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Watermelon May Have Viagra-Effect
Texas A&M ^ | June 30, 2008 | Rod Santa Ana

Posted on 06/30/2008 2:54:17 PM PDT by decimon

COLLEGE STATION -- A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine’s Day.

That’s because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido.

“The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body,” said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.

“We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.”

Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive, or able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Patil said.

In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients – citrulline – whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.

Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.

“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes,” said Patil. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.”

While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

“Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra,” Patil said, “but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects.”

The benefits of watermelon don’t end there, he said. Arginine also helps the urea cycle by removing ammonia and other toxic compounds from our bodies.

Citrulline, the precursor to arginine, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh. As the rind is not commonly eaten, two of Patil’s fellow scientists, drs. Steve King and Hae Jeen Bang, are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.

In addition to the research by Texas A&M, watermelon’s phyto-nutrients are being studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Oklahoma.

As an added bonus, these studies have also shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king, Patil said. Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.

“Lycopene, which is also found in red grapefruit, was historically thought to exist only in tomatoes,” he said. “But now we know that it’s found in higher concentrations in red watermelon varieties.”

Lycopene, however, is fat-soluble, meaning that it needs certain fats in the blood for better absorption by the body, Patil said.

“Previous tests have shown that lycopene is much better absorbed from tomatoes when mixed in a salad with oily vegetables like avocado or spinach,” Patil said. “That would also apply to the lycopene from watermelon, but I realize mixing watermelon with spinach or avocadoes is a very hard sell.”

No studies have been conducted to determine the timing of the consumption of oily vegetables to improve lycopene absorption, he said.

“One final bit of advice for those Fourth of July watermelons you buy,” Patil said. “They store much better uncut if you leave them at room temperature. Lycopene levels can be maintained even as it sits on your kitchen floor. But once you cut it, refrigerate. And enjoy.”


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: aphrodisiac; health; watermelons
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To: El Gato

My wife will not have a problem with this.


41 posted on 06/30/2008 4:10:24 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Soldier soon to be training other Army Soldiers)
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To: potlatch

,

Yup!

“I wuz in the pool! I wuz in the pool!”

“Shrinkage!”

-

UPS just dropped off my toasted coconut mix - time to crank up the blender!


42 posted on 06/30/2008 4:12:27 PM PDT by devolve (- Danielle/Daniel Allen - brain-exempt androgynous Obama clone -)
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To: decimon

OK. I’m off to HEB ...


43 posted on 06/30/2008 4:37:13 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: Charles Henrickson
Watermelon Man is amused!

Or is that woman?

44 posted on 06/30/2008 5:06:10 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: potlatch

My pager never sounds. Never knew it actually did! I’ve been melon-balled!


45 posted on 06/30/2008 5:07:01 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: devolve

Lol, no comment there.

You need some rum and pineapple juice to go with that coconut mix. PINA COLODA TIME!!


46 posted on 06/30/2008 5:11:07 PM PDT by potlatch (MICHELLE OBAMA - The gift that just keeps on giving....!)
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To: martin_fierro
How does one get a yellow watermelon? And why?

I know how you get one with so few seeds! >>>


47 posted on 06/30/2008 5:12:30 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: Lady Jag; devolve

[My pager never sounds. Never knew it actually did! ]

Good grief!! It makes a ding dong sound, I am lost without it. I checked all my audio settings and went into my java without changing a thing and now it’s working again.

Check your java, and I don’t mean coffee, lol.


48 posted on 06/30/2008 5:13:53 PM PDT by potlatch (MICHELLE OBAMA - The gift that just keeps on giving....!)
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To: Biblebelter

$5 on sale at my Grocery store last week.


49 posted on 06/30/2008 5:14:43 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: lormand
For women, it's a "dibidet" (pronounced, de-bid-aeeeeeee').


50 posted on 06/30/2008 5:19:43 PM PDT by bannie
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To: bannie; lormand
That's french. Diuretic is English and the french for that is diurétique.

Diurnal is daily.

Many people diurnally down diuretics and can't dilly dally. Dig?

51 posted on 06/30/2008 5:31:33 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: Lady Jag

NOW I do!!!

I just got the word play...didn’t realize it was a real word!!!

I comes here t’ learn!


52 posted on 06/30/2008 5:34:12 PM PDT by bannie
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To: decimon; TommyDale

A little watermelon and some stubble will fix anyone right up!


53 posted on 06/30/2008 5:39:30 PM PDT by dforest (I had almost forgotten that McCain is the nominee. Too bad I was reminded.)
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To: Bender2; Lil'freeper

Bender... thought this might be of “use” to you.


54 posted on 06/30/2008 5:41:19 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words". ~ St. Francis of Assisi)
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To: indylindy
A little watermelon and some stubble will fix anyone right up!

Isn't stubble a diuretic? ;-)

55 posted on 06/30/2008 5:49:16 PM PDT by decimon
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To: bannie

I be learnin all ways AND diurnally!


56 posted on 06/30/2008 5:55:25 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: martin_fierro; decimon; Charles Henrickson
     
     
     

57 posted on 06/30/2008 6:12:26 PM PDT by mikrofon (I frankly have no idea)
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To: decimon; Diana in Wisconsin; gardengirl; girlangler; SunkenCiv; HungarianGypsy; Gabz; billhilly; ...

Here’s a good one for the Gardening List!!!!

I’ve got 8 more watermelon plants going in tomorrow!!!!


58 posted on 06/30/2008 6:58:35 PM PDT by Gabz (Don't tell my dad I'm a lobbyist, he thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse)
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To: mad puppy

LOL! Good one!!!!!!!!!


59 posted on 06/30/2008 7:04:53 PM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Obamamaniacs idiot's one and all !)
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To: Gabz
Darn...I'm just growing cantaloupe this year.....:(
60 posted on 06/30/2008 7:06:50 PM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Obamamaniacs idiot's one and all !)
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