MUSK MELON

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MUSK MELON

• Wonderfully delicious with rich flavor, muskmelons are very low in calories and fats; but rich in numerous health promoting poly-phenolic plant derived substances, vitamins and minerals that are required for optimum health.
  
• The fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin A, (provides about 112% of recommended daily levels) one of the highest among fruits. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant and is essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  
• It is also rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants have the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen free radicals and hence; offer protection against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
• Zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid, selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eye where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions; thus it protects eyes from "Age related macular degeneration" (ARMD) disease in the elderly.
  
• It is a good source of potassium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids and helps control heart rate and blood pressure; thus offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
  
• The fruit also contain good amounts of B-complex vitamins, such as niacin, pantothenic acid and vitamin C and manganese. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.  Commercially, muskmelons are being used to extract an enzyme known as superoxide dismutase (SOD) which is essential for maintaining strong antioxidant defences in the human body.

Categories: MUSK MELON