"It makes the eyes young, the lips are fresh, the hair is shiny, the women are beautiful, and the men are welcome" - so in the east they talk about the melon.
Why is a melon useful for a person?
Thanks to the large amount of glucose, iron and vitamin C , the melon has long been used as a restorative aid, when recovering from serious illnesses and blood loss. By the way, iron, obtained from plant products, is better absorbed just in combination with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), so it is good to use melon for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia. Melon contains a lot of folic acid, which is especially useful in pregnancy. In addition to vitamin C and folic acid in melon contains vitamins A, PP and B vitamins.
In addition, melon is useful:
- at cardiovascular diseases, tk. contains a large amount of potassium, a microelement that regulates the heart rate and strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- water infusion of melon seeds used in diseases of the liver and kidneys;
- with gout;
- melon juice is a good laxative for constipation and hemorrhoids;
- with rheumatism, due to its anti-inflammatory properties;
- with depression.
Melon contains silicon, which is necessary for the health of hair and nails, and masks from melons will help dry and weakened skin to acquire a healthy, radiant appearance. It's no coincidence that supermodel Cindy Crawford uses melon extract as the main ingredient for one of her cosmetics lines.
How to choose a melon?
First of all - by smell. A ripe melon has a sweet delicate aroma, with notes of honey, vanilla, pear or pineapple. If the smell is slightly herbaceous - melon is not ripe, if it gives away by decay - it is overripe.
Also, a ripe melon should have a thick (about pencil-thick), dried stems. Peel, if you press from the opposite side of the stem, it should spring, and when you squeeze the melon with your palm, it emits a dull sound.
Do not buy a cut fruit, or a fruit with a damaged skin, because, due to the large amount of sugar, melon pulp is an excellent breeding medium for bacteria and such a product
Contraindications
However, despite all its useful properties, the melon has a number of contraindications. For example, it should not be combined with other foods. It is useful to consume melon not earlier than in 20 minutes and not later than 2 hours after a meal. It should not be eaten by people suffering from gastritis and peptic ulcer during the period of exacerbation. The use of melon should be limited to those with diabetes, as well as breastfeeding mothers (melon can cause indigestion in the baby).