Enhance Libido
I wish I had a watermelon. Have you ever said that? You may want to wish for that watermelon even more now – especially if you are interested in increasing your sex drive or libido.
Sometimes you read an article like this on Mello and you think to yourself, “right, like watermelon juice is going to boost my sex drive?” And, then you wake up the next day with a tummy ache from eating too much watermelon saying, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” Haha!
But, there is something to watermelons. It stimulates nitric oxide production. Next to oxygen and water, nitric oxide may be the most important molecule in the body. Watermelons are one food high in citrulline, an amino acid. And, citrulline gets converted to arginine. And, arginine stimulates nitric oxide production. And, nitric oxide production improves blood flow. And, increased blood flow improves erectile function – just like the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone which is connected to the shin bone and so on.
The Power of Citrulline
Citrulline is a key ingredient in a supplement we have referred to called NEO40. There are 250 mg of citrulline per cup of watermelon flesh. In humans, studies show that consumption of watermelon lead to increase levels of arginine when consumed in large amounts. That’s where consuming watermelon juice comes in – don’t have to eat all that watermelon. Three to six cups of watermelon juice increases blood arginine levels 12% to 22% in humans.
Why Not Just Take Arginine?
Arginine is another amino acid and is readily available in protein powders and a stand alone supplement. So why not just take it to boost nitric oxide production and increase libido? The problem is arginine goes down 8 different metabolic pathways and only 3% of it goes down the pathway that stimulates nitric oxide production.
And, studies using arginine have not always shown results in terms of libido and erectile performance. Now you know why. However, the arginine produced from citrulline selectively goes down the pathway that stimulates nitric oxide production. So citrulline is the key more so than arginine.
But Wait….. There’s More About Citrulline and Arginine
Arginine blocks an enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). The blocking of TNAP leads to less fat deposition in our fat cells. Arginine also reduces complications related to diabetes, the pain of arthritis, improves cholesterol and triglyceride levels, enhances the immune system, limits sun damage to skin, and reduces inflammation related to asthma.
And, now you have convenient ways to obtain citrulline/arginine that improves nitric oxide production; NEO40 or Mello. Beet juice is another source. Sucking on hard watermelon flavored candy isn’t going to work though.
Why Libido Matters: A Great Marker of Health
Some think discussing libido is silly and for the immature – that they’re above such a discussion. Or, they simply accept declining libido as a fact of life. Well, it doesn’t have to be. So why so much time and effort discussing it beyond the obvious? It just so happens that libido is a very good marker of general health. Now when we talk about libido you should compare yourself to yourself – not someone else. Everyone’s different in this area.
Certainly libido declines some with age, but it should not be nonexistent at any age. Low libido could be an indicator of disease – heart disease, vascular disease, depression or diabetes. It could be related to medications (blood pressure, antidepressants, or statin drugs for cholesterol). It could be an indicator of low hormones.
It could mean there’s too much stress in your life. Or, it could mean there’s something wrong with your relationship. But, it generally means something is wrong. If someone has a healthy libido, they are probably healthy – physically and psychologically/emotionally (for them). In that sense, libido could be a screening tool when evaluating someone from a general health perspective and from a relationship standpoint.
Low libido should not be ignored even if sex is unimportant to you.
Does this apply to only men or to women as well? Post menopause, what’s a woman to do?
Yes, women would benefit from increased nitric oxide, too. But, it may also take hormone replacement therapy for libido and sexual function to be restored to acceptable levels in both men and women. Also adopting a diet high in foods like spinach, kale, arugula, bok choy, and cruciferous vegetables can help generate higher nitric oxide levels.