Incredibly nutritious, sweet and juicy, watermelon is not only a delicious treat that can quench your thirst during the summer heat, but the most pleasant edible aphrodisiac.

Carotenoid lycopene and amino acid citrulline that are found in watermelons make them natural aphrodisiacs. They work by relaxing blood vessels, improving blood circulation in the genitals, just like famous stimulating pills but without many side effects associated with the drugs.

Why these two biochemicals in the watermelon are responsible for its aphrodisiac properties:

  • Amino acid citrulline: It is produced from arginine with release of nitric oxide. The highest concentration of citrulline is found in in watermelon rind. Twenty-four men with mild erectile dysfunction took either citrulline or a placebo for one month. When they took citrulline, 50% of the men experienced an improvement in erection hardness compared with only 8.3% when they took placebo.Unlike other amino acids, citrulline doesn’t build proteins. Instead, it plays an important role in the urea cycle, helping your body to get rid of harmful substances, particularly ammonia.
  • Carotenoid lycopene: It is related to beta-carotene and gives some vegetables and fruits (e.g., tomatoes) a red color.  Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that might help protect cells from damage. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage. Though it can be found as a supplement, it may be most effective when consumed from lycopene-rich foods like watermelons. A 100-gram serving of watermelon contains 4532mcg of lycopene.

A number of studies suggested that romantic dysfunction could be cured with lycopene. Lycopene naturally helps blood vessels to relax, which enhances circulation and, in turn, can improve blood flow. The observed safe level for lycopene is 75mg/day, according to one preliminary study (Shao A, Hathcock JN, 2006, “Risk assessment for the carotenoids lutein and lycopene”, “Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology”).

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