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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Calories >>  Calories in Cantaloupe

Calories in Cantaloupe

As a source of nutrition, the cantaloupe scores extremely highly. The amount of calories in cantaloupe is extremely low when one considers the size of each serving. One cup serving of cantaloupe is calculated to be around 150 to 170 grams depending on the relative density of each specific fruit. Assuming the mean value of 160 grams, one will only gain about 60 calories from a cup full of cantaloupe. The low level of calories in cantaloupe makes it a particularly healthy food option for those who wish to enjoy the vitamin and mineral benefits of consuming such a fruit.

Most fruit sources are good when it comes to providing the body with vitamins and minerals. The quantity of these vitamins and minerals needed for the body may be extremely small when compared to other nutritional requirements. However, the importance of vitamins and minerals to the human body cannot be underestimated. Cantaloupe is also filled with water which makes it a great source of hydration. Cantaloupes are filled with vitamins A and C. A cup serving of cantaloupe may even exceed the daily dietary requirement for these vitamins. Cantaloupe is therefore an extremely beneficial fruit when it comes to the health of an individual. Cantaloupes also provide the individual with a moderate serving of potassium.

The low number of calories in cantaloupe means that it is a very popular fruit for those who are conscious about their health. The low number of calories in cantaloupe also means that it can be used as a source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber without really having any adverse effect on the health of the individual. However, one must realize that there is a limit to the consumption of this fruit as well. There may be significant health problems if an individual consumes too much vitamin A or vitamin C. These health problems can be avoided by moderating the consumption of all foods, including cantaloupes. It is therefore best to consume one cup serving of cantaloupe at any given time. Vitamin A is beneficial for the eyes. It is therefore recommended that an individual consumes his or her daily requirement of this vitamin.

Cantaloupes can be stored after they have been cut. A common method of consuming this fruit is to cut it into cubes and consume it. The storage requirement for cut cantaloupe cubes is refrigeration. The fruits should be refrigerated in a semi-sealed container. Sealing may be needed to ensure that the entire fridge does not smell of cantaloupes. Storage should not exceed 7 days in such conditions. The fruit will go bad over this period and it is therefore best consume a cantaloupe within 2 or 3 days of it being cut into cubes. With modern food processing and storage facilities in place, it is now possible to purchase cantaloupes at any time of the year. Generally speaking, one would want to consume this fruit during summer months. The water content of a cantaloupe helps to provide the consumer with a refreshing feeling. This may be particularly necessary for individuals who are suffering from dehydration. Apart from hydrating the body, cantaloupe can also provide an emergency dose of vitamins and minerals which will help the individual.

Cantaloupe is a type of melon that is related to all melon varieties. In many cases, the word melon is actually used when the fruit in question is a cantaloupe. The cantaloupe, and indeed many different varieties of the melon family, originated in the Indian subcontinent and in areas of Africa. It is now cultivated across the world with regional varieties differing from one continent to another. Regional varieties will have some differences when it comes to their appearance and their nutritional value as well. Cantaloupe cultivation is most common in areas with a warm temperate or tropical climate. Most commercially produced versions of this fruit are shipped before they Cantaloupes grow on vines that lay across the ground. Other names for cantaloupe include musk melon and rock melon. The cantaloupe fruit is round and has a thick skin which is usually covered in a net shaped design. This skin is often capable of carrying bacterial infections which is why it is always good to wash a cantaloupe before consuming it. Modern fruit packaging technology may also be applied to this in the sense that the skin can be washed with a special substance which helps with the cleaning process. This process may reduce the noticeable smell of the fruit as well. The outer skin of the cantaloupe fruit is usually not consumed by human beings. With this being the case, the risk of contracting any bacterial infection from this part of the fruit is reduced. However, the fruit skin is handled by an individual if the fruit is cut in slices. The skin may also come into contact with the mouth of the person consuming it. Therefore, cleaning of the skin under running water is essential to ensure that there are no ill effects associated with the consumption of the fruit. The thick rind of the fruit protects the inner surface from infectious materials and from damage as well. It is therefore relatively easy to store whole cantaloupes. The size of this fruit may vary from a fruit that weighs less than 500 grams to one that weighs more than 5 kilograms. Cantaloupes are usually sold by weight.

The inner structure of a cantaloupe is fleshy. From the thick skin to the inner seed area, the flesh of the cantaloupe is fairly uniform. The color of this flesh may be yellow or orange depending on different varieties of the fruit. This fleshy part of the fruit is made up of a lot of water which is why the fruit is so juicy when eaten. This fruit may need to be consumed with a plate in hand so that it does not end up being messy. The fruit is often consumed in cantaloupe chunks as these are cut out from within the fruit. The seed area of the fruit may be encased in a net like structure as well. This structure appears similar to the pattern that is seen on the outer skin of the cantaloupe fruit.

Submitted on January 16, 2014