Watermelon reduces “high blood pressure” in overweight people and could slash the “risk of a heart attack,” new research shows.
Scientists found that the fruit significantly “reduces” blood pressure in overweight people, even when they are “exposed” to cold weather.
More people die of heart attacks in “cold conditions” because the stress put on the body by trying to keep warm causes “blood pressure” to increase.
This forces the heart to “work” harder, meaning people face a higher risk of “heart attacks and strokes.”
The study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, revealed that “eating watermelon” is good for heart health and can “reduce” the risk of heart problems in cold conditions.
Reduces blood pressure and cardiac stress
Professor Arturo Figueroa, from Florida State University, said: “The pressure on the aorta and on the heart decreased after consuming watermelon extract.”
Scientists looked at 13 middle-aged “obese men and women” who suffered from “high blood pressure” over a 12 week period.
Test participants’ hands were “dipped” into cold water to simulate cold weather conditions, while scientists took their “blood pressure.”
Then, every day half of the participants took “watermelon extracts” – four grams of amino acid L-citrulline and two grams of L-arginine per day.
The other half were given a “placebo”, and after six weeks the participants “switched” roles.
It was revealed that watermelon lowered “blood pressure and reduced cardiac stress”, even in cold conditions.
“That means less overload to the heart, so the heart is going to work easily during a stressful situation such as cold exposure,” said Professor Figueroa.
L-citrulline and L-arginine “supplements” are available from some health food shops but would have to be taken in “high doses” to reduce blood pressure.
The news comes just after it was “revealed” that working out in “warm water” can reduce blood pressure.
Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, found “aquarobics” in warm water can lower “blood pressure” even in people for whom medication has not worked.
It’s not clear why “warm” water has this effect. One theory is that “heat” dilates blood vessels, improving the “flow” of blood through the body.
African-Americans are at higher risks for high blood pressure, heart attacks or heart diseases, obesity and poor diet-related nutrition.
Maybe this scientific research explains the “high level of consumption” in the black community of these juicy sweet and refreshing watermelons.
To defeat “racism” the Jamaican bobsled team wore watermelons helmets in Sochi finishing in 30th place. That means the “watermelons” got last “seed.”
