Watermelon Juice Relieves Post-Exercise Muscle Soreness

Credit: www.psychologyinaction.org

Watermelon Juice Relieves Post-Exercise Muscle Soreness

Past research on watermelon juice's antioxidant properties has shown its potential to increase muscle protein and enhance athletic performance.

A new study by led Encarna Aguayo at the Technical University of Cartagena, in Spain, found that that juice from watermelon can relieve post-exercise muscle soreness. They attribute watermelon’s effects to the amino acid L-citrulline.

They tested natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline and a control drink containing no L-citrulline on volunteers an hour before exercise.

Both the natural juice and the enriched juice relieved muscle soreness in the volunteers. L-citrulline in the natural juice (unpasteurized), however, seemed to be more bioavailable -- in a form the body could better use.

L-citrulline in watermelon can cut an athlete’s recovery time and boost their performance.  The chemical speeds up the process of lactic acid removal from the muscles which reduces soreness

###

 

The above story is based on the August 14, 2013 news release by American Chemical Society (ACS).

The report is published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry:

Tarazona-Díaz MP,  Alacid F, Carrasco M, Martínez I, Aguayo E. Watermelon Juice: Potential Functional Drink for Sore Muscle Relief in Athletes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2013; 61 (31): 7522 DOI: 10.1021/jf400964r

###

More Wonders from Citrulline

Citrulline and CardioVascular Health

A study from Purdue University and University of Kentucky showed that mice fed a diet including watermelon juice had lower weight, cholesterol and arterial plaque than a control group.

The findings, reported in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, suggest that citrulline in watermelon, plays a role in cardiovascular health.

Watermelon: a natural Viagra?

Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station, believes when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes.  

Arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide, and the nitric oxide will help in blood vessel dilation. Blood flows unrestricted throughout the body, including the penis where it results in hard, firm, healthy erections.

So, the burning question: How much watermelon does it take?

Cornio L et al from the University of Foggia, Italy found that 50% of men with mild erectile dysfunction (ED) given l-citrulline 1.5 gram daily for one month, experienced an improvement in the erection hardness score from 3 (mild ED) to 4 (normal erectile function)

According to Dr Patil, a typical 4-ounce (113grams) serving of has about 150 milligrams of citrulline.

Fancy taking 1.13kg of watermelon daily for 1 month? Otherwise, talk to your doctor or pharmacist today about those wonderful blue pills.

Furadan in watermelon?

In our report “Water Melon and Prehypertension” of October 16, 2010 we referred to the possibility of poisoning from the insecticide carbofuran (Furadan) mentioned by Lim Hin Fui, PhD a social anthropologist working at FRIM.

Well, we have another Dr Lim to provide a balance.

Dr Lim Ju Boo is formerly nutrition research toxicologist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and researcher in Community Medicine at Instititute for Medical Research, Malaysia. Read his lengthy and comprehensive explanation HERE.

You might also want to check out HERE on  the levels of residual pesticides in fruits and vegetables from Ghana, a relatively less developed country

###

Reference

Poduri A, Rateri DL, Saha SK, Saha S, Daugherty A. Citrullus lanatus 'sentinel' (watermelon) extract reduces atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice. J Nutr Biochem. 2013 May;24(5):882-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.05.011.

Cormio L, De Siati M, Lorusso F, Selvaggio O, Mirabella L, Sanguedolce F, Carrieri G. Oral L-citrulline supplementation improves erection hardness in men with mild erectile dysfunction. Urology. 2011 Jan;77(1):119-22. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2010.08.028.

Bempah CK, Asomaning J, Boateng J.  Market Basket Survey for some Pesticides Residues in Fruits and Vegetables from Ghana.  Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences. 2012 : 2 (3) 850-871

If you want to follow this blog by email free of charge, please submit your email address below or on the top right hand side of this page.