Are cantaloupe seeds safe to eat? (+5 health benefits)

In this article, we will answer the question “Are cantaloupe seeds safe to eat?” and discuss what is the composition of cantaloupe seeds, the benefits and risks of eating cantaloupe seeds, and how to include cantaloupe seeds in your diet.

Are cantaloupe seeds safe to eat?

Yes, cantaloupe seeds are safe to eat. You can consume them raw or roasted and as a food ingredient in the form of a powder. The seeds are considered by-products from the production of cantaloupe products and consumption of the fruit.

However, they contain phytochemicals that may promote health, such as phenolic acids, flavonols and tannins, which are antioxidants (1). The seeds contain also a high amount of fibre and proteins (2).

What is the composition of cantaloupe seeds? 

The composition of 100 g of dried and powdered cantaloupe seeds or fresh cantaloupe seeds* is given in the table below (2, 3):

Nutrient amount unit
water 8 g
proteins 20.8 g
lipids 24.6 g
carbohydrates 11 g
fibres 33.1 g
vitamin C* 21.5 mg
carotenoids* 30.5 mg
vitamin E* 8.1 mg

Cantaloupe seeds are a source of potassium, calcium and magnesium (1). 

What are the benefits of eating cantaloupe seeds?

The benefits of eating cantaloupe seeds are many health benefits that have been reported to the phytochemicals and nutrients in the composition of the cantaloupe seeds, including (1, 2, 3, 5):

  • Cantaloupe seeds contain many phytochemicals that act as antioxidants, such as flavonols, phenolic acids and tannins. The act neutralising the effect of oxidative compounds, thus preventing cell damage caused by reactive oxygen species in the body.
  • This antioxidant activity reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. 
  • Cantaloupe seeds also have antimicrobial activities and help inhibit the growth of some pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella and Escherichia coli, as reported in a study.
  • Cantaloupe seeds are rich in carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E. These three compounds are important antioxidants that act to reduce the risks of infections and diseases.
  • Cantaloupe seeds contain a high amount of fibre, which fits the dietary recommendation for diabetics and obese individuals (4).
  • Due to the high amount of proteins, cantaloupe seeds can be used to produce plant-based milk substitutes (4).

What are the risks of eating cantaloupe seeds?

The risk of eating cantaloupe seeds is the possible presence of fungal toxins in the seeds. According to studies, a high concentration of aflatoxin, a metabolite toxin of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, was detected in samples of commercial cantaloupe seeds (5).

Aflatoxins and other toxins are produced by the fungal action especially when food products are not properly stored and exposed to high temperature and high moisture conditions (5).

The ingestion of fungal toxins can cause liver damage, cancer and many other negative effects on health, due to the mutagenic and toxic effects of these compounds. 

How can you include cantaloupe seeds in your diet?

To include cantaloupe seeds in your diet, you can dry the seeds by two different methods: air-drying for 3 days and conventional oven-drying for 3 hours at 60 °C (2, 4). Following, use a mixer to make a powder with the dried cantaloupe seeds.

The powdered dried cantaloupe seeds can be added to soups and smoothies to improve their texture, added to fruits and salads, or as an ingredient in cakes and breads (4).

It is also possible to produce cantaloupe seed milk, by crushing 50 g of dried seeds with a food blender without the addition of water. Following, 100 mL of tap water is added to the dried crushed seeds and a second blending occurs.

Then an additional volume of 50 mL of tap water is given to the blend and a third extraction occurs. The blend is then sieved in a fine sieve and the liquid is collected. To the residue, 50 mL of tap water is added and a new blending occurs.

This new blend is also sieved and the liquid obtained is added to the first extraction. The liquid can be added with sugar and consumed as a milk substitute (4).

Other FAQs about Cantaloupe that you may be interested in.

Can rats eat cantaloupe?

How to know if a cantaloupe is spoiled?

Will a cantaloupe ripen after you cut It?

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Are cantaloupe seeds safe to eat?” and discussed what is the composition of cantaloupe seeds, the benefits and risks of eating cantaloupe seeds, and how to include cantaloupe seeds in your diet.

 

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References

1.-

Vella FM, Cautela D, Laratta B. Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds in Cantaloupe Melon By-Products. Foods [Internet] 2019;8(6):196. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/foods8060196

2.-

Wahdan O, Bassuony N, El-Ghany A, El-Chaghaby G. Antioxidant activity, antibacterial screening, proximate composition and GC-mass spectrometry analysis of cantaloupe seeds. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Biotechnology. 2016 Dec 1;7(12):291-5.

3.-

Fundo JF, Miller FA, Garcia E, Santos JR, Silva CL, Brandão TR. Physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in juice, pulp, peel and seeds of Cantaloupe melon. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization. 2018 Mar;12:292-300.

4.-

Zungur Bastıoğlu A, Tomruk D, Koç M, Ertekin FK. Spray dried melon seed milk powder: physical, rheological and sensory properties. Journal of food science and technology. 2016 May;53:2396-404.

5.-

Razis AFA, Shehzad MM, Usman S, Ali NB, Iqbal SZ, Naheed N, et al. Seasonal Variation in Aflatoxin Levels in Edible Seeds, Estimation of Its Dietary Intake and Vitamin E Levels in Southern Areas of Punjab, Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [Internet] 2020;17(23):8964. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238964