take in fewer carbs. The body requires more carbs for energy production. However, if there is a low intake of carbs, excess fats are converted into energy. Therefore, fat reduction leads to loss of weight and lowers the risk of obesity.
Strengthen the Immune System, Prevents Arthritis, and Helpsin Disease Control
Cantaloupe contains vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin C has antioxidants thatprotectwhite blood cells against oxidative stress from the skin. Furthermore, vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells known as phagocytes and lymphocytes, preventing the body from infection. High intake of vitamins C also leads to absorption of mineral ions such as calcium, potassium, and zinc, which are good for bone functioning and strengthening.
Additionally, the fiber in cantaloupe helps to increase insulin sensitivity, which stimulates the production of insulin hormone that leads to conversion of sugar to glycogen, thus reducing high sugar to normal.
Regulate High Blood Pressure
A high concentration of vitamin Cresults in the absorption of vital minerals ions known as calcium and potassium. Adequate calcium and potassium ions intakecauses fluid balance by absorbing extra water from the blood vessels, thus regulating high blood pressure.
Reduce Chances of Getting Cancer
Cantaloupe musk melon has beta carotene and vitamin C. These 2 nutrients are essential in cancer prevention. Beta carotene and vitamin C have strong compounds known as antioxidants. They prevent lipid peroxidation and provitamin A activity. Furthermore, anti-inflammation and antioxidants in those nutrients help destroy oxidative stress on the skin, preventing cancer growth.
Reduce Constipation
The fiber in cantaloupe fruits plays a good role during digestion. Insoluble fiber may help to speed up the digestion process preventing constipation.
Reduce Risks of Kidney Stone
Dietary Calcium and water in cantaloupe can help to reduce kidney stones. The high amount of water in fruit dilutes oxalates that can form stones in the kidney. Calcium ions help bind oxalate compounds in the stomach before the kidney begins its process, which reduces kidney stone formation.
Provide Good Health of the Skin Tissue
Cantaloupe has vitamin B that may assist in turning food into energy. Vitamin B helps to protect strong ultraviolet rays from the sun. Niacin has a compound known as niacinamide that helps to reduce inflammation on the skin, keep the skin smooth, moisturized, and naturally reduce the pore.
Improves Lungs Health
The fruit is a great source of vitamin C and is an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. These properties reduce oxidative stress on lung tissue by fighting the radicals causing damage, reducing hypersensitivity to common asthma triggers.
Reduce Stomach Ulcers
Fibers in cantaloupe fruits can help lower the amount of acid in your stomach while preventing pain and bloating, thus reducing ulcers.
Aid in Pregnancies
Folates in cantaloupe play a vital role during pregnancy. It is essential in the prevention of neural tube defects in babies. It also helps in the production of blood in the mother’s body and keeps the overall health of the unborn child.
Provide Enough Fluids Required in Your Body
Fluids have an essential role in your body. Over 90% of cantaloupe fruit is water, which helps hydrate your body, lubricate joints, remove waste products, transport nutrients and oxygen within the body, protect body organs and tissue by maintaining the framework, medium for chemical reaction, and regulate high temperature by cooling.
Side Effects of Cantaloupe
Even though cantaloupe has various essential health benefits, it also has some side health effects, as discussed below:
Lead to Hyperkalemia
High consumption of cantaloupe leads to more potassium ions. Body organs may not easily excrete an excess of these ions. Therefore, excess potassium accumulation can result in a condition known ashyperkalemia, a strong kidney disease.
Leads to Abdominal Pain
Increased natural sugar levels in cantaloupe may be hard for the digestive tract to digest and absorb intothe blood. The excess amount of sugar in the stomach causes gas and upset the stomach resulting in abdominal pain.
Causes Headache
Natural Sugar in cantaloupe triggers headache attacks. This natural Sugar causes hormonal changes leading to glucose level fluctuation, especially with epinephrine and norepinephrine. The shifts resulting from sugar fluctuation lead to a change in blood vessels behavior in the brain, causing the headache.
Worsening Low Blood Sugar Level (Hypoglycemia)
High intake of cantaloupe fruit results in a high concentration of fiber in your body. Fiber makes you feel full by inhibiting the absorption of glucose in the bloodstream. However, glucose present in the blood is used to generate energy, leading to a lower glucose level in the body.
Increased Amount of Calcium Ions (Hypercalcemia)
A high intake of calcium ions from cantaloupe fruits may cause symptoms known as hypercalcemia. This condition leads to the excretion of an abnormally large amount of urine, resulting in dehydration.
The Bottom Line
Cantaloupe contains several nutrients that are beneficial to your health. It also contains about 90% of water. The fruit is nutritious, delicious, and versatile as it provides 60 calories with no fats per cup of serving. However, do not eat cantaloupe in excess since it can negatively affect your health.
