A recent research by Texas A&M research firm points out that watermelons have libido-enhancing effects on humans,
A recent research by Texas A&M research firm points out that watermelons have libido-enhancing effects on humans, and act like a natural dose of Viagra. Here's the Fox News story on it.
I peered a bit more and found that the active ingredient Texas food experts found in the watermelon is called citrulline, and it's a part of the rind of the watermelon.
Scientists are now looking to find a way to extract the ingredient and turn it into a "natural viagra" type supplement.
Citrulline has been sold for a few years to athletes as a performance enhancing supplement, aimed at reducing muscle fatigue. There has been no insight on its effect on libido, until now.
“The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body,” says Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, who headed the research.
When a person eats a watermelon and citrulline is consumed, it is immediatly converted by body enzymes into arginine: a type of amino acid that increases the circulation and helps maintain our immune system.
Arginine apparently also helps build up nitric oxide, a blood vessel relaxer, which is the same effect Viagra has.
Here's a link to the official Texas A&M Press Release.
