The benefits of melon have been known since ancient times, and the modern agricultural market continues to delight us with its achievements. This melon crop is already represented by several thousand varieties. Thanks to such diversity, we can enjoy melons of various shapes, colors and even tastes.

The most famous varieties - “kolkhoznitsa”, “torpedo”, “honey” and “nutmeg” - of this fragrant sunny fruit are familiar to every gardener.

Melon - berry, fruit or vegetable?

The appearance of melon in the history of mankind was already noted in the biblical scriptures. India is considered to be the origin of melon; it appeared here only in the 15th century.

Scientists to this day continue to argue about which vegetable crop to classify melon as: some consider it a berry, others consider it a fruit.

Let's try to figure it out. First of all, the pumpkin family and the cucumber genus directly indicate that melon is a vegetable, but its similarity to watermelon (appearance, shape, method of cultivation) indicates that melon is a berry. There is no evidence that melon is a fruit.

Is melon healthy or not?

The benefit of melon is that it contains a large number of important substances. It is saturated with proteins, carbohydrates and organic acids. Also, the fiber of the fruit contains enzymes and minerals that are much needed for digestion. The fruit has a positive effect on almost all systems of the human body. All the nutrients in the fruit are balanced and grouped in such a way that one group affects the heart and the other affects the liver.

Melon has only one drawback - it is heavy on the stomach, so you should not combine it with other products. Eating melon with different food groups can seriously affect your health and even lead to dehydration.

Benefits of melon

Melon is very healthy due to its high nutrient content. It has a beneficial effect on the circulatory, nervous, and immune systems of the human body.

The effect of melon on the circulatory system of the human body

The melon crop is largely enriched with iron. This substance is the main component of the circulatory system involved in the work. Iron particles promote the movement of oxygen throughout all vessels of the human body and are involved in the production of hormones and maintaining the natural immune background.

The effect of melon on the immune, nervous systems and the condition of bones and heart?

Melon is rich in calcium, magnesium, silicon and other substances necessary for our body. All these microelements contribute to the normal maintenance of the immune system, stimulate the nervous system, and have a positive effect on the activity of the heart muscle.

In addition to nutrients, melon fiber also contains vitamins. They have a beneficial effect on the strength of skeletal bones.

Vitamin B1 helps strengthen the nervous system and significantly improves human memory, B2 affects the condition of the skin and mucous membranes.

Melon contains one of the most important vitamins for humans - vitamin A. It protects body cells from bacteria and viruses, and its antioxidant properties help cleanse free radicals. Melon also has a positive effect on the lungs. Eating melon helps improve vision.

Melon is also rich in vitamin C, which helps prevent serious diseases and has a preventive effect. It is noteworthy that even a small volume of melon contains the daily requirement of vitamin C. It is worth noting that melon also contains folic acid, vitamin PP and vitamin E, which are important for the body.

How does melon affect the gastrointestinal tract?

Melon is primarily composed of coarse, fibrous cellulose. It helps the stomach function properly. In addition, melon contains such a rare element as inulin, a substance that helps enrich the microflora of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

The most important thing is not to overdo it. If you consume a large amount of melon, then intestinal upset cannot be avoided and the benefits of the melon will be washed away.

Who is melon good for?

Most people enjoy eating melon. However, there are those for whom it is contraindicated.

Melon is useful for people suffering from the following diseases:

  • immune system disease;
  • nervous system disease;
  • diseases of the blood system;
  • insomnia;
  • constipation;
  • anemia;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • kidney and liver diseases.

Of course, by eating melon, you do not cure these diseases, but you soften their course.

How many calories are in melon?

Nutritionists have calculated that 100 grams of fruit contains about 70 kcal. Of course, these indicators depend on the type of melon and the sugar content in the fiber of the fruit. Due to its high sugar content, the fruit is not the lowest in calories, but nutritionists recommend including melon in the diet of those losing weight - fiber prevents sugars from being quickly absorbed.

How melon cleanses the human body

Cleansing the body can be done using ordinary melon. This fruit promotes the quick and easy removal of waste, toxins and harmful substances from the human body. The fruit is especially useful for cleansing the intestines. This is where the bulk of harmful substances accumulate.

Melon improves kidney and liver function, thereby cleansing the body and reducing weight. For those wishing to lose weight, experts recommend deloading the body several times a season and eating exclusively boiled vegetables and, of course, melon.

What is made from melon?

Melon is best consumed fresh. In this form, it retains the maximum amount of nutrients.

The melon season is very short, and I still want to enjoy the fruit in winter. We suggest freezing it. To do this, you just need to peel the fruit, cut it into small pieces and put it in the freezer. After some time, transfer the frozen pieces into a closed container and put them back in the freezer. You can eat melon immediately after defrosting.

In general, melon is used to prepare delicious desserts and various sauces. But you need to remember that melon has a pronounced aroma, a certain consistency and a high sugar content.

And you can make a delicious smoothie. To do this, you first need to cut the melon into pieces, smash it with a hand blender, add water and beat again.

Melon smoothie has a diuretic effect and helps cleanse the gastrointestinal tract.

What should you not combine melon with?

Melon should be eaten as an independent dish. Combining the fruit with other foods may cause stomach upset. You should not use it together with fermented milk products and alcohol - such a load on the gastrointestinal tract can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

This culture contains a very large amount of sugar. It is for this reason that a person constantly has a desire to consume the fruit. Eating large quantities of melon every day can cause stomach upset, so you should limit yourself to a few slices a day.

Who better not to eat melon?

Melon is not good for everyone.

To whom melon is contraindicated:

  • patients with diabetes mellitus;
  • people who have foci of inflammation and infection of the stomach or intestines;
  • nursing mothers, as this may cause intestinal upset in the baby.

What should you pay attention to when choosing melon?

When choosing a melon, first of all, you should carefully examine the fruit for external damage. If there are any, then it is better to immediately refuse the purchase, since such a melon may turn out to be not only spoiled, but also dangerous for humans.

How to tell if a melon is ripe?

It gives off a wonderful aroma (if the fruit gives off an unpleasant smell, then you shouldn’t buy it: either the melon is not ripe or spoiled).

Some people determine ripeness by slapping the melon with the palm of their hand. The louder the sound, the less ripe the melon. Another way is to make a scratch on the peel. If the skin of the melon can be easily removed, then the melon is ripe. A soft melon also indicates that it is ready to eat because the green fruit is firm and elastic.

Understanding people prefer to eat melons that ripen later than the main varieties. The benefit of melon is that it contains very few harmful substances and they grow in their natural environment.

Methods for storing melon

Do not cut the melon completely. It is recommended to cut off as much as you can eat at one time. Sliced ​​melon should be stored for no more than a day - after just a few hours, the melon loses a significant part of its taste. The room temperature should not be higher than room temperature.

Storage in the refrigerator is also allowed, but do not forget that the shelf life should not exceed seven days, and it is better to store the fruit in a closed container.

The best way is to buy a melon that you can eat right away. If it is not possible to eat the fruit right away, it is better to freeze it and prepare a sauce or dessert.

Melon. Useful properties and interesting facts about melon

Melon is an unusual and healthy product. Oddly enough, in the dictionaries of many countries until recently there was not even a separate word for the name of this product. Both melon and watermelon were designated by the common word “harbuz”. But in countries where melon has been known for a very long time, it is called the “fruit of paradise”, which was secretly delivered to our world by one of the angels. Why was he expelled from paradise by Allah...

Melon fruits are very diverse in shape - round, elongated like a cucumber, oblong or even snake-like. Many people are interested in the question “is melon a vegetable or a fruit?” In fact, neither one nor the other. Melon is a pseudo-berry from the pumpkin family and the cucumber genus. The length of the fruit can reach 2 m, and the weight sometimes reaches 20 kg. Melon is usually eaten fresh as it stores well until the next harvest.

What are the benefits of melon?

Previously, melons were prescribed as a restorative remedy for exhausted patients, since this berry contains many easily digestible carbohydrates, sugars and vitamins. It is also used as a diuretic or fasting product for specific melon diets. Previously, gonorrhea was treated with a decoction of melon seeds, although there is no scientific evidence for their effectiveness against this unpleasant disease. In addition, there is a theory that melon seeds help increase male strength. Whether this is true or not is not known for certain. But it is known that consuming seeds in large quantities has a negative effect on the spleen.

Melon, like watermelon, helps well with kidney diseases, in particular with urolithiasis. Dried cakes made from seeds and pulp are used to treat problem skin.

Melon seeds and pulp contain about 30% fatty oil, which can be used for food. Melon also contains a lot of carotene, folic acid and ascorbic acid. It is rich in fiber, which improves digestion. The high iron content makes melon an indispensable remedy for anemia and atherosclerosis.

There are also contraindications for eating melon. Those who suffer from diabetes, stomach ulcers, intestinal disorders, dysentery should not eat melon. It is also contraindicated for nursing mothers.

How to determine the ripeness of a melon?

There are several simple methods to determine the ripeness of a melon. First of all, you should pay attention to the stem.If the melon is ripe, it should be thick in diameter. Another way is to press the rind of the melon on the opposite side of the stem. If the melon is ripe, the rind gives in a little to pressure. Unripe melons have a hard rind that does not yield to pressure. The third method to distinguish a ripe melon from an unripe one is to smell it. Ripe melon has a strong, pleasant smell.Also, a ripe melon makes a dull sound when tapped.

The color of the pulp usually has little to do with the ripeness of the melon, but it can indicate the presence of useful substances.more things in her. If the color of the pulp is bright yellow and rich, then it contains a lot of vitamin A. The taste of melon, as a rule, also differs depending on the color of the pulp.

  • King Henry VI of France put melon on trial for an attack of indigestion caused by eating too much of it during one of his meals. Melon was publicly found... guilty of insulting the king and was officially cursed. True, they later forgot this story and began to eat melon again.
  • But the Roman emperor Claudius Albinus easily ate a dozen melons for breakfast and did not complain about his stomach. “You don’t like melons? You just don’t know how to cook them.”
  • Sorcerers and healers from different countries and peoples prepared a love spell from melon seeds. History is silent about its effectiveness.

Melon (lat. Cucumis melo)- plant of the Pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae), species of the genus Cucumber, melon crop, false berry.
Melon is a warm and light-loving plant, resistant to soil salinity and drought, and does not tolerate high air humidity. Depending on the variety and place of cultivation, one plant can produce from two to eight fruits weighing from 1.5 to 10 kg. Melon fruits are spherical or cylindrical in shape, green, yellow, brown or white in color, usually with green stripes. The ripening period is from two to six months.

Story
First mentions (lat. pepones) found in the Bible (Numbers 11:5).
The homeland of most of the currently known melon varieties is India and tropical Africa. It is believed that the first melon plantations appeared several centuries BC in the territory that is now occupied by Northern India and the adjacent regions of Afghanistan. Over time, the crop began to be grown much further west - in territories in Central and Asia Minor. Thus, the Egyptians knew about the melon, the fruits of which were brought as a gift to the gods, more than 3 thousand years ago. Some plantations also appeared in China. Melon was brought to Europe only in the Middle Ages. In the 18th century, at the court of Louis VIII, it was considered the most exquisite delicacy. In England, at the end of the 19th century, melon began to be grown in protected ground.

Wild melon is now almost never found. Cultural forms were obtained by selection from Asian weed-field species that have survived to this day. Cultivation supposedly took place in Northern India and in the adjacent regions of Iran and Central Asia many centuries BC. e. Gradually, the cultivated melon began to spread to neighboring areas, both to the west - to Central and Asia Minor, and to the east to China. It is known that it was grown in Ancient Egypt. In Europe, melon was discovered in the Middle Ages.

Melon came to Russia from Central Asia, where some of the most famous varieties of melon in the world (for example, Chaydzhuyskaya) are still grown.

Oddly enough, in some countries, until recently, they did not distinguish between watermelon and melon, calling them in one word - “harmelon”. But where these wonderful fruits of the pumpkin family have been common since ancient times, melons are considered one of the fruits of paradise, which were allegedly brought to Earth by the archangels.

First of all, melon is valued, of course, for its high taste and unsurpassed dietary properties. It's hard to find a better dessert than aromatic, tender melon.

The juicy, fragrant pulp of the fruit contains easily digestible sugars, starch, proteins, vitamins, fiber, pectins, organic acids, and various mineral salts. The fruits are especially rich in iron and potassium salts, which is why melon is used in therapeutic nutrition for anemia, cardiovascular diseases, liver and kidney diseases, as well as gout and rheumatism.

Melons are rich in silicon. According to scientists, human life, his health, and the regulation of physiological processes are closely related to silicon. It affects hard tissues, the condition of skin and hair. Silicon has a wonderful effect on the cerebral cortex; it is needed by nerves, intestinal walls, the digestive tract and the entire system of internal organs.

Melon contains more vitamin C than other melon crops. Fiber from melon has a beneficial effect on intestinal microflora, helps remove cholesterol from the body, and improves the digestion process.

Melon has excellent rejuvenating properties. In the East they say: “Melon makes hair shiny, eyes young, lips fresh, desires strong, opportunities fulfilled, men desirable, and women beautiful.” Dried melons are an exquisite delicacy.

As a rule, melon is eaten fresh, as nature created it. But in addition, jam, honey, jam, marmalade, marmalade, compotes, and candied fruits are made from it.

Melon is rich in sugars (up to 13%), vitamins C, PP, carotene, folic acid, as well as iron and fiber. Due to its healing properties, melon is useful for constipation, atherosclerosis, hemorrhoids, diseases of the blood, kidneys and cardiovascular system.

The beneficial and medicinal properties of melon are widely used to strengthen the nervous system. Melon pulp contains substances that help the production of serotonin - the “happiness hormone”. If you feel sad, eat a couple of pieces of melon and your mood will improve! It also contains a lot of enzymes necessary for hematopoiesis, which helps to recover after operations and ulcerative exacerbations. Has a diuretic effect. But melon contains a lot of sugars; diabetics and liverworts should not rely on it.

The fruits of different varieties of melon are diverse - spherical, oblong, elongated (like a cucumber) and even serpentine. The length of the fruit ranges from 45 cm to 2 m, and the weight sometimes reaches 20 kg. Melon is usually consumed fresh, as it stores well until the next harvest. As you might guess, the cheapest melons now are last year’s ones, but young ones have already appeared - fragrant and juicy. But you need to be able to choose them.

As was known back in ancient times, the healing properties of melon depend on its ripeness. For example, insufficiently ripened fruits are not recommended for patients with stomach ulcers and acute gastritis. It is not recommended to eat melon on an empty stomach - it is considered safest to eat melon between meals so that it can mix with other foods eaten.

In folk medicine, melon has long been prescribed to debilitated patients, especially after liver diseases or after operations. But! Both sick people and absolutely healthy people should not drink cold water and especially sour milk, kefir and yogurt after melon - this leads to stomach upset. A similar result occurs after combining melon with alcoholic drinks, however, especially resourceful sufferers, tired of sedentary work, can use this particular pairing to solve delicate problems. Melon is generally famous for its ability to cure ailments that are not usually advertised. Once upon a time, gonorrhea was treated with a decoction of the seeds, and the stomach was cleansed with a decoction of the peel and roots. Today, nutritionists recommend melon juice or its pulp to improve digestion. In addition, this is an excellent remedy for helminths - primarily for children.

Another delicate area of ​​application is the use of melon seeds to increase male potency. You can simply chew fresh seeds (2-5 g per day is enough). But since their use, and especially an overdose, can be harmful to the spleen, honey is added to the “chewing gum” - it eliminates the harmful effects.

Like watermelon, melon is quite effective against kidney stones: Avicenna also pointed out the ability of melon to remove small stones from the kidneys and bladder. Moreover, you can use not only the pulp, but also the seeds. The folk medicine recommends pounding the seeds well in a mortar or grinding them in a coffee grinder, adding cold boiled water, stirring thoroughly, straining, and then drinking 0.5 cups before meals. As you understand, this method of treatment is very good in the south, where melons are almost free, but even in our conditions, the seeds and pulp should not be mercilessly thrown away - by adding flour, you can bake very aromatic pancakes (unless, of course, the seeds inside have not “aged”) . It is very convenient to prepare melon cakes - they can then be used to cleanse the skin, especially if there are teenagers in the family who suffer from acne. Add a little flour to the melon pulp - the same fiber that is usually thrown away -, knead and make very thin cakes (like pita bread). Then you dry it in the sun or in the oven - the cosmetic and medicinal product is ready. When needed, moisten with water and use as a mask - it works great.

Both the pulp and seeds of melon contain up to 30% fatty oil, which is quite suitable for use as food. In addition, melon is famous for its high content of carotene and vitamin C, as well as delicate fiber, which has a beneficial effect on the digestion process. Melon contains quite a lot of carbohydrates - easily digestible sugars, as well as folic acid, which is involved in hematopoiesis. All this, as well as the high iron content, gives reason to consider melon very useful for atherosclerosis, anemia, and cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy melon. It is contraindicated for nursing mothers (it can cause severe dyspeptic symptoms in the baby), for diabetes mellitus, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and for intestinal disorders, especially dysentery.

But if you find a common language with a capricious melon, heavenly pleasure is guaranteed to you. If you hurry up now, you can stock up on cheap melon for the whole year.

How to choose a ripe melon

There are several ways to determine the ripeness of a melon. First, pay attention to the stem. In a ripe melon it is usually thick in diameter. Then you need to press on the peel on the opposite side of the stem. An unripe melon has a hard rind, while a ripe one gives in slightly when pressed. But with cantaloupe melon it can be a little more complicated. Depending on the variety, the peel of a ripe melon may have a large mesh or even even coloring. First of all, you should smell the melon. Ripe melon has a strong aroma. Then you need to carefully examine it: usually there is a scar (a spot at the flower end), which gives slightly when pressed. The color of the pulp is no less important. The rich color indicates that the melon contains a lot of vitamin A. In addition, if you knock on a ripe melon, there will be a dull sound. If the green skin appears without effort when scraped, the melon is ripe and can be eaten.

The easiest way to choose a ripe melon: the main thing is that it exudes aroma. Fragrant melon - ripe melon. The melon should also be heavy and weighty and, when tapped, produce a dull, “dense” sound.

Note to the hostess

Melons are stored well hanging (in nets) or in one row on shelves. For storage, it is better to choose unripe melons - they will ripen during storage. The main thing is that the air temperature does not drop below zero, and that the relative humidity in the room is quite high. The higher the temperature, the greater the risk - the melons become overripe and lose their taste. By the way, if the peel is dry and wrinkled, the melons are stored better.

For long-term storage, it is best to dry melon. To do this, cut it in half, and then into such straps 2-4 cm thick (peeled and seeds removed). You can dry it in the oven at a temperature of 70-75C or in the sun. It is most convenient to dry in a colander or sieve, if necessary, covering the pieces with gauze (from wasps, flies and other insects). Dried slices are soft to the touch, light yellow or light brown in color (depending on the variety). You can store them in a cool place (like dried fruits). Dried melon with tea (“half is sugar, half is honey”) is very good; it is added to muesli, various cereals, desserts, pies, and served with ice cream.

Interesting facts about melon

  • King Henry VI of France put melon on trial for an attack of indigestion caused by eating too much of it during one of his meals. Melon was publicly found... guilty of insulting the king and was officially cursed. True, they later forgot this story and began to eat melon again.
  • But the Roman emperor Claudius Albinus easily ate a dozen melons for breakfast and did not complain about his stomach. “You don’t like melons? You just don’t know how to cook them.”
  • Sorcerers and healers from different countries and peoples prepared a love spell from melon seeds. History is silent about its effectiveness.

Melon was actively grown in Rus' back in the Middle Ages. Foreign guests in the 17th century recalled with admiration the taste and size of Russian melons.

Melon came to Russia from Central Asia, where the art of growing these fruits reached incredible heights, and this happened approximately 800-900 years ago. But if we talk about the history of melon from the very beginning, the first people who appreciated it were the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt. Melon then grew throughout the Nile River valley, which was famous for its fertile soils. The Egyptians were engaged in mass cultivation of melons, and also left them in the pyramids, next to the bodies of the pharaohs.

Until now, scientists have not agreed. What should a melon be considered - a vegetable, fruit or berry? In fact, melon is a false berry that belongs to the same genus as cucumbers. Melon and cucumber are close relatives, so it is correct to call melon a vegetable.

In Arab countries, melon was generally considered an unearthly fruit, a gift from God. The intricate cracks on its crust were perceived as encrypted messages from God. Therefore, melon was often used for fortune telling and predicting the future.

And the first book where melon was mentioned was the Bible. This fact alone speaks volumes.

Once the melon was even put on trial. One nobleman felt ill after a hearty dinner. And since the last dish he ate was melon, a trial was held over it. The melon’s guilt was proven, but what sentence was given to it, unfortunately, is unknown.

You should not eat melon immediately after lunch or dinner, as this can cause an unpleasant stomach reaction. It's best to wait a couple of hours. The same applies to combining melon with dairy products and alcohol.

You can only eat freshly cut melon, as bacteria begin to multiply very quickly in it. It is not recommended to eat melon for gastritis and peptic ulcers, and it is generally strictly contraindicated for diabetics.

If a woman is breastfeeding, she should be doubly careful, since children have a very weak digestive system.

There is a variety of melon with strawberry flavor. It is called Cucumis microcarpus. These melons are grown in the Caucasus.

In shape, melons are not only oval and round, but also oblong, like huge cucumbers. These melons grow in Armenia. The weight of some of these melons exceeds 15 kg, and the length is almost 2 meters.

And South Korean scientists recently published a sensational fact about melon. They managed to find in it the elixir of eternal youth. This substance, which was isolated through complex experiments, is called “lycopene”. So we are waiting for further news from the Koreans.

You can order always fresh and tasty lunches for the office from us, at the Delo Vkusa company. Including fresh fruits and vegetables.