Cantaloupe Salsa

I love melons! For me, they are so refreshing. Here are some little known healthful benefits of cantaloupe. Of course, I wouldn't dare give you all of the wonderful health benefits without offering some great ways to use this delicious melon. Let's start with the benefits:

• Insomnia: A special compound in cantaloupe relieves the nerves and calm anxieties. A help for insomniacs.
• Menstruation problems: For women, eat this wonder fruit around the time of menstruation and it will help reduce heavy flow and clots.
• Pregnancy: The high content of folate (folic acid) prevents neural tube defects in infants.
• Quit Smoking: The natural nutrients and minerals found in this melon provides a synergistic combination that helps the body recover from nicotine withdrawal if you're trying to quit smoking. Smoking also quickly depletes the vitamin A in a smoker, but cantaloupe can help replace it with its beta-carotene.
• Stress: Cantaloupe might also be an ideal fruit to eat during those times when you are feeling anxious and stressed. Cantaloupe is rich in potassium which normalizes the heartbeat and promotes the supply of oxygen to the brain. As a result, you feel more relaxed and focused.
• Water retention: Especially in pregnant women, cantaloupe helps your body excrete excess sodium, thus reducing water retention.

Cantaloupe Salsa Recipe:
1/2 large ripe cantaloupe
3/4 cup finely diced red bell peper
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
3 tbsp. finely chopped scallions (both white and green parts)
Juice of lime
Pinch of salt and hot peper flakes
 
Remove seeds and rind from cantaloupe.  Chop cantaloupe into very small dice. Put in bowl.  Add diced red pepper, cilantro, scallions and lime juice.  Stir.  Add pinch of salt and pepper flakes. Chill. Serve with grilled chicken or fish. Makes 4 servings.

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