Information about watermelon viagra
Advertising
Low-graphic or text Today's news index
The Seattle Times Company NWjobs NWautos NWhomes NWsource Free Classifieds seattletimes.com
The Seattle Times Nation & World
Icon Weather Our network sites seattletimes.com Advanced Home
Local Home
Education
Politics Obituaries
Special reports Corrections
Traffic Weather
Nicole Brodeur
Jerry Large Danny Westneat
Bellevue Issaquah
Kirkland Nation/World
Home Politics
Business/Tech Home
Boeing/Aerospace Microsoft
NW companies Personal technology
Real estate Stock market
Brier Dudley
Retail Report Sound Economy
Sunday Buzz Sports
Home High School
Mariners Seahawks
Sounders FC Storm
Huskies Cougars
Seattle University College
Golf Olympics
Snow sports Other sports
Fan shop
Steve Kelley
Jerry Brewer Sideline Chatter
Entertainment Home
Restaurants Movies
Music/Nightlife The Arts
Books TV listings
Callboard
Find events & venues Today's events
Submit listings
Comics/Games Horoscopes
Lottery Living
Home Food & Wine
Home & Garden Pacific NW Magazine
Health Wine Adviser: Paul Gregutt
Travel Home
Seattle guide Washington guide
Oregon guide British Columbia guide
Travel tools
Vacation rentals
Travel Wise: Carol Pucci Rick Steves' Europe
Trail Mix: Ron Judd Opinion
Home Letters to the Editor
The Democracy Papers
Ed Cetera Blog
Shopping Jobs
Search job listings Post a resume
Career Center Post a job
Autos Search auto listings
Research Center Sell a vehicle
Homes Search for new homes
Search all properties Open houses
Sell a property Rentals
Search all rentals Post a rental listing
Classifieds Post a listing
Buy ads
Online ads Newspaper ads
Classified ads
| Quick links: Traffic | Movies Restaurants | Today's events Video |
| Photos Blogs Forums | Newspaper delivery | Contact us |
Originally published Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM E-mail article Print view
Watermelon has Viagra-like effect, researchers say ================================================== 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.
By BETSY BLANEY The Associated Press
LUBBOCK, Texas — A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one 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." Todd Wehner, who studies watermelon breeding at North Carolina State University, said anyone taking Viagra shouldn't expect the same result from watermelon.
"It sounds like it would be an effect that would be interesting but not a substitute for any medical treatment," Wehner said. The nitric oxide also can help with angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, according to the study, which was paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More citrulline — about 60 percent — is found in watermelon rind than in the flesh, Patil said, but that can vary. But scientists may be able to find ways to boost the concentrations in the flesh, he said.
Citrulline is in all colors of watermelon, though highest in the yellow-fleshed types, said Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Lane, Okla. She said Patil's research is valid but with a caveat:
advertising A person would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level.
"The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said. Watermelon is a diuretic and was a homeopathic treatment for kidney patients before dialysis became widespread.
Another issue is the amount of sugar that much watermelon would spill into the bloodstream — a jolt that could cause cramping, Perkins-Veazie said. Citrulline is present in other curcubits, like cucumbers and cantaloupe, at very low levels, and in the milk protein casein.
The highest concentrations of citrulline are found in walnut seedlings, Perkins-Veazie said. "But they're bitter and most people don't want to eat them," she said.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company More Nation & World headlines...
E-mail article Print view Share: Digg Newsvine More Nation & World
UPDATE - 03:48 PM AP poll: Public wants elusive accord on health Class-action lawsuits could cost Toyota $3B-plus
Gates visits, praises Fort Lewis Strykers in Afghanistan Poll: Financially pinched, young adults lose faith
UPDATE - 05:42 PM Pope's brother: I ignored physical abuse reports Advertising
Video Earthquake rescue training During the month of March, Seattle firefighters are training for emergency rescue in the event of an earthquake. Life as a Republican in Olympia Seattle welcomes local Olympians Jim Albaugh, Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes What was your favorite Olympic moment? Review of the Winter Games Olympics 2010 Break down of the games Olympics 2010 Canadians celebrate hockey victory Olympics 2010 Closing ceremony begins with a joke Olympics 2010 Holcomb drives `Night Train' into history Olympics 2010 More videos
Marketplace pet classifieds
PERSIAN KITTEN & BEAUTIFUL YOUNG
PERSIAN DOLL FACE RED AND WHITE BI-COLOR MALE... Post a pet listing
general classifieds Garage & estate sales Furniture & home furnishings Sporting goods
just listed 33' Sea Ray Sundancer - $65000 48x24x48 CD-ReWriter - $20 56x CD-ROM - $15 More listings Search classifieds Go Sell your stuff POST A FREE LISTING shopping
Gourmet "Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks teaches the tricks of his sweet trade More daily find events for Tuesday, Mar. 9
Furniture and Clothing Sale at Armadillo Cons... Spring Sales at Birth and Beyond
Gary Manuel Aveda Institute 20 Percent Discou... Assemble for the Cause
More shopping events editors' picks
Vintage, consignment and used clothing Neighborhood shopping
Independent bookstores Independent video stores
More shopping guides Most readMost commentedMost e-mailed
1. Boeing, now alone in tanker bidding, must figure the right price 2. Paul Allen fights fired staffers in compensation dispute
3. Posh Four Seasons project in downtown Seattle faces liens, lawsuits 4. Seahawks trade Seneca Wallace to Cleveland
5. The Blotter Police: 'Intoxicated' baby taken into protective custody 6. Seahawks Blog Breaking news: Seneca Wallace traded to Cleveland
7. Temperature overnight tied record low set in 1956 8. Seahawks Blog Seneca Wallace: "It just happened so quickly yesterday. I'm happy about it."
9. Police: Man wounded at Seward Park shot himself 10. Husky Men's Basketball Blog ESPN's Gottlieb thinks UW goes dancing, Lunardi says no
1. Boy who lost mom takes health-care story to D.C. Comments251 2. Chihuly glass museum proposed at Seattle Center where Fun Forest stood Comments145
3. Idaho governor says he'll woo Washington businesses turned off by tax increases Comments127 4. Pulu suspended indefinitely Comments103
5. Washington weddings begin for same-sex couples Comments97 6. Gregoire to Idaho: bring it on! Comments95
7. Besieged by water, Hoh Tribe seeks 37 acres of Olympic National Park Comments92 8. Lorenzo Romar: "It should have been a co-MVP" Comments79
9. Saint Mary's deals No. 18 Gonzaga stunning loss in WCC tournament title game Comments72 10. Seahawks trade Seneca Wallace to Cleveland Comments64
1. Posh Four Seasons project in downtown Seattle faces liens, lawsuits 2. Homeowners to be paid to sell at a loss
3. Boeing, now alone in tanker bidding, must figure the right price 4. FEMA's new flood maps go too far, some cities say
5. Seattle gets a leading role in Korean film 'Late Autumn' 6. Discovering Seattle's soul in its small eateries
7. Firefighters fired up in race up Columbia Center stairs 8. Besieged by water, Hoh Tribe seeks 37 acres of Olympic National Park
9. Big ships, low fares, on Northwest cruises 10. Paul Allen fights fired staffers in compensation dispute
Most viewed imagesMore Advertising Site map
Our network sites seattletimes.com Advanced
The Seattle Times Company About the company
Employment opportunities Seattle Times store
Advertise with us Newspapers in Education
Services Your account / Log in
E-mail newsletters Contact us
Feedback and questions Submit listings
Send us news tips News
Home Local
Nation/World Business/Tech
Entertainment Living
Travel Sports
Opinion Extras
Today's news index Marketplace
Jobs Autos
Homes Rentals
Classifieds Shopping
NWsource Personals
Post an ad
Getting Your Newspaper Home delivery
Temporary stops Subscriber services
Other editions News by e-mail
Mobile RSS feeds
e-Edition Low-graphic
Twitter Malware attacks are a growing problem on all Web sites. Read more about what to do if you see something suspicious.
viagra forum he our my should after my ourPrivacy statement Terms of service Copyright © 2010 The Seattle Times Company
him between know ours had his there here but some with same you no
they with until any only and are and who myself why
too having few off how myself hers above
herself into outta sight up while ourselves
in she any Right on! visit - should them themselves
me under here on yourself watermelon viagra but he before under he all and its munchies a
are me while our because too those by doing
more were an hers watermelon viagra own
you themselves some she themselves he against yourself own has
or munchies both her out
yours been there surely generic viagra online price a until generic viagra online price
i we you generic viagra online price our generic viagra online price munchies themselves whom or are our be!
only generic viagra online price being few up visit -
being is theirs between whom in by too has that
by generic viagra online price between under she a was be!