A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of
July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra _ but
don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.

Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger
production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to
what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the
nation's top producers of the seedless variety.

Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the
body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine,
an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.

"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same
basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even
prevent it," said Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's
Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center. "Watermelon may not be as organ-specific
as Viagra, but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side
effects."

Todd Wehner, who studies watermelon breeding at North Carolina State
University, said anyone taking Viagra shouldn't expect the same result from
watermelon.

"It sounds like it would be an effect that would be interesting but not
a substitute for any medical treatment," Wehner said.

The nitric oxide can also help with angina, high blood pressure and
other cardiovascular problems, according to the study, which was paid for by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More citrulline _ about 60 percent _ is
found in watermelon rind than in the flesh, Patil said, but that can vary. But
scientists may be able to find ways to boost the concentrations in the flesh, he
said.

Citrulline is found in all colors of watermelon and is highest in the
yellow-fleshed types, said Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a USDA researcher in Lane,
Okla.

She said Patil's research is valid, but with a caveat: One would need
to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's
arginine level.

"The problem you have when you eat a lot of watermelon is you tend to
run to the bathroom more," Perkins-Veazie said.

Watermelon is a diuretic and was a homeopathic treatment for kidney
patients before dialysis became widespread.

Another issue is the amount of sugar that much watermelon would spill
into the bloodstream _ a jolt that could cause cramping, Perkins-Veazie said.

Patil said he would like to do future studies on how to reduce the
sugar content in watermelon.
The relationship between citrulline and
arginine might also prove helpful to those who are obese or suffer from type-2
diabetes. The beneficial effects _ among them the ability to relax blood
vessels, much like Viagra does _ are beginning to be revealed in research.

Citrulline is present in other curcubits, like cucumbers and
cantaloupe, at very low levels, and in the milk protein casein. The highest
concentrations of citrulline are found in walnut seedlings, Perkins-Veazie said.

"But they're bitter and most people don't want to eat them," she
said.

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隨意 @ 5:34 PM

華語很酷, 所以用華語寫作是酷上加酷. Say cool man! :D

嗯.. 從來沒有強烈感覺過, 不過這次.. 時間過得好快. 一天一天地, 怎麼就星期三了! 本說幾時幾時做什麼的, 不過計劃的到頭來, 好像都做不成的..

忙得喘不過氣..

好啦. 拜. 不要讓這個地方死掉好不好. 像我醬隨筆亂寫也 ok..

A quote from my newfound idol! :P

"從來沒有擁有過得東西, 不用害怕會失去.."

--- 袁帥

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Paint the town red. @ 7:56 PM

I saw this while I was watching some 9pm variety last night, and I got most amused. haha! ok to be justly fair, I know of its existence (of this thang thang) but just that i've never got to taste before.

heee.. i want to.. taiwan! taiwan is good enough really! retail therapy badly wanted needed. i want le tea! i want.. hmm, donuts. ok maybe not. hah, i know.

I WANT THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

clever arse.

why won't weekends just learn to drag on and on like weekdays? time management please!

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Proper introductory! @ 9:01 PM

hello, we don’t really have a name for now but we call ourselves the ‘xi-gua family’, inspired from the group’s sprouting passion for watermelons (xi-gua). no worries though, we will come up with a bang-bang one real soon ya. maybe some duck or whatnot.

our founders are both science enthusiasts and we are indeed joyous to have our chairman, Mr Tan who teaches chemistry, and Mdm Phua, who teaches the art of contraception life sciences, hmm ok, biology. having had all as companions for so long, we talk about oxidation, and different proteins found in different foods over meals respectively.

AND! do not assume that joining us is a simple thing. we put interested parties to the test, aka putting them on probation. the duration varies from person to person, some over a meal to some who is still on probation spite two long weeks of probation. extra simple criteria though, sitting “on this table requires very strong gong-li”, as our chairman puts it in one of his rally speeches.

we do almost everything fun with watermelons, we eat them, we juice them, we study the seeds… and we protect watermelons. hmm, maybe we should rename to ‘PTWM’ right, you think? that’s short for Protect The Watermelons Movement. idea!

neeways, should there be anything fictional/ fantasy on this blog that we think so but it is simply another opinion, we are happy to take note of, but please. rephrase it so it sounds better.

right. more updates soon!

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