Among the fresh fruits typical of summer, which we usually taste at this time, we find watermelon and melon; both very similar in several aspects but of which we show you calories, nutrients and other differences what are they presenting.
Watermelon and melon: two very moisturizing fruits
Both fruits have a high water content and therefore favor hydration, finding its best time of production and consumption during these months of the year.
In shape and appearance we also find many similarities. However, we reveal the biggest differences between these two fruits summer stars:
Watermelon: very low in calories
If we talk about energy intake, watermelon offers around 28 Kcal per 100 grams and it is one of the fruits with the highest water content (around 95%). For this reason, it is a very light and moisturizing fruit.
Your calories come primarily from a low proportion of complex carbohydrates and sugars offering a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that the body needs; for example: potassium and magnesium that behave as electrolytes in the body and carotenes, vitamin A and vitamin C They have antioxidant function in our body.
Also note the content B vitaminsespecially folic acid, thus resulting in a light fruit but with a high nutritional and satiating density due to its large volume and high water content.
Melon: sweeter and with more antioxidants and calories
The melon (like the watermelon) also has a high water content and therefore, it is an ideal moisturizing fruit for summer. Nevertheless, it has more calories and a higher proportion of natural sugars Regarding the watermelon.
Thus, this fruit has about 55 Kcal per 100 grams and the proportion of carbohydrates is around 12%, being a fruit with higher proportion of potassium than watermelon, since it offers this mineral in amounts similar to those of bananas.
Its content of group B vitamins, carotenoids and vitamin A is also high, being remarkable amount of vitamin C that it possesses, much superior to that of the watermelon.
In this sense, the melon is source of a large proportion of antioxidants for the body and can help us calm the craving for sweets easily, to a greater extent than watermelon.
Its density is higher due in large part to the fact that its percentage of water is lower than that of watermelon (about 85%). Therefore, it can provide a creamier texture and require more chewing than other fruits with higher water content.
Calories (Kcal) | Carbs(g) | Proteins (g) | Fats (g) | Fiber (g) | Potassium (mg) | Magnesium(mg) | Folic acid (ug) | Vitamin A (ug) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Watermelon | 28.4 | 5.6 | 0.63 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 100 | 9.2 | 4.55 | 35.4 |
Cantaloupe | 55.4 | 12.4 | 0.88 | 0.1 | 0.73 | 310 | 11.8 | 2.7 | 111.9 |
Watermelon vs melon: which one to choose?
When it comes to fresh fruits, no option is better than another, but it largely depends on the nutrients and the particular needs of our body, being all the beneficial fruits for health.
In this case, both are options that favor hydration of the body and that can help us calm the craving for sweets with few calories during the summer.
However, the melon is more concentrated in natural sugars than the watermelon, and the latter is lighter and has a higher percentage of water inside.
Nevertheless, both fresh fruits can take place in our daily diet if we seek to make the most of seasonal and nutritious foods during the summer.
In DAP | The seasonal melon, a fresh and delicious summer fruit (and six recipes to get out of dessert)
In DAP | Why there are no longer watermelons with seeds in greengrocers (and we eat less and less melon)
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