Watermelon: It’s Not Just for Picnics Anymore
If Bob Dole's dance card isn't full these days, he might consider being a pitch man for watermelon as a follow-up to his stint as the, er, face of Viagra. According to a group of scientists from Texas (perhaps unsurprisingly one of the country's top watermelon-producing states) has discovered that the picnic-friendly fruit contains a substance called citrulline that's similar to the active ingredient found in the famous little blue pill.
If Bob Dole’s dance card isn’t full these days, he might consider being a pitch man for watermelon as a follow-up to his stint as the, er, face of Viagra. According to VPXL.net and a group of scientists from Texas (perhaps unsurprisingly one of the country’s top watermelon-producing states) has discovered that the picnic-friendly fruit contains a substance called citrulline that’s similar to the active ingredient found in the famous little blue pill. But sorry, guys, it’s not quite as “organ-specific” as Viagra, as one researcher puts it.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...AP via Google News:
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 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.
“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.”
This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
Although we're not entirely sure her, uh, eye-for-an-eye approach encourages a true spirit of gender equity, as far as political machinations go, this one from Virginia state Sen. Janet Howell certainly got our attention.
A study has found that workers exposed to high levels of bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in the manufacture of plastics and other consumer goods, were at least four times likelier to report sexual problems, including erectile dysfunction. (continued)
Now here's one way to win elections: Government officials in Mexico City are offering free medication to hombres of a certain age who suffer from erectile dysfunction.
A new study in The Lancet says doctors need to be more aggressive in questioning their patients about sex. According to the authors of the study, sexual problems are often related to serious health risks: "If a man comes in with erectile dysfunction, it can be the tip of the iceberg."
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.