While summer is in full swing, nutritionist Naomi Garciau details all the benefits of one of the star products of this summer period: the melon.
Better Living Health – We are in the middle of the melon season. Is it a healthy product, and if so why?
Naomi Garciau – It is a raw product which is excellent for health.
It allows first to hydrate, because it is composed of 80% water.
It is also very rich in fiber, elements that help support the digestive system.
Melon also provides magnesium, copper and phosphorus.
Finally, this fruit is rich in vitamins A, B and C, the latter helping in particular to fight against the aging of skin cells put to the test by the summer sun.
Does this product have any drawbacks?
Like any food, it should not be eaten in excess, especially because it can give you a stomach ache.
Are there people who should avoid eating it?
Melon can actually cause digestive upset in people who are FODMAPS* intolerant. Some individuals may also be allergic.
Is melon suitable for children?
Yes. As the melon is a fruit, it is one of the first foods that can be included in the diet of babies.
How much should you ideally consume?
When it’s the season and if it is eaten like a fruit, you can eat between 150 and 200 grams without worry for lunch and dinner.
But you have to watch your diet next, which must be globally balanced.
Is there a time of day when it is more interesting to eat it?
Some specialists agree that it is more interesting to eat fruit in isolation. Others say it doesn’t matter too much, and the studies that exist on the subject are quite contradictory. Personally, I think that we should avoid taking the lead with this kind of problem and simply eat melon when we feel like it.
Are there preferred types of melon?
Like all fruits and vegetables, you should try to buy seasonal melons, from short and French circuits. They are thus picked at maturity, retain all their nutritional qualities, suffer less from transport and contain little or no pesticides.
Do you prefer certain recipes concocted with melon?
We can prepare the melon however we like, but I often eat it in the form of a salad, with arugula, Parma ham and mozzarella.
I also recently spotted a gazpacho recipe made only of melon and mango, a mixture that seems quite interesting to me.
Making melon ice cream can also be a good idea.
How to choose the right melon?
Choose a ripe melon. To do this, I recommend smelling them in order to identify which ones have the strongest and sweetest smell.
Can you freeze melon for the winter?
Freezing is very interesting, because contrary to what one might think, it allows you to preserve a lot of vitamins and minerals. However, I’ve never made it with melon, so I don’t know how it tastes.
*FODMAP stands for a group of small carbohydrates that can be fermented in the colon.
