Man has known of the existence and uses of melons since the past 4000 years and today, a wide variety of melons are known to exist around the world. The melon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family with its characteristic fleshy fruits. Thought to be originally from the Middle Eastern region, the melon seeds were transported to the Americas by Columbus and the Spanish explorers. In India, these cooling and nutritious fruits are found in abundance during the summer time. **Being lower in calories and having high water content, the melon is a refreshing and healthy food.

The melon seed is, generally, a grayish white hard shell with a white inner kernel, which is soft and oval in shape. The seeds of the melon are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, fats and other nutrients. It lacks any distinct scent but has a nutty and sweet taste. The melon seeds are used in baking, dressing of bread cake, confectionery, supari, sweets, refreshing drinks and snack foods. They can also be directly consumed after roasting.

Plant Cultivation and Description
The tender annual melon plants flourish in sandy, well drained and rich soils. It requires moderate access to water and sunlight. The melon plant extends deep down into the earth to recover water from the soil. The plants are adequately spaced out in the fields and take a long time to reach maturity. Essentially classified as creepers, the fruits of the plant start to appear within four months of planting of the seeds. Measuring around 20 inches in diameter, the melon fruit is large in size and its seeds are edible. The fertile seeds need not be thrown away, rather it can be planted in the future. The colors of the fruits from the melon family vary from a creamy color to a greenish shade. Melons are grown around the world and, particularly, in India during the summers. This warm-season crop is highly popular in India and numerous varieties of melons are grown indigenously.

Specifications
Purity 99%
Color white, between white and yellow, red
Moisture Max 5.9 - 9%
Size 8mm - 12mm
Splits 3 - 5 %
Protein 37.4%
Oil content 50 - 51 %
Admixture 1%
Good for human use and free from any chemicals or insects

Uses
The seeds are used for preparing delicious sweets and snacks. They can be added to traditional halwas and fruit fudges for enhancing the flavors. The melon seeds can also be used as mouth fresheners when it is mixed with nuts and spices. A paste of melon seeds are added to spicy meat dishes to thicken its consistency. The hard flesh of the melon fruit is not wasted either and is used to season flour for making exotic breads. Melon seeds are laid out for drying, cleaned and these are then, processed and sold commercially. It is the white melon seeds which are used in Indian cooking and not the water melon seeds. White melon seeds are fried and then used in making various types of cakes. These are used to make anthelminthics which is an effective and chemical side-effects free herbal medicine. Another innovative usage for melon seeds is in cereals and fruit puddings. The seeds are sold in the shell or peeled for later usage.

Cumin an import ingredient in chilies, curries, and ethnic dishes from around the world, is also highly valued as a medicinal herb. For thousands of years, herbal practitioners have used cumin, both as whole dried seeds and in its powdered form, to treat a wide variety of ailments.

Building healthy blood Cumin is exceptionally rich in iron, making it a great natural supplement for blood health and an antidote for anemia. Increased iron makes the blood richer in hemoglobin, the substance that transports oxygen to all the cells of the body.
Strengthening the immune system-Because of its powerful antioxidant properties, cumin strengthens the bodys natural immunities.
Prenatal health Cumin supports healthy prenatal development in pregnant women. It is also believed to make childbirth easier, and improves the milk supply of nursing mothers. Because it is so rich in iron, cumin is also a healthy herb for women of all ages during their menstrual cycle.
Insomnia Cumin seeds are a highly effective treatment for insomnia. In traditional medicine, cumin seeds combined with a ripe banana are taken at bedtime to induce peaceful sleep.
Memory loss Cumin improves memory and overall mental function, and can speed recovery from amnesia.
Digestive function Cumin seeds improves digestion and relieves many common digestive ailments, including flatulence (gas), bloating, diarrhea, nausea and indigestion. Cumin is believed to aid digestion by stimulating the production of pancreatic enzymes.

Fenugreek (also known as Greek hay an fenugreek), is an herb that is commonly found growing in the Mediterranean region of the world. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice, it is also used to treat a variety of health problems in Egypt. Greece, Italy, and South Asia.
Fenugreek seeds have been found to contain protein, vitamin c, niacin, potassium, and diosgenin (which is a compound that has properties similar to estrogen). Other active constituents in fenugreek are alkaloids, lysine and L- tryptophan, a as well as steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin, and neotigogenin.

BENEFITS OF FENUGREEK:-
Due to its estrogen-like properties, fenugreek has been found to help increases libido and lessen the effect of hot flashes and mood fluctuation that are common symptoms of menopause and PMS. In India and china it has also been used to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion, maintain a healthy metabolism, increase libido and male potency, cure skin problems (wounds, rashes and boils) treat sore throat , and cure acid reflux. Fenugreek also has a long history of use for the treatment fo reproductive disorders, to include labor, to treat hormonal disorder, to help with breast enlargement, and to reduce menstrual pain. Recent studies have shown that fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and may be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes. Fenugreek is also being studied for its cardiovascular benefits.

Uses of fenugreek
Home remedy for balancing cholesterol
Studies have found people who took 2 ounces (56g) of fenugreek seed each day had significantly (around 14 percent) lower cholesterol levels after 24 weeks, and had lowered their risk of heart attack by more than 25 percent. Therefore, a recommended remedy for lowering cholesterol is to take 2 ounces of fenugreek seeds throughout the day. The seeds can be sprinkled onto prepared food, or they can be consumed with water if they are in capsule form.

Treating diabetes and lowering blood sugar levels
Studies have shown that participants with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower blood sugar levels after eating fenugreek there fore a recommended home remedy for treating type 2 diabetes is to consume 500mg of fenugreek twice daily.

Herbal cure for skin inflammation
Research has shown that fenugreek is an effective topical treatment for skin problems such as abscesses, boils burns, eczema, and gout. Therefore, simple skin inflammation remedy is the following:
Take a spoonful of fenugreek and grind it into a powder.
Mix the ground fenugreek with warm water.
Take a simple piece of clean cloth and soak it into the mixture.
Apply the soaked cloth directly onto the affected skin as a poultice.

Natural cure for heartburn and acid reflux
Fenugreek seeds contain a lot of mucilage, which helps sooth gastrointestinal inflammation by coating the lining of the stomach and intestine. Therefore, for an effective remedy against heartburn or acid reflux, simply sprinkle 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds onto your food. Another option is to take one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and swallow them with water of juice before any meal.

Home remedy for fever
The fenugreek herb has been known to help reduce fever when taken with lemon and honey, since it nourishes the body during an illness. Therefore, to treat a fever, simply consume one to two teaspoons of fenugreeks seeds three times a day along with an herbal tea (such as green tea) with a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice. Some health food stores also sell herbal fenugreek teas, which can be used instead of the green tea.

Breast Enlargement
Fenugreek is often used in many teas and other products that help balance womens hormones and/or enlarge the breasts. There fore, a simple home remedy for breast diet. A common suggestion is to consume up to 3g of fenugreek per day.

Remedy to Ease Child Birth Pregnant Woman
Fenugreek stimulates uterine contractions an can be helpful to induce childbirth. However, pregnant women should only use fenugreek for inducing labor after consulting with their doctor.

Remedy to aid milk production in lactating women
Fenugreek has been known to increase milk production in lactating women. Research has even shown that milk production can increase by over 500 percent with in 24 to 72 hours after consuming fenugreek. Although it is not known why this happens, researchers speculate that the oil contained in fenugreek seeds plays a role. There fore a recommended remedy to increase milk flow is to consume one capsule of fenugreek seed (at least 500mg) three times a day.

What are the side effects of fenugreek?
While fenugreek is generally considered to be safe when used moderately, there have been reports of a few minor side effects. Nausea is one common side effect, while other people have reported gastrointestinal discomfort (diarrhea and/or gas). Also. When using fenugreek topically on the skin, it is important to watch out for skin irritations and rashes.
Fenugreek use during pregnancy is not recommended, since it has the potential to induce labor. If you are pregnant and wish to take it, you should do so only after consultation with your doctor.
If you are currently taking any oral medications, you should always use fenugreek at least 2 hours before or after these drugs. This is important since fenugreek fiber has the potential to interfere with the absorption of oral medications due to its mucilaginous fiber (which gives it a moist and sticky texture).

Botanically speaking, a sunflower seed is an achene. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel.

For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed into sunflower oil. These seeds are considered the seed of choice for bird feeders.

If the husks are striped, the seeds are called striped sunflower seeds or "stripers." Due to their lower oil content, the crops are called non-oilseed sunflower crops. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.

There is a sunflower seed that is whitish, which has no current commercial use. Most commonly, sunflower seeds are black with white stripes or plain black.