7 surprising health benefits of melons

Melons are one of nature's super fruits. With tons of health benefits, it's time to introduce melons to your daily diet.

Melons are super tasty, packed with nutrients and can provide amazing health benefits. Here are 7 you may not have been aware of.

1. Vitamin C

• This vitamin is essential when it comes to helping your body grow and maintain tissues in a healthy way by boosting wound healing, and cartilage, bones and teeth repair. If you're not receiving the recommended daily dose of 90 mg of Vitamin C per day, it may be time to pick up a melon or two from the grocery store. Cantaloupe provides the highest amount of Vitamin C at 65 mg per one-cup serving, while one-cup servings of casaba melon (37 mg) and honeydew melon (30 mg) aren't too far behind.

2. Vitamin A

• Melons are also chockfull of one of life's other super important vitamins, Vitamin A. This one lends its powers to a variety of body parts and processes, such as strengthening your teeth, skin, bones and mucous membranes, boosting your immune system and helping you see better by promoting retinal health. Grab a one-cup serving of cantaloupe for more than a quarter of the Vitamin A you need in a day.

3. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory support

• No doubt you've heard that antioxidants are good for you, but melons are pretty close to the top of the list when it comes to helping out. Cantaloupes are high in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. There's also a correlation between cantaloupe-eaters and low levels of C-reactive protein, the marker that's used to measure inflammation levels in the body. Try to eat one- to one-and-a-half cups of cantaloupe or other melons per day.

4. Potassium

• When it comes to a healthy heart, potassium is one of the best minerals you can consume so aim for about 4,700 mg of potassium a day. Cantaloupe and honeydew melons are your best bets at 473 mg and 403 mg per one-cup serving, respectively. Eating these can help lower your blood pressure and reduce the impact that high-sodium foods have on your heart.

5. Lower cancer risk

• Cantaloupe once again plays a starring role, with this beta-carotene-containing melon possibly playing a protective role against prostate and colon cancers.

6. Staying hydrated

• During hot days or when you've been working out, it's important to stay hydrated so your body can operate at optimal efficiency. Drinking water is always a good start, but noshing on melons is an easy and tasty way to ensure you take care of both your water and electrolyte needs at the same time.

7. Asthma

• There are many ways to help ward off asthma naturally, and eating cantaloupe (along with pumpkins, carrots, leafy greens and citrus and tropical fruits) can be one way to reduce your risk of getting asthma. The beta-carotene and Vitamin C found in cantaloupe are nutrients that tend to be in higher numbers in people with lower risk of getting asthma.

Eating melons is a super healthy, tasty and easy way of boosting your overall health. There are so many ways melons can help, so add them to your grocery list the next time you go shopping.