College Station, Texas
June 30, 2008
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." |
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