When it comes to melons, which one is your favorite?
Whether it’s cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon, these summertime favorites contain some sweet health benefits.
Smart snack, rich in nutrients
Cantaloupe and honeydew melons belong to the muskmelon family and first grew in the Middle East. Watermelon originated in Africa. All three melons have a wide range of varieties. Look for varieties you haven’t tried before and introduce yourself and your family to something new.
Here’s how melons stack up nutritionally:
- Cantaloupe: A one-cup serving of cantaloupe has only 53 calories, but it contains 106 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin A and 95 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin C. It’s also a good source of potassium and folate.
- Honeydew: One cup of honeydew has 60 calories, 51 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin C and 11 percent of the daily recommended value for potassium. Honeydew also contains fiber, folate and vitamin B6.
- Watermelon: Watermelon is the lowest in calories, with 46 calories per one-cup serving. It’s loaded with the antioxidant lycopene, which is linked to decreased risk of cancer, heart disease and age-related eye disorders. It also contains vitamins A and C and potassium.
Because melons are high in water and contain potassium, they’re fantastic choices for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
How to choose
How do you pick the perfect melon? Choose a firm melon with no obvious bruising and one that’s heavy for its size, which gives a clue to how juicy it is. Watermelon is best when it has a yellow belly, indicating it could have ripened in the field instead of the store or marketplace. One variety of honeydew melon — the Santa Claus — turns yellow as it ripens. The more yellow it is, the sweeter the flavor.