Melon mania - Food Of The Month

IF SOMEONE CALLS you a melonhead, take it as a compliment. Melons are low in calories and are fat-free, and most supply goodly amounts of vitamin C and potassium. Moreover, melons with a deep-orange flesh, such as cantaloupe, are a good source of skin-protecting beta carotene, which gets converted to vitamin A (one cup of cantaloupe supplies half of a man's daily vitamin A requirement).

Cantaloupes are also a good source of folate, which is thought to lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing homocysteine levels in the blood. Watermelon is rich in lycopene, a carotenoid that may help reduce the risk of certain cancers and help fight heart disease (it's also found in guavas, tomatoes and grapefruit).

PICKING MELONS

When melon hunting, consider the following:

* Look for melons that are symmetrical in shape, without cracks, bruises or soft areas. They should be slightly soft.

* After cutting, refrigerate them in a container and eat them within a couple of days.

* Varieties aside from the common cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon include casaba, crenshaw or Persian.

THE RUNDOWN

One cup of melon (cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon): 62 calories, 15g carbs, 1g protein, zero fat, 1g fiber

COPYRIGHT 2002 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group