What is the “secret” ingredient in watermelon that gives us that pleasant feeling of freshness, satisfaction, and well-being? It’s the fruit of summer. Among the gifts of nature, it combines well in juices and salads.
You might say that watermelon is “just water” and its nutritional content is minimal, if any. However, you’ll be glad to learn that besides its 92% water content, a watermelon can provide significant amounts of vitamin A, B6, and C in every bite, as well as a long list of antioxidants and amino acids.
And along with that, it contains almost no sodium and hardly any fat. What more could you want? In fact, we could ask for even more: to rejuvenate us, to provide our muscles with energy and strength when we’re exhausted.
Do you think that’s unlikely? Watermelon has an ingredient that you probably don’t know about, and we want to explain it to you in this article.
L-citrulline, the “secret” ingredient in watermelon that gives you energy
Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of L-citrulline. It’s well known in the world of sports, as it’s a key amino acid that helps athletes improve their performance.
The term “non-essential amino acid” might sound strange to you. What does that exactly mean? Non-essential amino acids are those that the body can synthesize, so there’s no need to include them in our daily diet.
So let’s see what this interesting ingredient does for us.
L-citrulline – a very healthy amino acid
We can find L-citrulline not only in watermelon but also in chickpeas, meat, garlic, nuts, and dark chocolate.
As you can see, these are energy providing foods that not only improve our performance but also our health. You’ll be pleased to know that when the amino acids citrulline and arginine are combined, our bodies produce a beneficial gas called nitric oxide.
What does nitric oxide do in our body ? It relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels which lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow. It boosts exercise performance and may decrease muscle soreness.
L-citrulline has another incredible property: it helps us reduce lactic acid and ammonia from muscle tissue.
This essential characteristic helps muscles recover almost immediately; we’ll notice less tension, fewer spasms, and less fatigue. We’ll regain our energy, and our physical performance will improve almost immediately.
Induces changes in metabolism
Many athletes choose to take L-citrulline based supplements. This amino acid induces reactions in metabolism that synthesize aerobic energy and delays the feeling of fatigue.
Of course, most of us aren’t athletes and don’t compete, so there’s no reason to take this supplement separately.
However, the content of L-citrulline in watermelon in combination with all its vitamins and minerals can help in delaying fatigue.
According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania, L-citrulline also has benefits for cardiovascular health.
Prevents waste accumulation
Consuming watermelon helps us not only regain our energy and muscle endurance and avoid fatigue, but another interesting piece of information about L-citrulline is that it prevents waste accumulation in our bodies.
These can manifest as pain, spasms, or fluid retention, for example.
It may help improve erectile dysfunction
And finally, it’s also interesting to note that watermelon and its incredible content of L-citrulline help in cases of mild erectile dysfunction.
This is due to its ability to facilitate the dilation of blood vessels through nitric oxide and endothelial function. By naturally improving circulation, it can alleviate mild cases of erectile dysfunction.
All this reminds us once again that instead of turning to medications, it’s always better to start by improving our lifestyle and dietary habits. However, if the problem persists, it’s best to consult a specialist.
In conclusion, as we clearly saw, watermelon is more than just a summer fruit. The “secret” ingredient in watermelon makes it a healing, healthy, and energy-packed fruit. Combine it well with other foods and make the most of it when its season comes.