What does cantaloupe juice help with?

Cantaloupe juice is a nutrient-rich drink made from the fruit of the cantaloupe melon. It has a sweet, mellow flavor and contains a variety of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds that may offer health benefits. This article examines what cantaloupe juice helps with and its potential effects on health.

Nutrient Profile of Cantaloupe Juice

Cantaloupe is a great source of nutrients, many of which are retained in its juice. An 8-ounce (240-ml) serving of cantaloupe juice provides the following nutrients:

• Calories: 112
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 27 grams
• Sugar: 25 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Vitamin A: 120% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
• Vitamin C: 98% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 5% of the RDI
• Vitamin K: 6% of the RDI
• Potassium: 14% of the RDI
• Copper: 6% of the RDI
• Folate: 7% of the RDI

Cantaloupe juice is low in fat and calories but packed with vitamin A, an important nutrient for eye and immune health. It also provides nearly all of the vitamin C you need in a day.

Supports Immune Function

The vitamin C in cantaloupe juice supports immune health in several ways.

It acts as an antioxidant, protecting your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. This may help keep your immune system strong (1).

Test-tube studies have also found that vitamin C increases the production and function of white blood cells — your body’s main line of defense against infections (2).

What’s more, vitamin C is needed to make collagen, the most abundant protein in your body. Collagen gives structure to your skin, bones and connective tissues. A lack of it can lead to health issues, including impaired wound healing.

Getting enough vitamin C from foods like cantaloupe juice helps ensure collagen production remains optimal, keeping your immune system and other bodily processes functioning properly (3).

Supports Eye Health

Cantaloupe juice is one of the best dietary sources of provitamin A carotenoids like beta carotene and alpha carotene. Your body converts these antioxidants into vitamin A as needed.

Vitamin A supports many aspects of eye health. In particular, it’s essential for:

• Proper vision. It helps your eyes convert light into signals sent to your brain so you can see (4).
• Night vision. Vitamin A helps your eyes adapt in low-light environments (5).
• Eye development. It’s vital for proper eye growth and development in infants and children (6).
• The surface of your eyes. Vitamin A helps keep the conjunctiva moist. This is the thin, transparent layer covering the white part of your eyes.

Getting enough vitamin A is also important for reducing your risk of certain eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma and blindness (7, 8).

Just 1 cup (240 ml) of cantaloupe juice provides 120% of the RDI for vitamin A, making it simple to meet your daily needs.

May Promote Heart Health

Some research suggests that drinking cantaloupe juice may benefit heart health.

In one 12-week study, drinking 500 ml of carotenoid-rich vegetable juice daily, including juice made from cantaloupe, significantly reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in 45 people with high cholesterol (9).

In another study, people with metabolic syndrome experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure after drinking 500 ml of carotenoid-rich vegetable juice daily for 3 weeks (10).

Though these studies focused on mixed vegetable juices, the cantaloupe juice they contained likely contributed to many of the heart-protective effects.

The potassium in cantaloupe juice may also help reduce blood pressure levels. In fact, a low potassium intake is linked to increased risk of high blood pressure (11).

Overall, more research is needed on the specific effects of cantaloupe juice on heart health.

May Improve Hydration

Proper hydration is important for your health. Some evidence suggests that drinking moderate amounts of juice could help you stay hydrated.

In a 4-week study, 48 participants drank 24 ounces (710 ml) of juice daily along with their normal diet. Urine samples showed drinking juice improved hydration markers in both normal weight and overweight participants (12).

Another review reported that juice consumption increased hydration status compared with drinking plain water (13).

However, results remain mixed. Because cantaloupe juice is high in natural sugar and calories, drinking too much of it could potentially lead to weight gain or interrupt efforts to lose weight.

Moderate intake — such as 1 cup (240 ml) per day with meals — appears safe for most people. Nonetheless, downing several glasses of juice instead of eating whole fruits and vegetables is not recommended.

May Have Antioxidant Effects

Antioxidants help defend your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Over time, free radical damage may accelerate aging and raise your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer (14).

Cantaloupe juice is loaded with vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin A and other antioxidants, such as the compound glutathione (15).

In lab studies, these compounds fight damage by neutralizing free radicals. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods and beverages like cantaloupe juice may help increase your blood antioxidant levels (16).

In turn, this may decrease oxidative stress in your body — though more human research is needed.

Other Potential Benefits

Here are some other potential health benefits of drinking cantaloupe juice:

• Digestion. It provides fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements and prevents digestive issues like constipation (17).
• Blood clotting. The vitamin K in cantaloupe juice helps your blood clot properly to prevent excessive bleeding.
• Muscle cramps. The potassium in cantaloupe juice helps maintain fluid balance, which may help prevent painful muscle cramps after exercise.
• Inflammation. Antioxidants in cantaloupe juice may help reduce levels of inflammation linked to diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer (18).

That said, more human research on these specific benefits is needed.

Possible Downsides

While nutritious, drinking too much cantaloupe juice may cause some downsides, such as:

• Weight gain. Cantaloupe juice is high in natural sugar. Drinking too much could increase your calorie intake and lead to weight gain (19).
• Blood sugar spikes. Although cantaloupe has a medium glycemic index (GI) of 65, its sugar content may spike blood sugar levels in some people when consumed in excess (20).
• Medication interactions. High amounts provide very high doses of vitamin K, which can interact with blood thinners like warfarin (21).

To keep your sugar, calorie and vitamin K intake in moderation, limit your portion sizes — especially if you take certain medications.

How to Make Cantaloupe Juice

It’s easy to make fresh cantaloupe juice at home.

You can juice cantaloupe in a juicer or blender. If using a juicer, cut the melon into pieces and feed them through the juicer one at a time. Blend until smooth if using a blender.

Pour the juice through a strainer into a glass to remove any foam or pulp.

To add more flavor, try blending cantaloupe with these ingredients:

• Cucumber
• Orange
• Lemon or lime
• Ginger
• Fresh mint

You can also freeze cantaloupe juice in ice cube trays for an easy, refreshing treat on a hot day.

The Bottom Line

Cantaloupe juice is high in vitamins A and C, two nutrients vital for immune function, eye health and more. It may also promote heart health and hydration.

However, downing too much may lead to weight gain, blood sugar spikes and medication interactions due to its sugar and vitamin K contents.

Stick to a 1-cup (240-ml) serving or less per day and be mindful of your overall calorie and sugar intake to maximize its health benefits.

Nutrient	Amount Per 1 Cup (240 ml)
Calories	112
Carbs	27 grams
Sugar	25 grams
Fiber	1 gram
Vitamin A	120% of the RDI
Vitamin C	98% of the RDI
Vitamin B6	5% of the RDI
Vitamin K	6% of the RDI
Potassium	14% of the RDI
Copper	6% of the RDI
Folate	7% of the RDI

The table above shows the nutrient profile of 1 cup (240 ml) of cantaloupe juice, which provides 120% of the daily recommended intake for vitamin A and 98% for vitamin C.

Conclusion

Cantaloupe juice is a nutrient-rich beverage loaded with vitamins, minerals and plant compounds that provide a variety of potential health benefits. Drinking it in moderation may boost your immune system, promote eye health, support heart health and keep you hydrated.

However, excessive intake may cause side effects. Limit your portion to 1 cup (240 ml) or less per day and avoid replacing whole fruits and vegetables with juice for better health.