CANTALOUPE, Melons, raw
Scientific Name:     Cucumis melo
NDB No:     09181

CANTALOUPE (although you might not notice the resemblance) are related to squashes, and rank somewhere between summer and winter squashes in terms of nutritiousness. They resemble summer squashes in their high water content and low calorie count. But like pumpkin or butternut squash, its orange-fleshed cousins, cantaloupe is a good source of beta-carotene, and also a good source of potassium and vitamin C.

The cantaloupe derives its name from the ltalian papal village of Cantalup, where it was first cultivated around 1700 A.D. It belongs to the same family as the cucumber, squash, pumpkin and gourd, and like many of its relatives, grows on the ground on a trailing vine. Cantaloupe are also referred to as a netted melon because it has a ribless rind with a distinctive netted skin. Inside of the melon there is a hollow cavity that contains seeds encased in a web of netting.

It is no wonder that the cantaloupe with its refreshingly rich flavor and aroma and minimal number of calories is the most popular variety of melon in the United States. Although they have become increasingly available throughout the year, their season runs from June through August when they are at their best.

Nutrient Units 1.00 X 1 cup, cubes
-------
160g
Proximates
Water
g
54
Energy
kj
226
Protein
g
1.34
Total lipid (fat)
g
0.30
Ash
g
1.04
Carbohydrate, by difference
g
13.06
Fiber, total dietary
g
1.4
Sugars, total
g
12.58
Sucrose
g
6.96
Glucose (dextrose)
g
2.46
Fructose
g
2.99
Lactose
g
0.00
Maltose
g
0.06
Galactose
g
0.10
Starch
g
0.05
Minerals
Calcium, Ca
mg
14
Iron, Fe
mg
0.34
Magnesium, Mg
mg
19
Phosphorus, P
mg
24
Potassium, K
mg
427
Sodium, Na
mg
26
Zinc, Zn
mg
0.29
Copper, Cu
mg
0.066
Manganese, Mn
mg
0.066
Selenium, Se
mcg
0.6
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid
mg
58.7
Thiamin
mg
0.066
Riboflavin
mg
0.030
Niacin
mg
1.174
Pantothenic acid
mg
0.168
Vitamin B-6
mg
0.115
Folate, total
mcg
34
Folic acid
mcg
0
Folate, food
mcg
34
Folate, DFE
mcg_DFE
34
Vitamin B-12
mcg
0.00
Vitamin A, IU
IU
5411
Vitamin A, RAE
mcg_RAE
270
Retinol
mcg
0
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
mg
0.08
Tocopherol, beta
mg
0.00
Tocopherol, gamma
mg
0.18
Tocopherol, delta
mg
0.00
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)
mcg
4.0
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated
g
0.082
4:0
g
0.000
6:0
g
0.000
8:0
g
0.000
10:0
g
0.000
12:0
g
0.002
14:0
g
0.002
16:0
g
0.069
18:0
g
0.008
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated
g
0.005
16:1 undifferentiated
g
0.000
18:1 undifferentiated
g
0.005
20:1
g
0.000
22:1 undifferentiated
g
0.000
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated
g
0.130
18:2 undifferentiated
g
0.056
18:3 undifferentiated
g
0.074
18:4
g
0.000
20:4 undifferentiated
g
0.000
20:5 n-3
g
0.000
22:5 n-3
g
0.000
22:6 n-3
g
0.000
Cholesterol
mg
0
Phytosterols
mg
16
Amino acids
Tryptophan
g
0.003
Threonine
g
0.027
Isoleucine
g
0.034
Leucine
g
0.046
Lysine
g
0.048
Methionine
g
0.019
Cystine
g
0.003
Phenylalanine
g
0.037
Tyrosine
g
0.022
Valine
g
0.053
Arginine
g
0.046
Histidine
g
0.024
Alanine
g
0.152
Aspartic acid
g
0.218
Glutamic acid
g
0.334
Glycine
g
0.042
Proline
g
0.030
Serine
g
0.067
Other
Alcohol, ethyl
g
0.0
Caffeine
mg
0
Theobromine
mg
0
Carotene, beta
mcg
3232
Carotene, alpha
mcg
26
Cryptoxanthin, beta
mcg
2
Lycopene
mcg
0
Lutein + zeaxanthin
mcg
42
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 17 (2004)