Eat More Melons...Enjoy Better Health!
Watermelon, hondeydews and cantaloupes are abundant and reasonably
priced this time of year, and that's unfortunate.
Unfortunate? Yes, they should be reasonably priced and readily available
all year round.
But, those of us in cold weather states know that won't happen, so if we want
a cantaloupe or honeydew in Jan. or Feb. we'll have to pay a small fortune.
With that said, this isn't a post complaining about the high prices of melon,
but a post to extol the nutritional virtues of each fruit.
1) Watermelon-
Concerned about sun spots? Who isn't, with the constant talk about the Sun's
damaging rays, it's astounding we haven't become a nation of hermits.
Twenty to Thirty minutes of Sun on our skin is beneficial in a lot of ways,
but anymore than that and we risk doing serious, irreparable harm to our skin.
Thank God for Watermelon.
How does it help?
Watermelon is loaded with skin-nourishing antioxidants like vitamins A, C
and of course, the often mentioned lycopene. All combined, these nutrients
strengthen the skin's Sun-defending abilities by building collagen and
preventing free-radical damage that cause the unsightly Sun spots.
And if you spent too much time in the Sun and your skin is beet red,
take a slice of watermelon and rub it on the parts of your body that are
painful to touch. A tomato split in half also works.
2) Honeydew Melon-
With some states reaching 90 to 100 degrees for the whole month of July,
this tip may be a little late. A lot of people spend a lot of time outdoors
and that's an invitation to heat stroke and cramps.
Thank God for Honeydew melon!
How does it help?
It's packed with potassium, an electrolyte which helps you maintain
a normal water balance between the body's cells and fluids to fend off
dehydration-related tiredness. And there's more good news: It's low in
calories, making it ideal for everyone from marathon runners to football
players who engage in "2 a days."
A recipe to try:
Get out your blender, put in a cup of cut-up honeydew, add a few tbsps.
of milk, a tbsp. of dark honey, a dash of cinnamon and a few ice cubes.
Blend for a min. or two, pour into two medium-sized glasses and enjoy.
Drink this after a long and arduous exercise session.
3) Cantaloupe-
More popular and cheaper than the other 2, cantaloupe offers a host
of health benefits, but one in particular stands out, and that benefit:
It helps flush fat.
How does it help:
It's loaded with vitamin A, ( in the form of beta-carotene). This
cleansing antioxidant combines with the melon's high water content
to help speed the elimination of fat-trapping toxins from your body.
And with only 6 weeks left to the Summer season, perhaps you can start
eating cantaloupe next April, to help flatten that stomach and
get you ready for bathing suit season -2012.
Good Luck!
JGib~~
SupermarketRxs!