Men: Frequent sex could prevent what most men perceive as their worst nightmare.
"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, told AP reporter Betsy Blaney. "Watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects."
How much watermelon do you need to eat for such a benefit? Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Lane, Oklahoma, told AP that at least six cups of watermelon are needed to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level. Part of the reason for that is about 60 percent of watermelon's citrulline is found in the rind, which most people don't eat. However, Patil is optimistic that scientists can figure out a way to boost the concentration of citrulline in the flesh of the fruit. Citrulline is also found in cucumbers and cantaloupe at very low levels and the milk protein casein. The highest concentrations of citrulline are found in walnut seedlings, but they are bitter tasting enough to be deemed inedible.
But do beware! Eating watermelon--even a lot of it--won't have the same intensity of effect as Viagra. Todd Wehner, who studies watermelon breeding at North Carolina State University, cautions that it's not a substitute for medical treatment. Plus, there are two negative side effects that could occur if you were to eat six cups of watermelon in one sitting:
1. It would act as a diuretic, forcing you to make frequent trips to the restroom.
2. There is a lot of sugar in watermelon, and that can cause cramping.
Still, six cups is only 240 calories with no fat, and watermelon is also packed with lycopene, an antioxidant which may aid in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
