Watermelon is a pretty popular summer fruit. It has approximately 92% water content, ideal for keeping you hydrated and helping you fight the scorching heat of the sun. Besides being delicious, this body-healing fruit is chock full of healthful nutrients and can deliver unbelievable health benefits.

Multiple studies show that watermelon can help curb the risk of many diseases, including cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and muscle soreness. Though research is still in its preliminary stages, experts suggest that men hoping for some fireworks in their bedroom might want to skip those savory sandwiches and beer and eat lots of watermelons instead.

Watermelon May Be A Natural Viagra?

Men have long tried many natural remedies to treat sexual dysfunction, and the results have been inconclusive. The advent of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs in the late 1990s revolutionized sexual health and well-being. Men with diseases, conditions and age-related erectile dysfunction no longer had to surrender to a sex-starved life.

Unfortunately, however, ED drugs don’t always provide the desired results for everyone. In addition, drugs designed to impact sexual performance come with common side effects like dizziness, flushes, body aches, and pains. ED drugs are also not recommended for men with specific types of heart and chest problems. For such men, watermelon may be a helpful natural alternative with negligible to no side effects.

According to researchers, watermelon may be highly potent thanks to an amino acid known as L-citrulline, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels like most erectile dysfunction medications.

Why Watermelon Might Help With Erectile Dysfunction, According To Research

As mentioned earlier, watermelon is an excellent source of citrulline. Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that’s also produced by our bodies. Viagra and ED drugs typically work by increasing blood flow to the penis, allowing a man to get an erection more easily when he is aroused. Although it works differently, citrulline seems to do the same thing as Viagra.

While scientific evidence is limited, citrulline is believed to stimulate blood flow to the penis and support better erections. According to some research, the body converts citrulline into another amino acid known as arginine, which is the precursor of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps open blood vessels wider. This increases blood flow to the penis and helps you have and keep an erection during sex.

Until recently, scientists believed that the highest concentration of citrulline was in the fruit’s rind. However, current research shows that most citrulline is in the edible part of the watermelon, especially in concentrated watermelon juice.

A 2017 review published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care concludes that watermelon can help boost arginine levels in the bloodstream and help lower blood pressure in people with prehypertension and hypertension.

Citrulline might play a significant role in men’s sexual health, as reported in a 2017 study published in the Journal of Andrology. In the study, the levels of citrulline, arginine, or both amino acids were notably lower in the male subjects with erectile dysfunction. These findings suggest that increasing the concentration of these amino acids in the body might help with the symptoms of ED.

A small study published in the 2018 Issue of Sexual Medicine further supports this theory. The study involved 20 participants and found that a combination of citrulline and trans-resveratrol might improve erection firmness, ability to maintain an erection, and sexual satisfaction in men with ED.

Watermelon for Prostate Health

Watermelon boasts dietary antioxidants, including vitamin C, lycopene, carotenoids, and cucurbitacin E, which may support prostate health and help prevent cancer by combating free radicals.

A 2014 review published in the EXCLI Journal states that watermelon is one of the best natural sources of lycopene. Red-fleshed melons are said to provide roughly 40 times more lycopene than tomatoes.

According to the review, this readily available antioxidant in watermelon may effectively protect prostate glands against the oxidative stress induced by iron. Lycopene can also help decrease lipid peroxidation, further enhancing prostate health.

During an earlier study, men who had the highest lycopene intake had a significant 25% lower risk of prostate cancer, and the risk of other cancers was lower by an impressive 44%.

So, how much watermelon should you take? According to the USDA, a single serving of watermelon provides 12689.6 micrograms (12.6mg) of lycopene. The International Food Information Council Foundation notes that taking at least 12mg of lycopene every day may help lower high blood pressure. If you seek the highest benefits, consider consuming 0.5mg of lycopene per kg of body weight.

Potential Side Effects of Watermelon

The citrulline in watermelon may help men with moderate ED. However, it’s important to note that research into L-citrulline and erectile dysfunction is not conclusive enough to prove that watermelon alone can effectively manage the symptoms of ED.

When eating watermelon, you can expect to reap other nutritional benefits for your overall health and longevity thanks to the fruit’s fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. Perhaps the biggest risk of watermelon is for those who have pollen allergies. People with grass pollen allergies may develop an allergic reaction known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS) to raw fruits. Though rare, OAS can cause breathing difficulties. Hence, you may want to take caution.

Supplemental forms of citrulline can interact with prescription drugs for the following ailments:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• High blood pressure
• Erectile dysfunction
• Neurological disorders