2008 Woodie Awards
Nutrient in watermelon yields Viagra-like results
BETSY BLANEY AP Agriculture Writer
Issue date: 7/3/08 Section: STATE
One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level, she said.
"The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said.
Watermelon is a diuretic and was a homeopathic treatment for kidney patients before dialysis became widespread.
Another issue is the amount of sugar that much watermelon would spill into the bloodstream - a jolt that can sometimes cause cramping, Perkins-Veazie said.
Patil said he would like to do future studies on how to reduce the sugar content in watermelon.
The relationship between citrulline and arginine also may prove helpful to those who are obese or suffer from type-2 diabetes. The beneficial effects - among them the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does - are beginning to be revealed in research.
Citrulline is present in other curcubits, like cucumbers and cantaloupe, but at very low levels, and in the milk protein casein. The highest concentrations of citrulline are found in walnut seedlings, Perkins-Veazie said.
"But they're bitter and most people don't want to eat them," she said.
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Betsy Blaney has been the AP's Lubbock correspondent since 2001 and regularly reports on agricultural issues.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
"The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said.
Watermelon is a diuretic and was a homeopathic treatment for kidney patients before dialysis became widespread.
Another issue is the amount of sugar that much watermelon would spill into the bloodstream - a jolt that can sometimes cause cramping, Perkins-Veazie said.
Patil said he would like to do future studies on how to reduce the sugar content in watermelon.
The relationship between citrulline and arginine also may prove helpful to those who are obese or suffer from type-2 diabetes. The beneficial effects - among them the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does - are beginning to be revealed in research.
Citrulline is present in other curcubits, like cucumbers and cantaloupe, but at very low levels, and in the milk protein casein. The highest concentrations of citrulline are found in walnut seedlings, Perkins-Veazie said.
"But they're bitter and most people don't want to eat them," she said.
___
Betsy Blaney has been the AP's Lubbock correspondent since 2001 and regularly reports on agricultural issues.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
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