Watermelon 'boosts athletic performance and improves recovery'
Eating watermelon before exercise helps cut recovery time and boost performance, a study has found. The juice has long had a reputation amongst athletes, but now scientists have found evidence that it can relieve post-exercise muscle soreness.
One of the naturally occurring chemicals found in the fruit accelerates lactic acid removal, allowing better physical performance as the athlete can carry out more intense training and is able to recover faster after each workout, it is said.
The report, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, attributes watermelon's effects to the amino acid L-citrulline.
“Watermelon juice, naturally rich in l-citrulline, is an excellent option for athletes who want to improve their sports performance,” the authors say.
Their study confirms previous findings that the fruit can improve athletic ability.
The acid is an essential compound in nitric oxide, a gas that widens the blood vessels, and previous studies have also found that a daily dose of watermelon could lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of a stroke or a heart attack.
Researchers from the Technical University of Cartagena, in Spain, gave volunteers either natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched with the amino acid, or a placebo an hour before exercise.
They then tested recovery and found both types of the watermelon juice “helped to reduce the recovery heart rate and muscle soreness after 24 hours”, although the natural juice was more easily digested by the body.
“Other benefits associated with l-citrulline intake include improving athletic performance,” the authors wrote.
This is because it helps with nitric oxide synthesis and increases the glucose transport in skeletal muscle, they explained.
The findings may mean that natural ingredients could be used instead of drugs, they hope, suggesting future research should look at the levels of the amino acid required "for reduction of muscle fatigue and other health benefits in stress, athletic performance, and cardiovascular disease".
“Functional compound contents in fruits and vegetables play a key role in the design of new natural and functional products (beverages, juices, energy bars, etc.) by the food industry instead of synthetic compounds from pharmaceutical industry,” the authors concluded.
Watermelon 'has similar effects to Viagra'
Eating watermelon can boost a man's libido in a similar way to taking Viagra, researchers say.
The acid is an essential compound in nitric oxide, a gas that widens the blood vessels, and previous studies have also found that a daily dose of watermelon could lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of a stroke or a heart attack.
Researchers from the Technical University of Cartagena, in Spain, gave volunteers either natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched with the amino acid, or a placebo an hour before exercise.
They then tested recovery and found both types of the watermelon juice “helped to reduce the recovery heart rate and muscle soreness after 24 hours”, although the natural juice was more easily digested by the body.
“Other benefits associated with l-citrulline intake include improving athletic performance,” the authors wrote.
This is because it helps with nitric oxide synthesis and increases the glucose transport in skeletal muscle, they explained.
The findings may mean that natural ingredients could be used instead of drugs, they hope, suggesting future research should look at the levels of the amino acid required "for reduction of muscle fatigue and other health benefits in stress, athletic performance, and cardiovascular disease".
“Functional compound contents in fruits and vegetables play a key role in the design of new natural and functional products (beverages, juices, energy bars, etc.) by the food industry instead of synthetic compounds from pharmaceutical industry,” the authors concluded.
Watermelon 'has similar effects to Viagra'
Eating watermelon can boost a man's libido in a similar way to taking Viagra, researchers say.
Experts claim that the red-fleshed fruit contains an ingredient that affects the body's blood vessels in the same way as when a man takes the sex drug.
Researchers believe that the juicy fruit could be used to help men who suffer from erectile dysfunction.
Watermelons are loaded with an organic compound called citrulline that can trigger blood vessels to relax, much like Viagra does, according to scientists from Texas A&M University in the United States.
Dr Bhimu Patel, who led the study, said that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to an amino acid called arginine which improves circulation.
Dr Patel, who is director of the university's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Centre, said: "The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body.
"We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important health benefits grows longer with each study.
"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.
"Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects."
He added that eating watermelon could also improve heart health, the immune system and even help people who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions.
While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, researchers found.
Citrulline is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh.
Because the rind is not commonly eaten, Dr Patil's team are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.
Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.
"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.
"Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects."
He added that eating watermelon could also improve heart health, the immune system and even help people who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions.
While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, researchers found.
Citrulline is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh.
Because the rind is not commonly eaten, Dr Patil's team are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.
Almost 92 percent of watermelon is water, but the remaining 8 percent is loaded with lycopene, an anti-oxidant that protects the human heart, prostate and skin health.
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