Summer SUPERFRUIT Packs an Antioxidant Punch
Summers are sweltering here in Arizona.
But one way I like to refresh this time of year is a fruit that grows abundantly in this region…
Melons.
In fact, there’s one particular melon you’ll want to be sure to load up on this summer. Here’s why…
When you cut into a cantaloupe you first notice the vibrant orange color.
This is a dead giveaway that these melons are loaded with beta-carotene, the orange pigment that your body converts to vitamin A.
This critical nutrient supports…
- immune,
- skin,
- bone,
- and eye health.
Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant that reduces inflammation while combatting harmful free radicals that can damage your cells.
In fact, just one cup of cantaloupe provides all the vitamin A you need in a day.
Cantaloupe is also loaded with antioxidant vitamin C, with about 100 percent of your daily intake requirement also found in just one cup.
Vitamin C is a natural immune booster and…
- supports collagen production (vital for all the connective tissue in your body),
- promotes iron absorption,
- boosts energy and protein metabolism, and
- helps protect brain cells.
Cantaloupe is incredibly hydrating since the melons are about 90 percent water—making them the perfect summer superfruit.
If you’re not taking advantage of cantaloupe’s health benefits—and sweet, juicy flavor—this summer, you’re missing out.
You can eat them alone, or pair them with a summer salad, a snack plate with berries and nuts, or even wrap chunks of them in prosciutto (it’s delicious!).
P.S. You likely know beta-carotene supports eye health. But the benefits don’t end there. This potent nutrient also boosts the health of THIS vital organ.
SOURCE:
“Melons, cantaloupe, raw,” FoodData Central, U.S. Department of Agriculture, [fdc.nal.usda.gov]
