On July 3rd, scientist reported a new benefit provided by watermelon. A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra - but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.
Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.
Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.
You can read more about the Healthful Benefits of Watermelon in an article I wrote last summer. But perhaps, for now, you'd like to know more about how watermelon can assist with erectile dysfunction.
"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," said Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center. "Watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects." More citrulline - about 60 percent - is found in watermelon rind than in the flesh, Patil said, but that can vary. But scientists may be able to find ways to boost the concentrations in the flesh, he said. If you note in the article last summer, there is a recipe given for using the watermelon rind.
What kind of watermelon is filled with the highest levels of citrulline? Citrulline is found in all colors of watermelon and is highest in the yellow-fleshed types, said Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Lane, Oklahoma. She said Patil's research is valid, but with a caveat: One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level. "The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said. Watermelon is a diuretic and was a homeopathic treatment for kidney patients before dialysis became widespread.
Since Monday, I have enjoyed watermelon throughout the day, into the night. I can vouch for its diuretic capabilities. You won't get me to say anything related to these latest findings. But I will say, "I told you so!" Watermelon is a very delicious and nutrient-rich fruit. Now, there are additional benefits to help watermelon growers around the world!
AP Medical provided information for this article.
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