NationStates Jolt Archive

I always wondered why my small little town seems to have an over abundance of babies given Japan's declining birthrate...

Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects

By BETSY BLANEY, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

(07-02) 21:33 PDT Lubbock, Texas (AP) --

A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks all night long.

Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.

Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.

"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," said Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center. "Watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects."...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/02/national/a194244D96.DTL

I'm going to have one hell of a hard time keeping a straight face in late July when my town has it's watermelon festival and releases the best watermelons in Japan. It's all you can eat and, yes, the guys here really chow down... Which explains why a town of 15,000 has an elementary school population of over 1,200 and the hospital's maternity ward is always going.

I think Europe might be interested in hearing about this.

Can you buy stock in watermelons?

Seriously, I'll never be able to see a man eat a slice of watermelon without giggling now.

hmm... are the girls pretty there? I might have to some over and enjoy some pretty women feeding me watermelon :D

Can you buy stock in watermelons?

Seriously, I'll never be able to see a man eat a slice of watermelon without giggling now.

Well, since it's not really organ-specific, it seems it'd work the same on women.

It's all you can eat and, yes, the guys here really chow down...

An act I do wonder if a certain gaijin in Nihon partakes in as well.

How odd, I was eating watermelon earlier. Don't feel particularly more vigorous or anything, but then again the town is kinda burning down so I might just not be in the mood.

How odd, I was eating watermelon earlier. Don't feel particularly more vigorous or anything, but then again the town is kinda burning down so I might just not be in the mood.

Well yeah, that might do it. Kind of like watching a puppy get chopped in half by a nut with a katana and wondering why you're not all apeshit happy-go-lucky.

How odd, I was eating watermelon earlier. Don't feel particularly more vigorous or anything, but then again the town is kinda burning down so I might just not be in the mood.

... well, that'd probably do it.

So anyway, OP, what you're telling me is, I need to slip my SO some watermelon. Duly noted.

... well, that'd probably do it.

So anyway, OP, what you're telling me is, I need to slip my SO some watermelon. Duly noted.

Slip yourself some, as well.


Er, that didn't sound quite right. Sorry.

Slip yourself some, as well.


Er, that didn't sound quite right. Sorry.

:p

Trust me. I'm not the one who needs it. But thanks for the advice. ;)

:p

trust Me. I'm Not The One Who Needs It. But Thanks For The Advice. ;)

I won't ask. :p

I won't ask. :p

Whoa. Who attacked the "shift" key in your quote. :p

My BF doesn't like water melons...
Ah well, it's back to the good old viagra in his tea, then.

I think Europe might be interested in hearing about this.

:confused:

Last thing I heard, people here are getting enough sex, on average...

:confused:

Last thing I heard, people here are getting enough sex, on average...

He was referring to his belief that Muslims/immigrants/evil persons are going to out-breed Native White European Christians - what he refers to as "the West" - thus bringing about the end of the white male and, of course, civilization.

Whoa. Who attacked the "shift" key in your quote. :p

I honestly have no idea. I'm in zombie mode at the moment (too little sleep and too many hours spent awake), so I might've hit something that did that, but I'm positive I did absolutely nothing.

An act I do wonder if a certain gaijin in Nihon partakes in as well.
I LOVE watermelon! ;)

He was referring to his belief that Muslims/immigrants/evil persons are going to out-breed Native White European Christians - what he refers to as "the West" - thus bringing about the end of the white male and, of course, civilization.

Ah. So the thought that most people would use contraceptives on a regular basis hasn't occured to him, then?

He was referring to his belief that Muslims/immigrants/evil persons are going to out-breed Native White European Christians - what he refers to as "the West" - thus bringing about the end of the white male and, of course, civilization.

Pfhhh, why would I care about that? Even if Islam did become the dominant force on Earth, so what? We'd go through a couple of rough centuries or so, no biggie.

One would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level.

I seem to have fallen into an alternate universe here

My BF doesn't like water melons...

but you have such nice melons :( welcome to the essence of the internet

but you have such nice melons :( welcome to the essence of the internet

Oh, he does like those. It's just water melons he doesn't like :p

I always wondered why my small little town seems to have an over abundance of babies given Japan's declining birthrate...


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/02/national/a194244D96.DTL

I'm going to have one hell of a hard time keeping a straight face in late July when my town has it's watermelon festival and releases the best watermelons in Japan. It's all you can eat and, yes, the guys here really chow down... Which explains why a town of 15,000 has an elementary school population of over 1,200 and the hospital's maternity ward is always going.

I'm gonna eat watermelon so much now...

I hate watermelons. They are sooo tasteless.

But I'll go pop in some citrulline tablets.

I wouldn't mind to have a slice of water melon right now, but to test the mentioned qualities of this fruit I would also need a partner. Still it's healthy stuff to eat.

I'm wondering how much watermelon you'd have to eat in order for it to have a noticeable effect. Probably that much that you wouldn't be able to benefit from it afterwards...

Leave it to Texas A&M to discover this...

(They're the uni that discovered that chili peppers are actually addictive...)

Pfhhh, why would I care about that?

You've complained about it at great lengths on this forum. Don't lie.

I always wondered why my small little town seems to have an over abundance of babies given Japan's declining birthrate...


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/02/national/a194244D96.DTL

I'm going to have one hell of a hard time keeping a straight face in late July when my town has it's watermelon festival and releases the best watermelons in Japan. It's all you can eat and, yes, the guys here really chow down... Which explains why a town of 15,000 has an elementary school population of over 1,200 and the hospital's maternity ward is always going.

No wonder watermelon tastes so good...