Watermelon could be the ideal tonic after exercise. A glass of watermelon juice might be just the tonic you need after an intense exercise session according to a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Researchers from the Department of Food Engineering, Universidad Politecnica de Cartagena in Spain found that watermelon contains high levels of L-Citrulluine, an amino acid with significant antioxidant properties and a considerable ability to generate nitric oxide. In the small-scale study, seven healthy University of Mercia sports science students took part in a maximum effort test using a cycloergometer. At three different times, each athlete consumed 500ml natural watermelon juice, enriched watermelon juice and a placebo drink. Results showed that muscle soreness 24 hours after the exercise was significantly greater when the cyclists drank the placebo compared to consumption of the watermelon juice, whilst the results for both the standard and enriched juices were the same. The natural watermelon juice contained 1.17g of the amino acid L-Citrulluine, suggesting that this was sufficient to reduce the soreness. L-Citrulluine is also found in significant amounts in other melons, squashes, cucumbers and pumpkins. Lead researcher Martha P Tarazona-Diaz concluded, “watermelon juice, naturally rich in L-Citrulluine, is an excellent option for athletes who want to improve their sports performance.” Reviewed by Rachel Bartholomew Dip ION MBANT, NTC, CNHC References: Tarazona-Diaz, M. P. Alacid F, et al. Watermelon Juice: Potential Functional Drink for Sore Muscle Relief in Athletes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Published online ahead of print. July 17 2013 dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf400964r
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:13:00 +0000
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