BARBEQUE @TS 2008

WANT VIAGRA EFFECT, EAT WATERMELON!!

Press Trust of India (also in the Star 4 July 2008)

Houston, July 4: Thinking of spicing up your sex life with Viagra? You may not need the blue pill as the answer may lie in a cool and refreshing passion fruit ~ watermelon.

According to an Indian American scientist in Texas, water melon has an ingredient that delivers Viagra-like effects to the body's blood vessels and may even increase libido.

The citrulline, found in the flesh and rind of the fruit, triggers off a compound that helps blood vessels in human body relax ~ an effect similar to that of Viagra, Dr Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Centre has found.

When watermelons are consumed in large quantities, the citrulline in it reacts with enzymes in the body. It changes into an amino acid called Arginine, known to benefit the heart, circulatory system as well as the immune system.

“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 Patil.

“We've always known that watermelon is good, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.”Beneficial ingredients in fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Dr Patil said.