The Benefits of Watermelon Sexually
One of America’s favourite summer fruits, the watermelon, originated in Africa over 4,000 years ago. And lucky for us, this juicy melon isn’t just delicious—it has plenty of health benefits, some of which may even impact your sex life.
The benefits of watermelon are numerous and extend beyond its vitamins and minerals. Interested in the sexual watermelon benefits for men? Like, are there benefits of watermelon for treating erectile dysfunction (ED)?
We’ll answer these questions next, including whether there are benefits of watermelon for erectile dysfunction and other sexual health issues.
The Benefits of Watermelon
Watermelon is more than a tasty and refreshing fruit to eat on a hot day. It packs several key nutrients and unique plant compounds.
It’s hydrating. Watermelon can help you stay hydrated and help meet your daily fluid needs, as it’s made up of over 90 percent water. Hydration plays an important role in helping your body function properly, ensuring optimal cognition, organ function, delivery of nutrients, and more.
It may support healthy weight loss. Also because of its high water content, there are a low amount of calories per serving of watermelon. Replacing some higher-calorie foods with fiber- and water-rich fruits like watermelon can help you stay in a desired calorie deficit for weight loss.
It may support muscle performance and reduce soreness. This fruit is a great source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamins C and A. Consuming proper amounts of potassium and magnesium can help with muscle performance. Plus, a 2013 study found that drinking watermelon juice could help relieve muscle soreness.
It’s rich in antioxidants. The antioxidant content of watermelon is impressive—it’s a natural source of carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin E, which help protect your cells from oxidative stress and damage.
It may benefit your exercise routine. Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, an amino acid that helps make another amino acid called arginine. Citrulline may improve exercise performance and cardiovascular fitness.
It may support heart health. Several of the nutrients in watermelon may also support a healthy heart. Lycopene, for example, may help lower blood pressure — one way to reduce the risk of heart disease. The citrulline in watermelon may also increase levels of nitric oxide, which helps your blood vessels to relax and encourages healthy circulation.
These are only a few of the benefits of eating more watermelon. And with all those nutrients, you might wonder about the benefits of watermelon for sexual dysfunction and performance. We’ll get to that next.
(Piqued your interest? Learn about another fruit with potential benefits in our blog on the benefits of pineapple sexually.)
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How Watermelon Helps Men Sexually
What does watermelon do for men in the bedroom? Could watermelon have a Viagra-like effect? And what are the watermelon benefits for erectile dysfunction and sexual health generally? Keep reading to learn the sexual benefits of watermelon.
1. May Help Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition where affected men are unable to get or maintain an erection firm enough for penetrative sex.
Erectile dysfunction prescription medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra Connect), can help stimulate blood flow to the penis, improving erections. There are also natural home remedies for ED, such as lifestyle changes, reducing blood pressure, checking testosterone levels, and eating a healthy diet.
How erections work is a complex sequence of events, but the gist of it is that chemical messages are sent from the brain to relax smooth muscle in the penis, which then allows blood to flow to the erectile tissue. Blood flow to erectile tissue allows the penis to become firmer and harder, creating an erection.
Citrulline, which is naturally found in watermelon, increases blood flow by helping blood vessels relax. This is because citrulline can be converted to arginine in the body, which is a precursor to nitric oxide—the colourless gas that helps blood vessels stay open and relaxed. Citrulline may also help stimulate enzymes known as cGMPs, which help increase blood flow — and also play a role in erections.
A 2017 study found that men with mild erectile dysfunction had low levels of citrulline and suggested that increasing those levels may help with ED symptoms and sexual function.
A small study of only 13 participants found that citrulline, in combination with other plant compounds, may improve erection firmness, sexual satisfaction, and the ability to maintain an erection.
Few studies have looked at whether a natural watermelon Viagra® is possible, so we can’t say that eating watermelon alone will treat sexual dysfunction. There are certainly other sexual benefits of watermelon, though.
2. May Improve Fertility
Lycopene, one of the key antioxidants found in watermelon, helps reduce oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress, which is the imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in the body, can lead to damage to fatty tissue, proteins, and even DNA in the body. This has been linked to a number of diseases and may play a role in infertility.
Lycopene may reduce oxidative stress, which in turn could boost male fertility.
3. Could Improve Prostate Health
The prostate is a small gland located just below the bladder that helps with semen production. Prostate disease and treatment for prostate cancer are also possible causes of erectile dysfunction.
The lycopene in watermelon may protect the prostate gland against oxidative stress, according to a 2014 review. Another study found that men with high intakes of lycopene also had a lower risk of prostate cancer.
One and a half cups of watermelon contain nine to 13 milligrams of lycopene, making the fruit a rich source of this powerful antioxidant.
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4. Lends Support to Testosterone Production
Watermelon is also a source of zinc, an important nutrient for the immune system and metabolism.
Zinc may also play an important role in testosterone production, which is responsible for maintaining your sex drive.
How to Use Watermelon
Interested to test these fruit and watermelon juice benefits for men for yourself? The easiest way to add more watermelon to your diet is to, well, just eat more of it.
While it’s widely accessible (and juiciest) in most places in the warmer months, you may also find it year-round at some grocery stores.
Cut it into chunks and enjoy it fresh in a bowl, or make fruit skewers, alternating watermelon with other melons and berries.
Looking to get the most citrulline out of your watermelon? You might want to try the watermelon rind, where this amino acid is most concentrated. It’s bitter, though, so some people like to toss it into smoothies instead of taking a bite out of it.
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The Final Word on the Effects of Watermelon Sexually
Does watermelon consumption help you sexually? While watermelon isn’t really “natural Viagra” and won’t be replacing common erectile dysfunction medications anytime soon, there are plenty of benefits of this fruit for your sexual health, as well as your health in general.
Watermelon offers numerous nutritional benefits, with watermelon juice and the whole fruit being excellent sources of vitamins, antioxidants, and more. Just to name a few, watermelon provides potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C.
The antioxidant lycopene in watermelon may help protect your prostate gland and improve fertility, while citrulline, an amino acid, increases blood flow, which could help with erectile function. Meanwhile, the large amount of water in the fruit helps keep you hydrated.
Is watermelon good for sex? It’s unlikely to be enough citrulline or other compounds in watermelon to have a noticeable effect on sexual dysfunction like ED, but it can’t hurt to add more of this healthy fruit to your diet. Plus, if you’re adventurous, try the rind—blended up or raw.
If you’re interested in connecting with a licensed healthcare provider for personalised medical advice or exploring effective ED treatment options, start by taking our free online assessment.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.