Description of the torpedo melon variety, the benefits and harm to humans, how to choose a ripe one
Melon Torpedo is a false berry belonging to the pumpkin family with elongated fruits covered with a yellow rind with a white mesh. This annual melon crop was developed in Uzbekistan and spread throughout Europe in the 17th century.
Description of the variety
Melon of the Torpedo variety, called Mirzachul in Uzbekistan, has elongated yellow fruits. A white mesh is observed on the berry rind. It is rough to the touch. The pulp is white, juicy; ripe melon has a characteristic aroma.
This melon variety is thermophilic. At home, in Uzbekistan, berries weighing up to 15 kg are grown. In Russia, the melon does not grow to this size. The weight of fruits grown in the suburbs of Moscow rarely exceeds 5 kg.
The torpedo ripens only by the end of August. You should not buy fruits that appear on the market out of season: they can be unripe or grown with the use of a large number of various chemical additives that are harmful to humans. This variety tolerates transportation well.
Nutritional value and calorie content
The calorie content of the product is 36 kcal per 100 g of pulp, fats account for only 0.2 g, proteins - 0.6, carbohydrates - 7.5. The indicated caloric content is the maximum for these melons, they can be eaten by overweight people without harm to the body. Sweet pulp can be substituted for high-calorie store desserts.
Composition
Vitamins and microelements contained in fruits are beneficial for humans. Torpedoes are rich in vitamins A, C, PP, group B. They contain fluorine, iron, manganese, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, iodine, zinc, copper. The composition includes a large amount of fiber, coarse plant fibers, which makes the melon especially useful for the human body.
Useful properties of the Torpedo
Melon Torpedo will benefit not only healthy people, but also those suffering from various diseases.
The fiber contained in the sweet berry helps to cleanse the intestines of toxins, toxins, and decay products. Enzymes stimulate metabolic processes, help normalize the functioning of the digestive system.
Fruits saturate the body with vitamins and nutrients, prevent the occurrence of vitamin deficiency, anemia, and various diseases associated with a lack of trace elements in the body. Ascorbic acid strengthens the immune system, helps to heal faster from various colds.
It is useful to eat melons after surgery. The pulp stabilizes the nervous system, helps to normalize blood counts, and helps the weakened body recover faster.It is also useful for diseases of the bladder, since it contains a large amount of water and has a diuretic effect.
The fruits contain substances that help get rid of depression. Melon improves mood and performance.
The berry is useful for women. Its regular use will help prolong youth, improve the condition of the skin, nails and hair.
Melon application
Nutritionists recommend eating melon as a separate dish. This will make it easier to digest. You should not combine this product with milk, since negative consequences are possible: diarrhea, indigestion. The breaks between meals and the use of sweet fruits should be at least 2 hours.
The vitamins in the melon make this product a good snack option. It is better to arrange it in the morning because of the large amount of sugars in the pulp.
Treatment
In folk medicine, sweet fruits are used to treat various diseases.
The diuretic effect of the berry makes it beneficial for cystitis sufferers. Together with urine, decay products, pathogenic bacteria, microorganisms are removed from the damaged organ. The fruits are also used for the treatment of urolithiasis: they contribute to the discharge of small stones.
These large berries are used for constipation: they promote the release of feces, improve intestinal peristalsis. Fruits also help people with high cholesterol. Used to relieve symptoms in people with gout.
Berries help with psychoemotional disorders. Used for diseases of the cardiovascular system: arrhythmias, ischemia. Helps to cure tuberculosis. Melon juice is used to get rid of parasites.
Seeds are also useful. Doctors advise men to eat them regularly to increase potency. Seeds help to cure prostate diseases, help fight impotence. The seed extract helps to heal chronic cough, is used for the formation of stones in the kidneys.
Weight loss
The diuretic effect allows you to get rid of edema, excess fluid in the body. Coarse fiber eliminates harmful cholesterol, toxins and toxins, helps to speed up metabolism.
In European countries, weight loss programs using melon juice have become popular. The duration of such courses is 20 days. Juice is consumed in 1 glass in the morning before meals. You can add a small amount of your favorite berries to it.
Sweet pulp is also used for fasting days. They can be arranged no more than once a week.
Mono-diets are used. Doctors do not recommend such methods of losing weight, since the body during this period does not receive a sufficient amount of proteins, fats and other substances necessary for normal functioning. In addition, the diuretic effect can negatively affect health. Safer dietary options are also used, based on the fact that there should be a lot of white foods in the diet of a losing weight.
People seeking to lose weight are advised to replace desserts with melons. The advantage of fruits is in their low calorie content, in a large number of substances useful for the body. The berries do not contain harmful chemical additives, preservatives and dyes often found in store sweets.
Those wishing to lose weight should not eat dried pulp. It is more high in calories and contains fewer nutrients.
Cooking
In cooking, the pulp is used to make cakes, smoothies, shakes, cocktails, ice cream, and various sweets. They prepare melon marmalade, jelly, make preserves and jams. Sweet pulp is also added to salads with white meat, herbs, cheese, and other fruits. Wine is made from sweet melon juice.
Seeds are also used.Rinse, dry and lightly fry in a skillet before use.
The crusts are used to make tea. They are thoroughly washed and dried beforehand.
In the absence of excess weight, it is also recommended to include dried melon in the diet. It can be added to baked goods, cereals, salads, and eaten as an independent dish.
Cosmetology
On the basis of melon, cosmetics are made with moisturizing, toning, smoothing properties. Cosmetics made with sweet berries are suitable for all skin types. A yellow peel applied to the face helps to get rid of freckles and helps to fade age spots.
You can also make masks with your own hands. To create them, pulp, juice, seeds are used.
To get rid of acne, take 2 tbsp. l. melon pulp puree, stir with 1 tsp. St. John's wort and 1 tsp. milk. Stir until smooth, apply to previously cleansed face and leave for 20 minutes. You can repeat it 2-3 times a week.
To whiten your face, you need a chamomile decoction. 2 tbsp. l. raw materials are boiled for 15 minutes in a glass of boiling water, after which they filter and add such an amount of melon puree to the resulting liquid to make a thin porridge. Apply the mask to the skin and leave for 15-20 minutes. Such a remedy will help eliminate inflammation, relieve irritation, accelerate the healing of small cracks, and make the complexion more even.
Harm and contraindications
Melon consumption is not recommended in case of allergies, individual intolerance. It will be harmful to the health of people with diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis. Some experts prohibit the use of sweet fruits for kidney stones and bladder stones.
In case of inflammatory diseases of the digestive system, be careful, introduce the product into the diet only with the permission of the attending physician. Many doctors advise to give up melon and breastfeeding mothers, since the digestive system of babies is not yet developed enough to digest the substances contained in the fruit.
Excessive consumption of fruits will harm. It can cause indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea.
Eating unripe fruit is dangerous. They contain carcinogens. In addition, these berries cause diarrhea.
Introduce the product with caution in the diet of young children. Remember that children's dosages are different from adults, so a negative reaction in a child is possible with a smaller amount of sweet pulp.
How to choose a ripe melon?
Don't buy Torpedoes earlier than mid-August. This variety belongs to late, in July and June the fruits are still unripe, it is dangerous to eat them.
Pay attention to the appearance of the melon. The color of the skin should be yellow with a white mesh. If black spots, cracks are observed on the surface, refuse to buy the fruit, since there is a high probability of contracting botulism. The ponytail should be dry but firm.
Ripeness can also be determined by smell. Ripe melon emits a recognizable characteristic aroma.
Tap the fruit. The sound should be dull.
The average weight of fruits grown in Russia is about 4-5 kg. Torpedoes brought from warm countries are heavier.
Do not buy melons near roads, highways. These berries easily absorb toxins, car exhaust, which makes them harmful and hazardous to health.
For the third year now I have been planting the Torpedo melon variety, and I get it up to 8 kg, although it used to only hold up to 5 kg, no more. To accelerate growth and development, I use BioGrowand the results are always encouraging.