Watermelon Benefits for Men (Including Watermelon Seeds & Juice)
Sweet, pink, ripe watermelon is a refreshing, low-calorie, fat-free snack great for overall health.
You may already know that watermelon benefits for men (and for women, for that matter) include the fact that this fruit is a good source of vitamin C. And that it’s great for hydration. It’s great for adding variety to the diet and is good for health, whatever your sex. But watermelon has some nutritional benefits that are particularly good for men.
Why is watermelon good for men’s health?
Although watermelon is a great food choice for everyone, it just may offer more important nutrition for men than for women. In 2008 it was discovered that watermelon could be nature’s sexual medicine for men. That’s because of one very special nutrient, l-citrulline. (It is commonly referred to simply as citrulline.)
And thanks to this discovery, for men, watermelon and sex are forever linked. You can see why this luscious, summer fruit makes our list of the 10 foods every man should eat.
View the list of all 10 best foods for men’s sexual health
Is the citrulline in watermelon a natural Viagra?
Citrulline is a naturally-occurring amino acid. It is considered a non-essential amino because your body can produce it naturally. However, ever since a 2008 study linked the citrulline in watermelon and sexual performance, men have had an interest in getting an added boost of this amino acid.
The body converts the citrulline in watermelon into l-arginine through an enzymatic process. L-arginine (commonly referred to as arginine) is a precursor to nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels. This is basically the same function as prescription erectile dysfunction medication.
In other words, in concentrated doses, some experts believe that the citrulline in watermelon could work as a replacement for prescription erectile dysfunction medication. (Some experts even go so far as to call watermelon “nature’s Viagra.”)
Before you get too excited, please keep in mind that there is still much to learn about citrulline and men’s sexual performance. So before using watermelon as a replacement for sexual dysfunction medication, be sure to check with a medical professional.
The citrulline in watermelon may improve blood flow but does not improve sex drive
Here’s what we understand right now about the citrulline and sex link, aka watermelon viagra. Citrulline may improve blood flow as effectively as prescription medications to treat erectile dysfunction.
Unfortunately, there are many misinterpretations of the claim that watermelon may help your sex life. Many articles promoting watermelon’s ability to promote nitric oxide have confused better blood flow with improved sex drive. As far as we know, watermelon is not linked to sex drive in men – or women for that matter.
In addition, although the nutrients in watermelon improve a man’s ability to achieve an erection, it isn’t fully understood just how much watermelon would be required in order for the eater of this summer fruit to experience a “viagra-like” effect.
Why you should eat watermelon rind
According to research published in The Journal of Chromatography A, the citrulline in watermelon is concentrated near the rind, (also referred to as the watermelon peel). So if you wanted to experiment with the benefits of watermelon peel at home, you might want to work on your recipe for pickled watermelon rind.
The same research paper notes that the flesh of yellow and orange watermelons offers more citrulline than is found in the flesh of red watermelons. So if you’re on the hunt for a citrulline boost but aren’t into rinds, you might want to buy yourself a golden watermelon.
Surprising benefits of watermelon sexually for men
In addition to citrulline, watermelon benefits include lycopene. Did you know that watermelon is one of the finest sources of lycopene, a carotenoid extremely beneficial to cardiovascular health?
Lycopene & men’s sexual health
There are studies to suggest that watermelon lycopene may lower blood pressure and cholesterol. This has the potential to lower risk of heart attacks and stroke. It may even play a role in preventing heart disease.
This is a health benefit of the lycopene in watermelon that is considered important for both sexes. After all, we all need good cardiovascular health to keep the blood pumping and achieve sexual climax. But studies show that increased intake of lycopene may prevent prostate cancer, making it a more important nutrient for men than for women.
Watermelons with deeply colored, red flesh have a higher concentration of lycopene than fruits with pink, yellow or orange flesh. According to the USDA, seedless red watermelons contain more lycopene than seeded watermelon varieties.
Blood pressure
Watermelon is a source of potassium, which is among the nutrients considered key to men’s sexual health. Eating watermelon for potassium can help keep electrolytes in balance, keep the body primed for exercise and keep blood pressure at a healthy level.
Benefits to skin health
Watermelon’s health benefits for men also include the fact that this low-calorie food is a source of vitamin A. This indicates that watermelon has benefits for the skin since vitamin A is said to encourage collagen growth.
The skin benefits of watermelon offer a nutritional boost for women as well as men, as is the fact that studies indicate the fruit may be helpful for relieving muscle soreness and reducing inflammation. Another great reason for everyone to eat more watermelon! But please seek medical advice before making any drastic dietary changes.
Benefits of watermelon seeds sexually for men
Interestingly, it is not just the flesh of watermelon that offers men sexual nutrition. The benefits of watermelon seeds to a man may have you reconsidering spitting out those seeds! These seeds of watermelon are nutrient-rich. They are considered a good source of iron, magnesium and zinc. What’s most interesting about the nutrition in watermelon seeds when it comes to men’s health is that these are three key nutrients for sexual health.
A deficiency in iron can cause fatigue. Magnesium is involved in sex hormone production. And zinc is sometimes called the “man’s mineral,” because it is essential for prostate and sperm health. Who knew there were so many watermelon seeds benefits for male sexual health?
Watermelon juice benefits for men
As with most fruits and vegetables, the juice of watermelon gives you many of the fruit’s benefits but not as much as you would get from eating a slice of juicy watermelon. However, drinking watermelon juice will still give you a dose of the nutrients important to men’s sexual health as well as help keep you hydrated and even help keep electrolytes in balance.
Discover why watermelon is considered an aphrodisiac for men and women
Recipes
Watermelon is a delicious summer treat on its own. But it’s also great in soups, salads and even cocktails. Here are just a few of my favorite recipes:
Grilled Watermelon with Baby Arugula and Goat Cheese Salad
Watermelon Soup with Jicama Salsa
Chili Lime Watermelon Skewers
Watermelon Rum Punch
10 Best Foods For Men
Up Next: Coconut
Edited by Delahna Flagg: This article was reviewed and additional research provided by Center for Mind-Body Medicine certified practitioner and Eat Something Sexy Nutrition Director Delahna Flagg.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It is important to consult your physician before making dietary changes.
This article was written in 2013 and most recently updated in May 2022.
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