Watermelon Is Sexy

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Watermelon Is Sexy

By Amy Reiley, Master of Gastronomy

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Watermelon is a thought of as a summer staple and will be a major treat this Labor Day but, according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be best suited for Valentine’s Day. That’s because scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido. "The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body", said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station. “We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study."

Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive, or able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Patil said. In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients – citrulline – whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.

Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.

"The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes", said Patil. "Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it."

While there are many psychological and physiological problems that can cause impotence, extra nitric oxide could help those who need increased blood flow, which would also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

"Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra", Patil said, "but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects." The benefits of watermelon don’t end there, he said. Arginine also helps the urea cycle by removing ammonia and other toxic compounds from our bodies. Citrulline, the precursor to arginine, is found in higher concentrations in the rind of watermelons than the flesh. As the rind is not commonly eaten, two of Patil’s fellow scientists, Dr. Steve King and Dr. Hae Jeen Bang, are working to breed new varieties with higher concentrations in the flesh.

In addition to the research by Texas A&M, watermelon's phyto-nutrients are being studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Lane, Oklahoma. As an added bonus, these studies have also shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king, Patil said. 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.

"Lycopene, which is also found in red grapefruit, was historically thought to exist only in tomatoes", he said. "But now we know that it's found in higher concentrations in red watermelon varieties." Lycopene, however, is fat-soluble, meaning that it needs certain fats in the blood for better absorption by the body, Patil said. "Previous tests have shown that lycopene is much better absorbed from tomatoes when mixed in a salad with oily vegetables like avocado or spinach", Patil said. "That would also apply to the lycopene from watermelon, but I realize mixing watermelon with spinach or avocadoes is a very hard sell."

No studies have been conducted to determine the timing of the consumption of oily vegetables to improve lycopene absorption, he said. "They store much better uncut if you leave them at room temperature. Lycopene levels can be maintained even as it sits on your kitchen floor. But once you cut it, refrigerate. And enjoy."

Source: agnews.tamu.edu

Food History

Scientific name: Citrullus Lanatus

Some people might think that watermelon historically comes from China and certain people believe that watermelon originated from the desert of Kalahari.

However, the first written history of watermelon comes from Egypt 5,000 years ago. Watermelons were often placed in the burial tombs in order to nourish them in the afterlife. From Egypt, watermelon spread to other countries along the Mediterranean Sea by way of trading ships. Watermelon spread to Europe through the Moors during the 13th century.

Interesting Facts and Figures

There are over 1,200 varieties of watermelon worldwide, and 200–300 varieties are grown in the U.S. and Mexico. Until the 1980s, watermelons were considered a seasonal fruit, but today imports combined with local production ensure a year-round supply. Icebox watermelons are gaining in popularity as they are ideal for small families and fit easily into a refrigerator.

Lycopene Leader

Watermelon is the Lycopene Leader in fresh produce, having higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. In fact, fresh watermelon contains higher levels of lycopene than fresh tomatoes - a 2-cup serving of watermelon contains and average of 18.16 mg and one medium-sized tomato contains 4 mg.

Heart Healthy

Watermelon has heart healthy properties because it is naturally low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol.

A recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that in addition to containing plentiful amounts of the health-promoting antioxidant lycopene, watermelon is an excellent source of the amino acid citrulline.The human body uses citrulline to make another important amino acid—arginine—which plays a key role in cell division, wound healing and the removal of ammonia from the body.

USDA News Release "Watermelon Serves Up Medically Important Amino Acid"

5Vitamins & Minerals

Watermelon Is Practically A Multivitamin Unto Itself

A 2-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamins A, B6 and C.

Vitamin A found in watermelon is important for optimal eye health.

Vitamin B6 found in watermelon is used by the body to manufacture brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, melatonin and dopamine, which preliminary research shows may help the body cope with anxiety and panic.

Vitamin C in watermelons can help to bolster your immune system's defenses against infections and viruses and is known to stimulate the immune system and protect against free radical damage.

Potassium

A two-cup serving of watermelon is also a source of potassium, a mineral necessary for water balance and found inside of every cell. People with low potassium levels can experience muscle cramps. A two-cup serving has less than 10 percent of the daily reference value for potassium.

Amy Reiley, Master of Gastronomy and author of Fork Me, Spoon Me, is an authority on wine AND on aphrodisiac foods . She scours the globe for foods to put you in the mood. While at France’s culinary temple, Le Cordon Bleu, Amy rose to notoriety for her work in culinary aphrodisiacs. In 2006, Amy releases her first book, Fork Me, Spoon Me: the sensual cookbook, cementing her role as America’s leading aphrodisiac food authority. Filling a niche in the cookbook market, demand resulted in the book’s second edition less than two years later. But Amy’s culinary knowledge is not limited to aphrodisiac foods. In June 2005, Amy was singled out as one of the five best female wine professionals in the world of the year by France’s Wine Women awards. As an internationally recognized journalist, Amy has shared her food and wine knowledge in such publications as Variety, Gault Millau; Daily Candy and Las Vegas magazine. She also writes a syndicated column, Woman on Wine, and serves on The Tasting Panel (formerly of Bon Appetit magazine). www.eatsomethingsexy.com