101 Best Superfood Series

Hey everyone. This will be a series of the 101 best superfoods out there. The term superfoods gets tossed around all over the place. It is a bit of a marketing tool that can trick people into thinking that they are eating healthy. This series of posts is more concerned about eating real. whole foods and their benefits, as opposed to looking into the latest diet fad. When it comes to eating food, whole foods are your best bet. It is also a good idea to buy local, in season foods as well. This could be from your local farmer's market, or just be knowing which foods grow best during which seasons. Now lets get to today's superfood...

Today's superfood is Cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is a nutrient packed flesh that is a perfect substitute for sugary, processed snacks and desserts. Cantaloupe is a good source of potassium, an essential nutrient that may help lower high blood pressure, regulate heartbeat and prevent strokes and heart disease. Cantaloupe is also rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and phytonutrients, a powerful trio that helps prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer and infection. Cantaloupe is made up mostly of water, so it is low in calories, yet its fiber content and sweet taste make it satisfying to the taste bud and belly.

Look for evenly shaped cantaloupe without bruises, cracks, or soft spots. Select fruit heavy for its size, which tends to be juicier. Ripe cantaloupe has a mildly sweet fragrance. If the cantaloupe smells sickeningly sweet, or if there is mold where the stem used to be, it is probably overripe and quite possibly rotten. Cantaloupe continues to ripen off the vine, so if you buy it ripe, eat it as soon possible.

You can enjoy cantaloupe slightly chilled or at room temperature for the most flavor. Chilled melon soup is a refreshing change of pace in hot weather. And the natural cavity left in a cantaloupe after removing the seeds is a perfect place for fillers like plain yogurt or fruit salad. You can even try squeezing a little lemon or lime juice onto cut melon for extra flavor and a citrus hint. There are plenty of ways to enjoy cantaloupe.

Well that is all for now. I hope you learned something new today. Now go out and enjoy some cantaloupe. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon...