Melon or watermelon? Regardless of individual taste preferences, this is the classic question that comes up every summer, when these two champions of the beautiful season reappear on our tables together with strawberries, cherries, peaches and all the other summer fruit.
Low-calorie, thirst-quenching and fresh, watermelon (or watermelon) and melon They are very rich in water, mineral salts and vitaminstherefore suitable for when it is very hot and even more so in the daily diet of those who practice sports, even outdoors: a slice on the way back from a jog or as a pre-meal during a bike ride, or a tupperware with some fruit salad to put in the backpack during an excursion, they are perfect for rehydrate, quench thirst and calm the feeling of hunger.
But what are the differences between melon and watermelon?
Watermelon, or watermelon as it is called in the northern regions, is considered a vegetable in cultivation and a fruit in consumption.
The characteristics of watermelon
It is made up of 95% water It is almost fat-free It contains very few calories (about 15 per 100 g of fruit) It contains little sugar (less than 4 g per 100 g of fruit) It is rich in water: 600 grams contain about half a litre, from which its diuretic and purifying properties It contains good quantities of vitamins C and A and potassium It is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that counteracts the effect of free radicals that cause cellular aging It contains good doses of mineral salts such as potassium, sodium, calcium and phosphorus, which counteract the feeling of exhaustion typical of the hottest days It is also rich in beta-carotene, which protects the skin from the sun.
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Melon is also a vegetable in cultivation and a fruit in consumption.
The characteristics of melon
It contains the highest percentage of mineral salts and potassium compared to any other fruit, so it is perfect for rehydrating and counteracting the feeling of fatigue of summer days. It provides approximately 30 Kcal per 100 grams of fruit. It contains vitamins A and C (approximately 60 mg per 200 grams of fruit. It contains iron. It is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that counteracts the effect of free radicals that cause cellular aging. It contains beta-carotene, which stimulates the production of melanin, an excellent skin protector. It is rich in calcium and iron.
> Read also: Fruits and vegetables to fight heat and tiredness
In the end, is melon or watermelon better?
There is no real winner, because as always the best strategy is balance: alternating watermelon and watermelon in your daily diet, right now that they are fresh and at their best with all their nutritional properties, is the best way to get all their benefits. With a few precautions:
the seeds of both have a slight laxative effect: it would always be better not to ingest them and not to let children ingest them since they are rich in fiber and liquids, eaten between meals they help to fight hunger, give a sense of satiety and regulate blood sugar levels on the contrary, the habit of eating them at the end of a meal weighs down digestion: by settling on top of the bolus of the other food ingested they can cause bloating and lengthen digestion times.
> Read alsoDoes an apple a day really keep the doctor away?
Credits: mellofoto85
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2024-07-02 07:46:37
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