(16-11-12) Watermelon plays a significant role in lowering heart disease risk and aiding weight management

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) It will come as no surprise to health-minded individuals that
compounds from natural fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds directly alter
genetic expression to promote health and prevent many chronic diseases. A
number of prior studies have extolled the many virtues of eating an apple each
day to prevent cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer.

Watermelon is the next food to ascend to nutritional stardom, as it fights the
accumulation of arterial plaque to help prevent a heart attack and is proving
to be an important ally in weight management. A research team from Purdue
University and the University of Kentucky has published the results of a study
in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry that finds watermelon has many
potentially bioactive compounds including citrulline, which may influence the
development of atherosclerosis.

Scientists using a mouse model known to mirror human biochemistry found that
consuming a diet including watermelon and watermelon juice provided
considerable cardiovascular health benefits as compared to a control group. The
team determined that citrulline, a bioactive compound found in watermelon, was
responsible for lowering levels of deadly oxidized LDL cholesterol, reducing
the volume of arterial plaque and aiding in weight management for the
supplemented animals.

Citrulline from watermelon reduces arterial plaque volume to prevent heart
disease
For this study, scientists divided mice into two groups that were fed a diet
high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Half of the mice drank water that
consisted of two percent watermelon juice, while the other mice drank the same
amount of water mixed with a solution that matched the carbohydrate content of
the fruit juice. Researchers found that the watermelon-supplemented group
experienced a 50 percent lower level of oxidized LDL cholesterol, a result
consistent with past studies using apples.

More importantly, a 50 percent decrease in arterial plaque was detected in the
supplemented group, as well as high circulating levels of the potent
antioxidant, citrulline. The scientists also determined that the supplemented
mice gained 30 percent less weight than the control group. The researchers
concluded "We know that watermelon is good for health because it contains
citrulline.... we don't know yet at what molecular level it's working, and
that's the next step."

As nutrition scientists continue to study the precise health-promoting
mechanisms behind watermelon consumption, we can add this important fruit to
the growing list of natural, raw foods that help prevent chronic disease. This
study used a very low concentration of watermelon juice (two percent) to
achieve a significant reduction in arterial plaque volume. Consuming the tasty
fruit several times a week should provide lower risk of heart attack and
cardiovascular disease when eaten as part of a diet that eliminates processed
and refined foods.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.jnutbio.com/article/S0955-2863(12)00154-4/abstract
http://www.purdue.edu
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251090.php

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