Both the �true� cantaloupe (the European variety, Cucumis melo cantalupensis, which has a smooth or warty skin) and the North American cantaloupe (Cucumis melo reticulatus, with its �netted� or reticulated rind) are orange-fleshed melons of the muskmelon species, which also includes honeydews and more exotic melons.
What gives cantaloupe a special place among the SuperFoods is its high betacarotene content, indicated by its rich orange color. It�s also a good source of vitamin A. One cup of cantaloupe cubes is just 56 calories, but it provides 103.2 percent of the recommended daily value for vitamin A. Since beta-carotene can be converted into vitamin A in the body, when you eat cantaloupe, it�s like getting a Carbohydrates: Fruits 15 double helping! Vitamin A appears to reduce the risk of cataracts, and it�s a good source of lutein, which some studies have suggested may have a role in preventing age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in the elderly.
Nutritional Facts :
One cup of raw cantaloupe provides 56 calories, 13.4 g carbohydrate, 1.4 g protein, 0.4 g fat, 1.3 g dietary fiber, 5158 IU vitamin A, 68 mg vitamin C, 27 mcg folic acid, 494 mg potassium, 18 mg calcium, 27 mg phosphorus, and 18 mg magnesium.