Melon - a species Cucurbitaceae family of plants of the genus cucumber, melon, false berry. Africa and the East Indies are considered the birthplace of melons. Melon heat and svetlolyubivoe plant is resistant to salinity and drought, not tolerate high humidity. A plant, depending on the variety and growing space can be formed from two to eight fruit weight of 1.5 to 10 kg. Melon fruits have a spherical or cylindrical shape, green, yellow, brown or white in color, usually with green stripes.
The aging period is two to six months. The oldest information about the melon dates back to ancient antiquity (Arabian Peninsula, Ancient Egypt), in the Middle Ages in the Muslim world (Central and Western Asia) was perhaps the most popular foodstuff, especially during the long rapid period before of Ramazan. The Koran prescribes only plant foods. Already in the XII-XIII centuries. The melon is known in Russia.
Calorie raw melon is only 35 kcal per 100 g of the product, so it is indicated for everyone, including people suffering from obesity. However, it is worth remembering that it opens the appetite. Also, do not get involved in dried melon, of which 100 g contains 341 kcal. Excessive consumption can lead to overweight.
The chemical composition of melons depends largely on the variety. The pulp of the fruit contains sugars (up to 16-18 and even 20%), carotene, vitamin B9, C, P, provitamin A, a large amount of folic acid and iron (which largely determines the healing properties of melons ), pectin substances, fats, mineral salts. . Both the pulp and melon seeds contain up to 30% fat oil, which is quite suitable for feeding. In addition, melon has a positive effect on the digestive process, and folic acid is involved in the formation of blood.
Melon is very useful in atherosclerosis, anemia, cardiovascular diseases. As a therapeutic agent, melon has been used for a long time and very widely. The old Russian "herbalists" recommended their pulp in diseases of the stomach, various mental disorders (depression), in tuberculosis, rheumatism, scurvy, gout, as anti-inflammatory, antitussive and anthelmintic. The melon seed broth in the milk was prescribed and prescribed by healers for urinary retention, for bladder stones and melon juice for constipation and hemorrhoids.
The infusion of seeds with water, which is known as an effective diuretic and a mild laxative, is very useful in diseases of the kidneys, liver and bladder. As you know, melon quenches thirst, calms the nervous system. Nutritionists prescribe it as a therapeutic nutrition for anemia, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, renal and hepatic diseases (the curative properties are due to the high content of vitamins B9 and C, iron and potassium salts). The healing properties of a melon depend on its maturity. For example, unripe fruits are not recommended for patients with gastric ulcers and acute gastritis. It is not recommended to eat a melon and on an empty stomach, as it is considered safer to eat a melon between meals so that it can be mixed with other foods eaten.
In folk medicine, melon has been prescribed for a long time to exhausted patients, especially after past liver diseases, after operations. Melon is generally known for its ability to cure diseases that are not accepted to advertise. Once, a decoction of seeds was treated with gonorrhea and a stomach was cleansed with a decoction of the shell and roots. Nowadays, nutritionists recommend melon juice or its pulp to improve digestion.
In addition, it is an excellent remedy for worms, especially for children. Nourishing and toning masks are also prepared from melon pulp. If the masks of melon (crushed meat) are used strictly during a month, a maximum of a month and a half, the skin becomes elastic, acquires a white-pink color with a matt tone.
It is not recommended to eat melon on an empty stomach. Melon is contraindicated in nursing mothers (it can cause severe dyspeptic symptoms in a baby), diabetes, peptic ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcers and intestinal disorders, especially dysentery.
After the melon you can not drink cold water and especially sour milk, kefir and yogurt, which leads to indigestion. A similar result occurs after a combination of melons with alcoholic beverages. Do not eat damaged melon fruits (cracked), as they can cause diseases such as botulism and salmonellosis.
