Health.com--A cool, juicy watermelon is a refreshing fruit for many. However, watermelons may have the same effect as Viagra, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Watermelons have an ingredient called citrulline that could trigger the production of a compound that relaxes the body’s blood vessels, which is also what happens when a man takes Viagra.
Scientists in Texas say that citrulline reacts with the body’s enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is then changed to arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and circulatory systems.
"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."
However, some researchers say that anyone taking Viagra shouldn’t expect the same results from watermelon.
About 60 percent of citrulline is found in the watermelon rind, rather than in the flesh. Scientists may be able to find ways to boost the concentrations in the flesh.
Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Oklahoma says that this research is valid, but has its stipulations. “One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level.”
This would normally not be an issue, but watermelon is a diuretic and can often make you run to the bathroom more often. She also said that the amount of sugar in watermelon could cause cramping, so there are now more studies being done on how to reduce the amount of sugar in watermelon.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Tuesday, October 19th 2010 at 9:36AM
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