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One of the world's largest strawberries and its impact on health
Table of Contents
1. Insights into the species of sweet cucumber
Sweet cucumber (Citrullus lanatus) is a plant from the watermelon family that originated in southern Africa and can be found both wild and cultivated. The first mention of the cultivation of this plant dates back to around 1500 B.C., and the fruit appeared in our lands in the 14th century. Currently, the demand for sweet cucumber fruits is very high, and in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and China, large plantations have been established. Although the climate of our country is not conducive to the cultivation of sweet cucumbers, there are several companies in Poland that have built large greenhouses to produce sweet cucumbers. The plant has creeping stems that can reach a length of up to 6 meters and large leaves with tendrils. The flowers of the plant are similar to those of cucumbers and are yellow or light green in color. A mature plant produces up to 30 female flowers and up to 400 male flowers during the flowering period. Sweet cucumber fruits are massive berries with characteristic sweet, red flesh, although there are also varieties with orange, white, and yellow flesh.2. Watermelon – Nutritional Content
The English name for watermelon, watermelon, excellently describes its properties. This fruit consists of over 90% water. This feature makes watermelon not the best source of nutrients. However, it can be classified as a low-energy food. In 100 grams of watermelon, there are about 37 kcal (for comparison, pineapple has 54 kcal/100 g, apple has 47 kcal/100 g, and orange has 44 kcal/100 g). Here is a table showing the nutritional content of 100 g of watermelon. Based on: Kunachowicz H., Nadolna I., Iwanow K., Nutritional value of selected food products and typical dishes, Warsaw 2009.3. Health attributes of cucumber - pulp, seeds, and peel
The health properties of cucumber surpass their nutritional value significantly. The most active compound with such properties in cucumber is lutein. The mineral and antioxidant compounds are strong antioxidants. They have a cardioprotective effect. The carotenoids contained in cucumber, which correspond to the greenish color of the pulp, are very strong anti-oxidants. The scientifically proven effect of the substance with cucumber is cucurbitacin. However, it has been proven that the substance has a strong anticatabolic effect, which means that it protects muscle tissue from damage or breakdown. In addition, cucumber contains a large amount of water, which contributes to its diuretic and detoxifying effect. The consumption of cucumbers is recommended for people who want to regenerate their body after excessive alcohol consumption. Apart from the juice and the pulp, the seeds and the thick, fleshy peel of the cucumber are also attributed with healing properties. Cucumber seeds contain about 30% protein and 50% fat and have a higher concentration of medicinal substances than the pulp and the juice of the cucumber. Scientific studies have shown that cucumber seeds have an antibacterial and antifungal effect, help with infections and inflammations of the digestive tract and reduce the intensity of diarrhea. They have a soothing effect on colds and alleviate symptoms of skin diseases. The peel of the cucumber is an excellent source of dietary fiber.4. Watermelon - noteworthy facts
Presently, there are more than 1200 distinct varieties of watermelons across the globe, cultivated in over 100 countries. The principal global producers of this fruit are China, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, and Egypt. During the communist era in Poland, importing foreign products was not allowed. However, watermelons were so popular that their import was not prohibited. Authorities tried to change its name to something less exotic, but this attempt was unsuccessful. In 1990, American farmer Bill Carson set a Guinness record in the category of the 'World's Largest Watermelon'. His colossal fruit weighed 118 kg.5. Watermelon - recipes for extraordinary dishes and sweets
Although watermelon is an exceptionally sweet fruit, it can be utilized in numerous extraordinary preparations, not only as an ingredient in sweet treats. We've proposed several highly delectable recipes for healthy dishes, sweet snacks, and beverages featuring this fruit. Try preparing them in your kitchen. You'll discover that watermelon can be utilized in many ways, and in each version, it will taste differently. Always, however, impressively.6. A salad with watermelon, avocado, and grilled chicken meat
Required ingredients for one serving: – two handfuls of fresh spinach leaves, – a bunch of young arugula leaves, – half an avocado, – 100 grams of chicken meat, – 100 grams of watermelon flesh, – a spoonful of pine nuts, – juice of half a lemon, – a clove of garlic, – olive oil, – pepper, salt, sweet paprika and – thick balsamic vinegar.7. It's a procedure of preparation
We clean the rocket and spinach in ice-cold water, gently drying them. The avocado is carefully taken out of its skin, sliced into thin layers, and carefully sprinkled with lemon juice to preserve its beautiful green hue. The chicken breast is washed and cut into thin layers. It is marinated for about 20 minutes in a marinade consisting of a few drops of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, crushed garlic, sweet pepper, pepper, and salt. At the same time, the watermelon is cut into small cubes and the pine nuts are roasted in the pan. The chicken breast is grilled on the grill. When it's ready, we combine all the ingredients, lightly sprinkling with olive oil and pouring thick balsamic vinegar over it. The salad is ready to eat!8. Revitalizing watermelon and mint beverage
Ingredients for 2 servings: 500 g of watermelon, 100 g of raspberries, 100 ml of carbonated water, 10 mint leaves, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tablespoon of xylitol (optional), a few ice cubes.9. Preparation process
All the fruits are subjected to the washing process, we divide the peaches into pieces, remove the seeds. We place the fruits in a high container, pour water, squeeze juice from a half of lemon. We add several pieces of ice and mint leaves. We mix everything until we obtain a uniform consistency. In the event that our mixture appears too acidic, we add a spoonful of xylitol, and we mix exactly.10. Straightforward quark cheese and watermelon dessert
Components required for 6 servings: 500 g of low-fat quark cheese, 200 g of natural yogurt, ?? 500 g of fresh watermelon, ‡ 10 teaspoons of xylitol/honey, one teaspoon of vanilla sugar, ‒ 4 teaspoons of edible gelatin/agar.11. A method of preparation
We combine cottage cheese with natural yogurt, xylitol, vanilla sugar, and cubed watermelon. Gelatin is poured over with several tablespoons of cold water, left to swell for a few minutes, and then combined with the watermelon mixture. It is placed in a cool place for a few hours and left to set, served with fresh raspberries, raspberry leaves, or vanilla ice cream.
