Cantaloupe packs a lot of important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients for few calories. These, along with antioxidants, are thought to promote overall health while reducing your risk of developing certain chronic conditions. While clinical research on cantaloupe specifically is lacking, there is evidence that key nutrients of this fruit can benefit your health in the following ways.
May Promote Eye Health
Cantaloupe contains vitamin A, which is known to promote eye health, and the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board notes that this fruit is also a rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin. Combined, these two antioxidants may reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration.
May Reduce Cancer Risk
One key antioxidant in cantaloupe is beta-cryptoxanthin, which is a type of carotenoid. In a review of animal studies on carotenoids published in November 2020, researchers wrote that B-cryptoxanthin may reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as those of the lungs and esophagus, though the results were inconsistent. Human studies are needed to confirm these findings. Nonetheless, the National Cancer Institute says that eating 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit per day, along with 1 to 4 cups of vegetables, reduces your overall cancer risk.
Contains Multiple B Vitamins for Healthy Body Cells
Cantaloupe is also a source of multiple B vitamins, which collectively promote healthy cells throughout your body. These include:
- Niacin Also known as vitamin B3, niacin helps your body derive energy from food.
- Folate Also called vitamin B9, this nutrient is not only important in fetal development during pregnancy, but also helps prevent anemia.
- Vitamin B6 This B vitamin promotes healthy immune and metabolic functions.
May Promote Heart Health
Cantaloupe may also help protect your heart. According to Gillespie, this is thanks to potassium and antioxidants like vitamins A and C. One eight-week study that evaluated inflammatory biomarkers in adults who followed the DASH diet concluded that diets rich in both fruits and vegetables decreased overall heart disease risk. These findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June 2020. And, according to a meta-analysis published in Circulation in April 2021, the recommended “five a day” for fruits and vegetables, with at least two servings of fruits, was found to decrease cardiovascular disease risk and related mortality.
It’s Gut Friendly
Cantaloupe is considered one of the more gut-friendly fruits because of its lower fiber content. If you have diarrhea, the University Health Network recommends 1/3 to ½ cup of cantaloupe as one safe fruit you can eat. And, if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cantaloupe is considered low in fructose, making it a good choice if you’re following a low-FODMAP diet, per the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Tennant recommends up to ¾ cup of cantaloupe as a summer alternative to watermelon for individuals with IBS, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
from Ketone Blog https://ketone2013.com/nutrition-benefits-side-effects-more/
via Keto News
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