31 Days of Raw: Day #21 – Cantaloupe

31 Days of Raw: Day #21
Cantaloupe

When you think of melons usually your thoughts drift toward summer, but cantaloupes are available almost year round in Arizona. Melons are usually the one fruit that is eaten entirely solo.  I don’t often make it into other dishes, I am perfectly comfortable just slicing it up and eating it in bite size pieces.  I’ve made cantaloupe sorbet, green cantaloupe smoothies, and cantaloupe fruit salad…but that’s basically the gist of it.  It’s so wonderfully juicy and satisfying that there are times one cantaloupe is my entire meal. No one turns away cantaloupe…all children who come across it will devour whatever they can get their hands on. One of the easiest (and inexpensive) things to serve children is a melon sliced into triangles like pizza slices.   But what is it doing for their growing little bodies?  Let’s find out!

Cantaloupe

The nutrients found in cantaloupe are quite impressive for one single food product. Vitamin C is one of the numerous nutrients contained in cantaloupe. Nearly everyone knows how essential Vitamin C is to good health. It assists in warding off and recovering from colds, promotes healing, and increases the production of white blood cells. Rather than getting your supply of Vitamin C from supplements, cantaloupe is an all-natural option.

Anti-coagulant: 
A unique compound in cantaloupe helps decrease the viscosity of the blood, hence preventing the abnormal formation of blood clots in the cardiovascular system.

Arteriosclerosis: 
Regularly consuming vitamin C slows the development of hardening of the arteries.

Cancer prevention: 
The high vitamin C content acts as a good antioxidant that protects cells from damages by free radicals.  Regularly drinking juices high in anti-oxidants keep cancer at bay, especially against intestinal cancer and melanoma.  Foods such as cantaloupe that are rich in beta-carotenes could lower the risk of cancers of the larynx, esophagus and lungs without the risk associated with beta-carotene supplements.

Cataracts: 
The natural vitamin A from beta-carotene in this juice lowers the risk of cataract and generally helps improve your vision too.

Cholesterol: 
Drinking juices high in anti-oxidant has been proven to fight the oxidative stress that is the main culprit in oxidizing the LDLs in the blood.

High blood pressure:  
Potassium in this cantaloupe helps excrete sodium, thus bringing down high blood pressure especially in those with salt-sensitive hypertension.

Immune system: 
The strong content of vitamin C stimulates white cells to fight infection, naturally building a good immune system.

Insomnia: 
A special compound in cantaloupe relieves the nerves and calm anxieties, which can help insomniacs.

Menstruation problems: 
For women, drink this wonder juice around the time of menstruation and it will help reduce heavy flow and clots.

Muscle Cramps: 
A deficiency in potassium can cause muscular cramps and greater susceptibility to injury. Drink cantaloupe juice to prevent these.

Pregnancy: 
The high content of folate (folic acid) prevents neural tube defects in infants.

Quit Smoking: 
The natural nutrients and minerals found in cantaloupe provide a synergistic combination that helps the body recover from nicotine withdrawal of one who is trying to quit smoking.  Smoking also quickly depletes the vitamin A in a smoker, but cantaloupe juice can help replace it with its beta-carotene.

Water retention: 
Especially in pregnant women, cantaloupe helps your body excrete excess sodium, thus reducing water retention.

Prevention of Diabetec Nephropathy
Oxidative stress is implicated as an important factor in diabetic nephropathy (progressive kidney disease). In a preliminary study it was found that oxykine, a cantaloupe extract, reduced the diabetes-induced oxidative stress and kidney cell damage. Although further studies are needed, oxykine might be a safe and cheap approach for the prevention of diabetec nephropathy.

Vision
Natural Vitamin A and beta-carotene found in cantaloupes are a great deterrent for cataracts and help in vision correction. Having a serving of cantaloupe a day will help you improve your vision, and according to a survey, consumption of this fruit also prevents age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

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Cantaloupe Sorbet 

• ½ cantaloupe, cubed & frozen
• 5-10 strawberries, frozen
• 1 spring of fresh mint

In a high speed blender, or sturdy food processor, blend all till smooth.  If you are unsure of blending frozen fruit…blend it when it’s room temperature with some ice = cantaloupe slushie.

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