Honeydew Melon
The honeydew melon is a member of the cucurbitaceae (gourd) family and is in the muskmelon group. It is a relative of the cantaloupe.
Honeydew is the American name for the White Antibes, a variety of melon that was cultivated in southern France and Algeria centuries ago. In China, honeydews are called Bailan melons and sometimes the Wallace melon. Mr. Wallace, the Vice President of the US under Franklin Roosevelt and a former Secretary of Agriculture, owned a seed company and introduced this particular melon to the Chinese on a visit.
The winter variety of honeydew is not the same as a melon called the winter melon.
A town in Provence, France, Cavaillon, is considered the world capital of melons. The novelist Alexandre Dumas reputedly asked for a dozen melons a year until his death in exchange for donating his works to Cavaillon’s public library.
When the inner fruit is orange, it is referred to as the “temptation melon.” Usually the inside fruit is green.
Honeydews are rich in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, low in calories (60 calories per half cup) and high in soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber slows the absorption of carbohydrates, keeping the blood sugar level in control and lowers cholesterol by removing it from the body. Insoluble fiber keeps things moving in the digestive tract, removing toxins and preventing constipation.
Honeydews also help us get our daily potassium, which is important in keeping blood pressure within normal limits.
Vitamin B6/pyridoxine is an important enzyme for many chemical processes. It aids in the creation of serotonin, the neurotransmitter which regulates sleep and mood. It converts harmful levels of homocysteine, which are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, into beneficial substances.
Copper is available as a trace element in the melon.
The fruit grows well in semiarid climates and is harvested based on maturity, not size. When the color turns from greenish white to creamy yellow, it is mature. It should be nearly spherical in shape, feel heavy and have a waxy, not fuzzy surface. The surface should bounce back when pressed.
The honeydew is almost always used in raw form. It is a popular ingredient for chilled soups.
Because they are always consumed raw, honeydews can stimulate oral allergy syndrome, also called pollen-food syndrome.
Symptoms of oral allergy syndrome include itchy mouth, scratchy throat, or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat. Itchy ears are sometimes reported. The symptoms are usually confined to one area and do not normally progress beyond the mouth.
Because the symptoms usually subside quickly once the fresh fruit or raw vegetable is swallowed or removed from the mouth, treatment is not necessary. If the reaction proceeds beyond the mouth area, it needs to be taken seriously and followed with emergency treatment due to risk of anaphylaxis.
Those experiencing oral allergy syndrome usually have allergies to birch, ragweed or grass pollens, thus the name pollen-food syndrome.
Honeydews provide a natural light, delicious taste treat in the summer months. Eat up…
The honeydew melon is a member of the cucurbitaceae (gourd) family and is in the muskmelon group. It is a relative of the cantaloupe.
Honeydew is the American name for the White Antibes, a variety of melon that was cultivated in southern France and Algeria centuries ago. In China, honeydews are called Bailan melons and sometimes the Wallace melon. Mr. Wallace, the Vice President of the US under Franklin Roosevelt and a former Secretary of Agriculture, owned a seed company and introduced this particular melon to the Chinese on a visit.
The winter variety of honeydew is not the same as a melon called the winter melon.
A town in Provence, France, Cavaillon, is considered the world capital of melons. The novelist Alexandre Dumas reputedly asked for a dozen melons a year until his death in exchange for donating his works to Cavaillon’s public library.
When the inner fruit is orange, it is referred to as the “temptation melon.” Usually the inside fruit is green.
Honeydews are rich in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, low in calories (60 calories per half cup) and high in soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber slows the absorption of carbohydrates, keeping the blood sugar level in control and lowers cholesterol by removing it from the body. Insoluble fiber keeps things moving in the digestive tract, removing toxins and preventing constipation.
Honeydews also help us get our daily potassium, which is important in keeping blood pressure within normal limits.
Vitamin B6/pyridoxine is an important enzyme for many chemical processes. It aids in the creation of serotonin, the neurotransmitter which regulates sleep and mood. It converts harmful levels of homocysteine, which are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, into beneficial substances.
Copper is available as a trace element in the melon.
The fruit grows well in semiarid climates and is harvested based on maturity, not size. When the color turns from greenish white to creamy yellow, it is mature. It should be nearly spherical in shape, feel heavy and have a waxy, not fuzzy surface. The surface should bounce back when pressed.
The honeydew is almost always used in raw form. It is a popular ingredient for chilled soups.
Because they are always consumed raw, honeydews can stimulate oral allergy syndrome, also called pollen-food syndrome.
Symptoms of oral allergy syndrome include itchy mouth, scratchy throat, or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat. Itchy ears are sometimes reported. The symptoms are usually confined to one area and do not normally progress beyond the mouth.
Because the symptoms usually subside quickly once the fresh fruit or raw vegetable is swallowed or removed from the mouth, treatment is not necessary. If the reaction proceeds beyond the mouth area, it needs to be taken seriously and followed with emergency treatment due to risk of anaphylaxis.
Those experiencing oral allergy syndrome usually have allergies to birch, ragweed or grass pollens, thus the name pollen-food syndrome.
Honeydews provide a natural light, delicious taste treat in the summer months. Eat up…