10 Incredible Health Benefits Of Muskmelon

If someone asks us, what is the best fruit in summer? No doubt everyone will say Mango. Maybe that because of its delicious taste. However, other summer fruits are tasty and beneficial for our health, such as watermelon and muskmelon.

Muskmelon or kharbuja fruit is an incredibly refreshing evening snack of the summer. It has a mild sugary and watery taste that enhances as the fruit ripens.

Muskmelon is a type of melon belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Its scientific name is Cucumis melo var. Cantalupensis. Muskmelon, also referred to as ‘sweet melon,’ got its name from its strong musky smell. It is a yellow-coloured fruit with tempting sweetness and a pleasant aroma. Muskmelon is said to have its origin most likely in a region from India to Africa. It is a summer fruit and is best in April to August. There are a few health benefits of eating muskmelon that we will discuss in the blog.

Nutritional Facts of Muskmelon

There are numerous health benefits of Muskmelon, thanks to its rich nutritional content that is necessary for healthy body functioning. Muskmelon nutrition includes:

• Carbohydrates
• Dietary fibres  
• Vitamins: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B complexes such as B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), and B6 (pyridoxine)
• Minerals: Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, and Calcium
• Electrolytes: potassium
• Carotenoids

Health Benefits of Muskmelon

1. Keeps the Body Hydrated  

Muskmelon is high in water content, which keeps your body hydrated in the hot summer season. It also cools the body and protects it against heat. Ensuring a good supply of essential vitamins and minerals is one of the best benefits of kharbuja.

Including melon fruits or extract in your diet may help protect the liver from drug-induced toxicity. The extract from Cucumis melo (melon) may have a protective effect on the liver. The presence of specific plant compounds in melon can scavenge free radicals, offering liver protection.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

2. Immunity Booster

Muskmelon can help improve and strengthen the immune system, making it easier for the body to fight diseases. It is rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A that boosts immunity by stimulating the white blood cells in the body. Vitamin A and phytochemicals help to keep your gut healthy. Your gut health is directly associated with your immune system.

3. Good for Vision

Since muskmelon is rich in vitamin A, it is beneficial for your eye health. It helps improve your eyesight and prevent cataracts. Studies have proved that regular consumption of foods with high vitamin content can reduce the risk of developing cataracts by 40%.

I recommend incorporating musk melon into your diet as it has potential anti-ulcer properties. It can help protect the stomach by reducing blood vessel leakage, scavenging free radicals, and strengthening the mucosal barrier. The presence of phytoconstituents like triterpenoids and sterols in musk melon is responsible for these beneficial effects.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

4. Good for Cardiovascular Health

These melons are rich in potassium which controls blood pressure, thus keeping your heart healthy. They are also rich in a compound called adenosine which is beneficial for the heart as it has blood-thinning properties. It prevents blood clotting in the cardiovascular system.

5. For a Healthy Gut System

Another one of muskmelon benefits is that it has a high fibre and water content, which makes it an essential fruit for gut health. The fibre content in muskmelon helps in regulating proper bowel movements with a calming and cooling effect on the stomach.

6. Help in Weight Loss

Muskmelon or shamam fruit is low in fat and calories that makes it beneficial for weight loss. It takes a long time to leave your stomach and enter the digestive tract, thus making you feel full for a longer time.  

7. Prevent Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is a dangerous complication of diabetes. In this,  the kidney cells get dangerously damaged can be prevented by muskmelon extract known as ”oxykine”. It has a low glycemic index (GI) which means that fructose and glucose present in melon is a simple sugar. Thus, this fruit is safe for diabetic patients and those suffering from obesity.

8. Combat Stress

Muskmelon is a stress buster fruit that helps relieve stress and keep your mind calm. It contains minerals such as potassium, is considered a stress-relieving food that can help you feel more focused and relaxed.

9. Promote Hair Growth

Vitamin A present in muskmelon can stimulate the production of sebum that helps in keeping your hair healthy. When you directly apply muskmelon fruit pulp to your scalp can help boost hair health, resulting in long, lustrous hair.      

10. Healthy Skin

Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, muskmelon or kharbuja benefits to keep your skin looking healthy and radiant. It is also rich in collagen that is a protein. It helps in keeping the skin tissues soft and tight while preventing them from withering.

While you can eat the flesh, you can ground the seeds, pulp, and skin into a paste and apply it on your skin all over the body.

Over the years, I have observed that muskmelon may be a diuretic. Muskmelon has potential diuretic properties, which means it can help increase urine production and its removal, and reduce fluid retention. It can be effective both individually and in combination with other diuretic foods.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

Read more about: Can You Turn to Yoga for Stress Relief?

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