Watermelon is a delicious and refreshing fruit that offers numerous physiological benefits to the cardiovascular system. One of the key reasons watermelon is beneficial for heart health is its high concentration of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation and improve blood flow. Lycopene has been shown to lower levels of LDL cholesterol, often referred to as "bad" cholesterol, and decrease the risk of developing heart disease. Additionally, watermelon is rich in citrulline, an amino acid that relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation. This can help lower blood pressure and reduce the strain on the heart, ultimately promoting a healthy cardiovascular system. Furthermore, watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as potassium, all of which play important roles in maintaining heart health and supporting overall cardiovascular function. By including watermelon in your diet, you can enjoy its delicious taste while reaping the benefits of its cardiovascular-boosting properties.
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00:00There's nothing like fresh, cold watermelon, but hold on a second, we're talking about
00:08our heart, our cardiovascular system, our arteries, blood supply, oxygen to our cells,
00:16but there's a lot going on in watermelon.
00:19These seeds are extremely helpful and healthy, lots of fiber, healthy fats with essential
00:26minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc.
00:30These are great to put in your smoothies, but hold on, there's something inside this
00:35watermelon you want to know about, it's called citrulline.
00:40It's an amino acid, and that amino acid gets converted in our body to arginine, and arginine
00:47gets converted to nitric oxide, and this is where all the magic begins.
00:53This will cause a widening of the blood vessels, improves blood flow, and there's no doubt
00:58that citrulline found in that watermelon that we eat, which is the red part, is extremely
01:03healthy for us because that ultimately gets converted to nitric oxide.
01:07But in the rind, the outside of the red, inside the skin, this white rind here is filled with
01:15potent citrulline, and if you're going to get that more vasodilatory effect, I recommend
01:21that you put it in your smoothies, cut it a little bit further in than just the red
01:27part in itself.
01:29Put the seeds in there as well, it's full of nutrients, but eating this watermelon has
01:36amazing physiological effects that I want to share with you.
01:40And watermelon is a rich source of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and lycopene, and these
01:45antioxidants help oxidative stress and inflammation in the blood vessels, which protects against
01:52the development of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, which is clogged arteries.
02:00And what I love about watermelon is when it comes to blood pressure, that a vast high
02:06majority of our people throughout the world has high blood pressure to some degree.
02:13When we vasodilate those arteries, the heart has to work less, less pressure, more volume
02:21versus constriction of our blood vessels, which the heart has to pump harder.
02:27So through watermelon, making the citrulline and the arginine, arginine and the nitric
02:31oxide, causing that vasodilatory effect, our blood pressure is going to come down.
02:37And that's why I recommend people out there who have higher blood pressure to supplement
02:42with watermelon, watermelon shakes, however it works for you.
02:47But you'll be shocked from the great results you can get.
02:51And studies show that watermelon consumption improves arterial stiffness, a common marker
02:57of cardiovascular health.
03:00And by promoting that elasticity in our blood vessels, watermelon components like citrulline
03:05will help maintain optimal vascular function.
03:08So in other words, if this is the artery right here, and the blood's running inside
03:13the artery, if these arteries remain stiff, it does not have the opportunity to open or
03:20close.
03:21That stiffness eventually can lead to increased blood pressure and more further pathologies.
03:27So you need to start incorporating a healthy diet.
03:30And if you have high blood pressure, you potentially may even have high blood sugar, you may be
03:36overweight, you may have lots of stress.
03:39By eating a healthy diet composed of fresh vegetables and fruit, legumes, your healthy
03:46proteins, your healthy fats, your body can go through tremendous healing.
03:53You'll lose weight, you put less stress on your joints, you'll have more energy, more
03:57oxygen, better sleep.
04:00You will be able to focus and concentrate better by just changing your diet.
04:07So by supplementing watermelon, there's no doubt in my mind that you will reap those
04:13benefits.
04:14So remember, the watermelon just isn't the red that you see here.
04:21It's the white rind in here as well as the seeds, and they are all healthy for you.
04:27So start eating your watermelon because it will hydrate you, it will fill you.
04:33Yes, when you're trying to lose that weight, watermelon can be a great asset as well.
04:40I hope this video serves you well.
04:42Please share it with your friends and family, and most important, make it a great day.
04:47I'm Dr. Alan Mandel.