Does your mouth water when you think of Summer melons?
You know, watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon.

Well, if you’re a fan, here’s some info on how that slice of
watermelon or cantaloupe can bolster your health.


a) A Mood Boost-
It’s hard to be sad and blue during the Summer months, but if
you feel you need a mood boost, look no further than that
cantaloupe on the counter.
Eating cantaloupe is a great and tasty way to put an end to blue moods
(even those caused by menopausal hormone shifts). Cantaloupe is one of
nature’s best sources of inositol, a trace mineral that’s as effective as some
Rx antidepressants. Plus, it contains choline and selenium, two happiness-
boosting nutrients that ramp up energy, focus and mood. And lastly, it
contains potassium, which helps relieve stress and alleviates anxiety.
b) Thinning Hair-
If your hair is thinning due to age or stress related to the Co-Vid-19,
try eating honeydew melon to put an end to it. Honeydew is loaded
with specific B vitamins that are proven to spur the growth of hair.
The fruit’s healthy-hair nutrients include niacin, which revs the flow of
nourishing blood to the scalp, and pantothenic acid, which increases the
diameter and thickness of each strand. And one last benefit: Honeydew
contains copper, a nutrient that promotes the pigment melanin, which helps
hair maintain its original color, (no graying).
c) A Youthful Face-
Yes, avocados and apples can do wonders for keeping your skin wrinkle-free,
but it’s summertime, so go with the spike-covered and unusual melon known
as Horned melon. This melon with a sweet jelly-like pulp inside (it tastes like a
cucumber, lime and banana) and can help you look a few years younger than
your actual age. Horned melon is chock-full of vitamin C, which promotes
the production of skin-strengthening collagen and vitamin E,
which keeps skin hydrated and moisturized.
Look for horned melon at large grocery stores, Whole foods or produce stores.
To eat it, cut it in half and scoop out the green pulp with a spoon, then place it
on a bowl of Ice cream or yogurt.
d) The Red Melon Superfood-
Last, but certainly not least is the most popular Summer melon and that’s
Watermelon. It (watermelon) can do everything from help you sleep (especially
in the Summer heat), to boosting sex drive (especially the rind) to erasing aches
and pains, to shielding skin from harmful UV rays, (natural sunscreen),
but today, we’re focusing on heart health.
A steady diet of grilled hot dogs, steak and burgers and potato salad may
increase your odds of a heart attack, so make sure you counter all of those fattening
foods with watermelon.
Watermelon, contains lycopene, a heart-helping antioxidant, which eases inflammation
in arteries and blood vessels, reducing your risk of a stroke by as much as 25%.
Watermelon also contains arginine, which relaxes and widens blood vessels and
lowers blood pressure–and boosts nitric oxide levels, improving circulation and
helping to prevent heart attacks.
e) Fun Facts-
2 facts concerning melons.* Melons are low in sodium and 90% water,
making them one of the easiest foods to digest.
* Not sure how to pick a melon. To test if a melon is ripe, gently press the blossom
end (opposite from the stem end). It should yield slightly and have a light, sweet aroma.
f) Eat the Seeds-
You may be familiar with pumpkin and sunflower seeds, but don’t toss the seeds
from that cantaloupe or watermelon. Simply rinse the seeds thoroughly in a colander,
pat dry and toss in a little olive or coconut oil and sea salt or your own favorite seasonings.
Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in a 325*F oven for 15 to 20 mins.
or until crisp. Remove them from the oven, let cool and then enjoy.
g) A Recipe To Help You Along-
If you tire of eating a bowl of melon a few times a week, broaden your horizons
and use watermelon or honeydew melon to make soup or a salad.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a recipe for a chilled soup using
2 summer melons.
The Recipe for Chilled Minted Melon Soup!
Ingredients:
6 cups of cantaloupe chunks, cut into 1″ pieces
2 cups of honeydew melon, cut into 1″ pieces
1 to 2 limes
1 cup of coconut milk
2 Tbs. of minced, peeled ginger (fresh)
1 Tbs. of sugar
2 tsp. of white balsamic or apple cider vinegar
1 Tbs. of fresh mint, chopped
3 cantaloupes, halved and seeded-
scoop out some of the flesh to make a bowl.
Add the flesh to the cantaloupe above.
A few sprigs of mint, for garnish, (optional)
To make:
In a large bowl, combine cantaloupe and honeydew chunks;
reserve.
Grate 2 tsp. of lime zest and squeeze 2 Tbs. of lime juice into a
blender. Add melon in batches if necessary, coconut milk, ginger,
sugar, vinegar and salt to blender. Cover the blender and blend until
all ingredients are smooth. Transfer pureed mixture back to a large bowl;
stir in mint. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. When the
hour is up, pour the pureed mixture into cantaloupe halves or bowls and add
a sprig of mint to each bowl.
h) More Uses For That Melon-
Frozen-Place 1 1/2 cups of melon cubes or pulp in a blender with 1/2 cup of
water, 1 Tbs. of lemon or lime juice and a tsp. of honey. Blend until smooth and
pour into Ice pop molds. Freeze until solid.
Grilled- Now is the time to grill something other than hot
dogs and hamburgers,
try grilled melon. Cube and skewer or cut melon into wedges about 1″ to 1 1/2″
thick. (Leave the rind on or cut it off). Brush the melon with oil and season with
salt and pepper. Grill over high heat, turning once, until lightly charred, about 5 mins.
Salad- Pair melon with greens, cucumber, cut up chicken and cheese. Or add some
cubed melon to cooked shrimp, greens , basil and dill. Dress up the salad with
lime juice and olive oil or your favorite dressing.
Soup’s On- Blend melon with orange juice, a little lime juice, 1 tsp. of minced ginger
and a pinch of cinnamon until smooth. Chill and serve with a Tbs. of sour cream or
yogurt.

Sources:
* The British Journal of Dermatology
* Journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology
* Medical College of Wisconsin
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Thank-You!