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Cantaloupe and lemon zest recipe: for more youthful skin

by Dr Marc

With summertime just around the corner, here’s a favorite cantaloupe recipe of mine that’s easy-to-make, incredibly elegant and will help your skin look younger too. Cantaloupe is loaded with sun-protecting betacarotene, the bright-orange pigment found in cantaloupe that is a powerful antioxidant. Better known for its anticancer properties, betacarotene keeps your skin young and healthy by decreasing your skin’s sensitivity to sunburn. Other foods high in betacarotene include carrots, mango, squash, peaches and broccoli.

Another skin-healthy compound, found in this recipe, is limonene which gives citrus peels its bitter taste and has been linked with a reduction in skin cancer. Be sure to use the zest or citrus peels in your dishes as limonene is mainly found in the citrus peels and not in the juice.

While no substitute for sunscreen, it’s good to know that you can help keep your skin young by eating right. I have always been a big fan of getting your vitamins and nutrients from fruits and veggies, especially since the health claims of some vitamin supplements have been called into question.

Cantaloupe with Lemon Zest
I find that the simplest recipes most often taste the best. This elegant summertime favorite is deceptively delicious contrasting the sweetness of cantaloupe with the tang of lemon juice and zest.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves 6

INGREDIENTS
1 medium cantaloupe
Juice and zest of 3 lemons

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut cantaloupe in half and remove seeds. Cut each half into 6 slices. Using a paring knife cut away rind in one piece. Re-assemble each cantaloupe slice, putting flesh with rind, and carefully cut each slice into 1/2 inch segments leaving the rind intact.

2. Drizzle lemon juice over each prepared cantaloupe slice. Top with zest and serve. Enjoy

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