And perhaps one-time Texas Rangers first baseman and Viagra spokesman Rafael Palmeiro should have kept one of those Rio Grande beauties on ice in his locker.
That’s because a recent study claims the sweet fruit closely associated with the Fourth of July has some of the same ingredients as prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Dr. Bhimu Patil with Texas A&M University’s Fruit and Vegetable Center in College Station said watermelon is an amazing fruit that provides natural enhancers to the human body.
“We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study,” he said.
“Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra, but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects,” Patil said.
The key component is citrulline. After eating a watermelon, this nutrient converts to an enzyme called arginine.
“Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect Viagra has to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it,” Patel said in a news release.
The scientists used watermelons purchased at grocery stores for their five-month study. Patil said various types of watermelons, harvested at different times of year, could yield different results.
With the Fourth of July only days away, and watermelons popping up for sale at copious roadside stands, Patil said the time was right to release the study. But he urged it was no miracle fruit and should be eaten in moderation.
Texas A&M researcher Stephen R. King said the purpose of the study was to learn more about lycopene, an anti-oxidant responsible for the red pigment in tomatoes and grapefruits. The study said watermelon could push aside the tomato as the lycopene king.
“You never ate watermelon before because it was good for you. And I like to show to all aging men out there the potential,” King said. “Watermelon has benefits and is not just a summertime treat.”
Researchers say additional potential benefits include strengthening the immune system and increased circulation.
According to the Texas Watermelon Association, growers produce 640 million pounds of watermelon per year.
