You can add “sha-wing!” to the list of health benefits researchers are now finding in watermelon. And for you non-Wayne’s World fans out there by “sha-wing” I mean watermelon can cause erections.

Watermelon is being touted as the natural Viagra. Why? This summer melon is loaded with an amino acid called citrulline, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels just like Viagra does to help with erectile dysfunction, or ED as it is sometimes referred to.

Previously researchers thought that most of the citrulline in watermelon was only found in the rind, but today they are realizing that more citrulline is in the edible part of the watermelon.

Bhimu Patil, PHD, director of the Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center at Texas A&M University, College Station says that the amino acid citrulline is converted into the amino acid arginine. “This is a precursor for nitric oxide, and the nitric oxide will help in blood vessel dilation.”

So how much watermelon does it take to, well, you know?

Unfortunately studies on the fruit’s effect on penile erections is still premature. You’d probably have to eat a few watermelons to notice any effect.

We do know that eating watermelon is a great low-calorie fruit containing potassium and the phytonutrients lycopene and beta-carotene.

I’m sure researchers are working hard to tap into the watermelon’s great potential as being a natural Viagra.

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