Is Watermelon a Natural Viagra®?

March 11, 2021

4 mins

There have been many experiments and various remedies created and tried over the years in order to combat erectile dysfunction. While it was a taboo subject for hundreds of years, nearly 30 millions men in the U.S. alone are affected by erectile dysfunction routinely. Curious minds have been eager to learn of new creations since the beginning. 

The advent of Viagra® (sildenafil) and various follow-on pharmaceutical treatments for erectile dysfunction have revolutionized the world of sex related medicine since the '90s, as men are no longer resigned to simply living with erectile dysfunction. 

However some men are not able to take these medications due to health conditions, and for a small portion of men, these drugs are not effective in every case. Still other men are reticent to try pharmaceutical-grade medications. So what are the options outside of the popular and effective FDA-approved meds? One potential option might be found in an unlikely place: the watermelon. 

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How Does a Watermelon Help with Erectile Dysfunction? 

Watermelons are a natural source of citrulline. Citrulline is an amino acid that may help to support longer-lasting and firmer erections. 

Viagra® (sildenafil) and the other popular erectile dysfunction medications you're familiar with work by acting as PDE5 inhibitors. They help to relax the muscles of the penis and to increase blood flow, allowing a man to more easily achieve and maintain an erection once they're aroused. 

Citrulline has the ability to do the same thing, just in a different way. Research has shown that the body may convert citrulline into a different amino acid, called arginine. Arginine can be converted into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is crucial to opening blood vessels wider and increasing blood flow to the penis. 

Without nitric oxide being released, it’s essentially impossible to achieve an erection, with or without additional medications like Viagra®. While watermelon is mostly composed of water, the highest concentration of citrulline will come for concentrated watermelon juice. So, while eating watermelon may not provide much of a citrulline boost, watermelon juice could potentially be an influencing factor as a form of natural Viagra®.

What Does the Research Say?

The research into the effects of citrulline and watermelon is relatively new, and most studies have either been small or looked only at its effects in animal studies. As a result, it’s too early to say there is conclusive proof that watermelons are a “natural version of Viagra®.” 

However, preliminary research has been promising, and undrstanding that there are few or no risks associated with consuming watermelon (at least in moderation), there should be little to no consequences to safely trying watermelon juice or citrulline supplements as a natural sildenafil alternative. 

• In 2011, a study followed 24 men that were experiencing mild erectile dysfunction. The men took a placebo for one month, and the following month they took a citrulline supplement. Only two of the men taking the placebo saw their erections return to normal levels of firmness. But half of the men who took citrulline experienced improvements that brought their erections to normal firmness. The men also had more sex during the citrulline month as well. Before the citrulline they were averaging 1.37 sessions of intercourse, and after it jumped to 2.3 times per month. None of the men experienced any side effects.

• In 2013, a study gathered data on rats with erectile dysfunction due to low blood flow to the penis. This disorder, called arteriogenic erectile dysfunction, is a fairly common cause for erectile issues in humans. Rats that took a citrulline water supplement experienced improvement in their erectile function when compared to rats taking a placebo and rats that underwent surgery on their blood vessels. The finding suggests that citrulline may improve blood flow which is crucial to achieving and maintaining erections. 

• In 2014, a study evaluated male rats treated with watermelon flesh extracts. The rats that consumed watermelon were more likely to mount females and to initiate intercrouse. The study concluded that this increase in libido suggested that watermelon could be a viable treatment for erectile dysfunction.

• In 2017, researchers sought to further evaluate the role that citrulline and arginine play in erectile function. They conducted a study that measured the levels of amino acids in 122 men suffering from erectile dysfunction. They discovered that these men had lower levels of one or both of the amino acids which suggested that increasing the levels of either citrulline, arginine, or both could improve erectile function.

While this research suggests that a correlation between watermelons and erectile dysfunction relief exists, it should be noted that it’s not likely to work as effectively as Viagra®. 

While watermelon may help to increase blood flow to the penis, other issues causing erectile dysfunction may still be present. Nerve damage, relationship problems or heart conditions are all reasons where increasing blood flow wouldn’t be enough to maintain an erection. In addition, while research on animals will often apply to humans, it’s not always true to humans. Studies finding positive results in rats may point to a possibility of citrulline being able to treat erectile dysfunction, but they do not prove it works in humans. 

As of now, the United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved citrulline as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and more trials will be needed before doctors can determine whether citrulline is a viable option or not.  

What are the Risks and Rewards of Using Watermelon? 

Although the science may not yet prove that watermelon is a clinically effective treatment for erectile dysfunction, the good news is there's little harm in trying something if a botanical remedy is top of mind for you. Either by eating more watermelon or taking citrulline supplements, there are plenty of potential health benefits and only a few potential dangers - plus, watermelon is delicious. 

Some of the greatest possivle rewards for eating more watermelon is that it’s also a good source of vitamins A and C in addition to fiber and potassium. Watermelon is also low in calories, though overconsumption of any food can lead to weight gain. 

There are also lots of healthy antioxidants found in watermelons, which is good for your overall health, wellbeing and potentially longevity. Excessively high levels of antioxidants can actually end up being harmful, so too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. The actual watermelon fruit itself is not likely to cause any risk, however those with pollen allergies should take caution: some people that have grass pollen allergies may experience allergic reactions to raw fruits and vegetables. Also, people with diabetes should be careful when consuming large amounts of watermelon and other fruit as they can raise blood sugar levels. 

Lastly, citrulline may interact with other prescriptions medications for:

• Erectile dysfunction

• High blood pressure or hypertension

• Cardiovascular disease

• Some neurological disorders

If you're currently on any of the medications associated with these conditions, it would be wise to consult with your doctor before increasing your watermelon or citrulline intake.

What’s the Best Way to Use Watermelon for ED? 

While it may seem as simple as eating more watermelon, the answer to the question of "what's the best way to use watermelon" is actually a little more complex than that. 

In 2005, there was a study that found that red watermelons were slightly lower in citrulline than yellow or orange varieties. In addition, watermelon rind has a higher concentration of citrulline than the flesh of the fruit. There were no significant differences between the seeded and the seedless varieties. 

In order to maximize the intake of citrulline, one option might be to blend a watermelon rind into a smoothie and drink it. Another option would be to simply take citrulline supplements, though this option would eliminate some of the additional health benefits of watermelons such as antioxidants. Citrulline is also naturally found in other foods such as garlic, fish, and legumes. 

The Takeaway: Watermelon could be a natural way to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction, but it’s highly unlikely to solve the issue long-term. There are no serious risks to eating more watermelon, so if you would like to see for yourself there are more potential benefits than downsides. 

In many cases, erectile dysfunction is the symptom of an underlying condition like cardiovascular damage, heart conditions, diabetes, and more. As such, watermelon won't do much to treat an issue like high cholesterol, which has been known to cause erectile dysfunction. 

It’s important to see a doctor about what could be causing your erectile dysfunction, as it may be a sign of something more serious. 

At the end of the day, the most effective and clinically proven treatments for the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are Viagra® (sildenafil) or another of the other pharmaceutical drugs such as Cialis® (tadalafil) or Levitra® (vardenafil), all of which are also available as cheap generics. These have been studied extensively and their results have not been replicated by any "natural" alternatives like citrulline. 

Rex MD was created to help guys get prescription ED medications from home. We use telemedicine to connect men with licensed physicians – the visit and pharmacy delivery are all done online, and the medications are at industry-leading prices.  

Sources

Watermelon: A natural form of Viagra? - Medical News Today 

Watermelon: A Natural Viagra? - WebMD