Torpedo melon is a false berry belonging to the pumpkin family, with elongated fruits covered with a yellow crust 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 melon in Uzbekistan, has elongated yellow fruits. There is a white mesh on the rind of the berry. It feels rough to the touch. The pulp is white, juicy, and a ripe melon has a characteristic aroma.
This melon variety is heat-loving.At home, in Uzbekistan, berries weighing up to 15 kg are grown. In Russia, melon does not grow to such a size. The weight of fruits grown in the suburbs of Moscow rarely exceeds 5 kg.
The torpedo matures only towards the end of August. You should not buy fruits that appear on the market out of season: they may 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 calorie content is the maximum for these melons; they can be eaten by overweight people without harm to the body. Sweet pulp can replace high-calorie store-bought desserts.
Compound
The vitamins and microelements contained in the 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 melon especially beneficial for the human body.
Useful properties of Torpedoes
Melon Torpedo will benefit not only healthy people, but also those suffering from various diseases.
The fiber contained in the sweet berry helps cleanse the intestines of waste, toxins, and decay products. Enzymes stimulate metabolic processes and help normalize the functioning of the digestive organs.
Fruits saturate the body with vitamins and nutrients, prevent the occurrence of vitamin deficiency, anemia, and various diseases associated with a lack of microelements in the body.Ascorbic acid strengthens the immune system and helps to recover faster from various colds.
It is useful to eat melons after operations. The pulp stabilizes the nervous system, helps normalize blood counts, and helps a weakened body recover faster. It is also useful for bladder diseases, 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. Regular use will help prolong youth, improve the condition of the skin, nails and hair.
Application of melon
Nutritionists recommend eating melon as a separate dish. This will make it easier to digest. You should not combine this product with milk, as there may be negative consequences: diarrhea, digestive disorders. The breaks between meals and eating sweet fruits should be at least 2 hours.
The vitamins in melon make it a good snack option. It is better to arrange it in the first half of the day due to 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 useful for people suffering from cystitis. Together with urine, decay products, pathogenic bacteria, and microorganisms are removed from the damaged organ. The fruits are also used to treat urolithiasis: they promote the passage of small stones.
These large berries are used for constipation: they promote the passage of feces and improve intestinal motility. The fruits also help people with high cholesterol. Used to relieve symptoms in patients with gout.
Berries help with psycho-emotional disorders. Used for diseases of the cardiovascular system: arrhythmia, ischemia. Helps cure tuberculosis. Melon juice is used to get rid of parasites.
The seeds are also useful. Doctors advise men to eat them regularly to increase potency. The seeds help cure prostate diseases and help fight impotence. The extract from the seeds helps cure chronic cough and is used for the formation of kidney stones.
Weight loss
The diuretic effect allows you to get rid of edema and excess fluid in the body. Coarse fiber eliminates harmful cholesterol, toxins and waste, and helps speed up metabolism.
In European countries, weight loss programs using melon juice have gained popularity. The duration of such courses is 20 days. Drink 1 glass of juice in the morning before meals. You can add a small amount of your favorite berries to it.
The 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 during this period the body does not receive enough 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 a person losing weight should have a lot of white foods on their menu.
People trying to lose weight are advised to replace desserts with melon. The advantage of fruits is their low calorie content and a large amount of substances beneficial to the body.The berries do not contain harmful chemical additives, preservatives and dyes, often found in store-bought sweets.
Those who want to lose weight should not eat dried pulp. It is higher 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. The sweet pulp is also added to salads with white meat, herbs, cheese, and other fruits. Made from sweets melon juice wine.
Seeds are also used. Before use, rinse them, dry them and lightly fry them in a frying pan.
The peels are used to make tea. They are first thoroughly washed and dried.
If you are not overweight, it is also recommended to include dried melon in your diet. It can be added to baked goods, porridges, salads, or eaten as an independent dish.
Cosmetology
Melon-based cosmetics are made that have moisturizing, toning, and smoothing properties. Cosmetics made using sweet berries are suitable for caring for any skin type. The yellow peel applied to the face helps get rid of freckles and promotes the disappearance of age spots.
You can also make masks yourself. To create them, pulp, juice, and seeds are used.
To get rid of acne, take 2 tbsp. l. melon pulp puree, mix with 1 tsp. St. John's wort and 1 tsp. milk. Mix until smooth, apply to previously cleansed face and leave for 20 minutes. You can repeat it 2-3 times a week.
To whiten your facial skin, you will need a chamomile decoction. 2 tbsp. l.The raw materials are boiled for 15 minutes in a glass of boiling water, after which they are filtered and such an amount of melon puree is added to the resulting liquid to form a thin porridge. Apply the mask to the skin and leave for 15-20 minutes. This remedy will help eliminate inflammation, relieve irritation, speed up the healing of small cracks, and make the complexion more even.
Harm and contraindications
Eating melon is not recommended if you have allergies or individual intolerances. It will be harmful to the health of people with diabetes, peptic ulcers, and gastritis. Some experts prohibit eating sweet fruits if you have kidney or bladder stones.
If you have inflammatory diseases of the digestive system, be careful and introduce the product into your diet only with the permission of your doctor. Many doctors advise breastfeeding mothers to avoid melon, since the digestive system of infants is not yet developed enough to digest the substances contained in the fruit.
Excessive consumption of fruits will be harmful. It can cause digestive disorders, flatulence, and diarrhea.
Eating unripe fruits is dangerous. They contain carcinogens. In addition, such berries cause diarrhea.
Introduce this product into the diet of young children with caution. Remember that dosages for children differ from those for adults, so a negative reaction in a child is possible when consuming less of the sweet pulp.
How to choose a ripe melon?
Don't buy Torpedoes before mid-August. This variety is a late variety; in July and June the fruits are still unripe and are dangerous to eat.
Pay attention to the appearance of the melon. The color of the skin should be yellow with a white mesh.If there are black spots or cracks on the surface, refuse to purchase the fruit, as there is a high probability of infection with botulism. The tail should be dry but strong.
Ripeness can also be determined by smell. Ripe melon produces 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 or highways. These berries easily absorb toxins and car exhaust, which makes them harmful and hazardous to health.
