Watermelon: an ally of your diet and a friend of sex

Some of the characteristics that make watermelon a popular fruit include its eye-catching color, distinctive flavor and high water content, which gives it particular effectiveness in helping us stay hydrated.

Thanks to its high water content, watermelon is low in calories, therefore improving markers associated with overweight and obesity, such as body weight and body mass index (BMI).

Despite its low calories, watermelon contains important nutrients: in fact, it is a valuable source of vitamins, minerals and other substances that contribute to our well-being. Vitamins provided by watermelon consumption include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folate. Vital electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iron are also found in watermelon. Together these nutrients, which function as cofactors for numerous enzymes, play important roles in cell signaling, contributing to the maintenance of cell architecture and promoting healthy differentiation. In addition, watermelon has a higher antioxidant content than many other fruits.

For men, watermelon may have additional benefits related to the sexual and reproductive spheres.

Indeed, the male reproductive system is particularly sensitive to structural and functional changes that can lead to infertility. Therefore, in some cases it is necessary to improve or mitigate the factors responsible for changes in the male organs.

Free radicals can contribute to infertility in men, as their overproduction can affect sperm quality and quantity. Watermelon is rich in antioxidants that help to scavenge free radicals and protect the body from oxidative stress, which can otherwise lead to cellular damage. One of the main antioxidants found in the fruit, lycopene, has been shown to reduce sperm DNA damage caused by oxidative stress in both fertile and infertile men.

Watermelon also contains a high content of vitamin C, the presence of which protects sperm by neutralizing hydroxyl, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide radicals and inhibits their agglutination. Consequently, the presence of vitamin C is believed to promote peroxidation, improving sperm morphology and viability.

Finally, watermelon is rich in citrulline, an amino acid that-reacting to enzymes in the human body-transforms into arginine, the amino acid involved in nitric oxide synthesis. Through this process, citrulline boosts the cardiovascular system by promoting dilation and increasing the elasticity of blood vessels. The vasodilatory properties of citrulline promote erection and fight erectile dysfunction. Vasodilation increases the turgor of the corpora cavernosa and contributes to penile erection. In addition, citrulline decreases muscle fatigue, facilitates aerobic physical activity, and promotes mental and physical recovery during stress.

CitrullUP™ is a sugar-free dry extract obtained from whole fruits of watermelons grown in Sicily, standardized to 20% citrulline and supported on an amaranth-based plant matrix.

Thanks to the synergy between its components, Citrull-up™ presents an optimized nutritional profile for both nutraceutical and functional food and beverage companies seeking to offer premium products.

Citrull-up™ is positioned as a key ingredient to meet the growing demand for natural products enriched with powerful nutrients: including it in formulations will result in a distinctive product that meets market needs with an ingredient that combines the best of Sicilian citrus tradition with Amunì's innovation.