This information page includes a nutritional breakdown of the watermelon, tips on how to store the fruit, and sections describing the fruit's therapeutic properties, including its ability to improve male potency, prevent cardiovascular disease, and relieve muscle soreness.
Watermelons
Despite being mainly water and sugar
Watermelon's nutritional profile
Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center claim that watermelons are a "nutritional award winner".
Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, said:
"Watermelons are a great fruit to help you hydrate and cool down in the summer heat. Also, since it's mostly made up of water, pureed watermelon makes a refreshing drink."
Despite being mainly water and sugar, watermelons are actually a very good source of vitamin C, (which provides protection against immune system deficiencies) and vitamin A (which promotes good eyesight).
The red flesh of a watermelon is also a significant source of phytochemicals, in particular one known as lycopene. Lycopene, which is also found in tomatoes, is a nutrient with proven cancer-protection qualities.
Watermelons can help prevent cardiovascular disease
Researchers at Florida State University found that watermelon is effective at preventing prehypertension (which can lead to cardiovascular disease). The study included nine participants who all benefited from the amino acid L-citrulline/L-arginine from watermelon extract - their aortic blood pressure lowered.
The lead author of the study, Professor Arturo Figueroa, said: "Watermelon is the richest edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the amino acid required for the formation of nitric oxide essential to the regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pressure."
Watermelons may relieve muscle soreness
Eating watermelon could be an effective means of alleviating the pain associated with muscle soreness.
A study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, revealed that eating watermelon can help treat post-exercise muscle soreness because of its high levels of L-citrulline.
Watermelons may improve male erectile function
A study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M found that phytonutrients in watermelon can relax blood vessels in the same way Viagra does. "Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, having the same basic effect as Viagra, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," according to Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.
The authors of the study said: "We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study."
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