Why They're Calling Watermelon the New Natural Viagra

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 18 million men. There are many causes of ED and while the options for battling ED have traditionally required getting a prescription and heading to the pharmacy, the results of a recent study could be supplying men with a more natural (and more accessible) solution. What is this new “Viagra”? Watermelon.

Watermelon and ED
Watermelon is rich in an amino acid called citrulline. This amino acid helps to relax and dilate blood vessel. This is very similar to what medications like Cialis and Viagra do to help men achieve an erection. While scientists have always known that watermelon contained this precious little amino acid, for years they believed that it was only found in the watermelon rind.

According to Dr. Bhimu Patil, PhD, director of the Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center at Texas A&M University, “Watermelon has more citrulline in the edible part then previously believed.”

Wondering exactly how one of the best foods of summer can also be one the best aphrodisiacs? This is how it works.

The amino acid citrulline is converted in the body into arginine. Arginine is the precursor to nitric oxide. The role of nitric oxide is to help blood vessels dilate. Unfortunately what the scientist can’t tell is just how much watermelon a man has to eat to feel the effects. What they can tell us is this, that one serving of watermelon (4 ounces or approximately 10 watermelon balls) has 150 mg of citrulline in it.

What do the experts have to say?
Depends on who you ask. There are some medical doctors that are outraged at the insinuation that watermelon can help alleviate ED, while others are enthused about the possibility.

The fact is that more research needs to be done. Some experts do caution that eating excessive amounts of watermelon can lead to other problems like diabetes (because of its sugar content) and frequent urination (due to its high level of water).

In the meantime, you might want to give watermelon a try. After all, the only person that is going to know whether or not it works for you is you.