The humble cantaloupe may not get as much respect as other fruits, but it should.This tasty, although odd-looking, melon is packed with nutrients. If you don’t think about nabbing a cantaloupe each time you hit your grocery store’s produce section, read on to learn why you may want to think again.Adding fruit of any kind to your diet is beneficial. Cantaloupe, a variety of musk melon, is a particularly good choice.
Beta-carotene
When it comes to beta-carotene, cantaloupe knocks other yellow-orange fruits out of the park.According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)Trusted Source, cantaloupe has more beta- carotene than:apricotsgrapefruitorangespeachestangerinesnectarinesmangoes
Vitamin C
According to the USDATrusted Source, 1 cup of balled cantaloupe contains over 100 percent of the recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin C. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin C is involved in the production of:blood vesselscartilagemusclecollagen in bonesMore research is needed on vitamin C to prove its effectiveness against diseases like:asthmacancerdiabetesHowever, eating vitamin C-rich foods may help reduce how long your symptoms last the next time you have the common cold.
Folate
Folate is also known as vitamin B-9. Folate is the term used when it’s naturally present in foods. Folic acid is the term used for supplements and fortified foods.Folate is well-known for preventing neural-tube birth defects like spinal bifida.It may also help:reduce the risk of some cancersaddress memory loss due to aging, although more research is neededWhen it comes to cancer, folate may be a double-edged sword.According to a closer look at studies on the vitamin published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, folate may offer protection in early cancers and in people with a folate deficiency. However, vitamin B-9 in high doses, such as excessive supplementation, may stimulate or worsen later-stage cancers.
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