In a small study published recently in the Journal of Hypertension, a rare event happened where every single one of the participants were able to normalize their blood pressure- without drugs- using nothing but a common fruit extract.
What is more amazing is the extract used and where it comes from. It’s a fruit so common in the summer it’s almost a crime not to eat it at picnics, at least in the US.
It is typical to have at least one or two participants in a study this size to not show the results the others do, so when all 9 participants showed the same result, researchers were happily amazed.
They took a group of men and women who had elevated blood pressure and gave them an extract from watermelon, called L-citrulline, in the amount of 6 grams every day for 6 weeks.
The extract has an effect called improved aortic hemodynamics, and all 9 participants showed evidence of this at the conclusion of the study, lowering their blood pressure to normal without making any other changes in lifestyle or diet.
Watermelon is an inexpensive summer fruit that is widely available all across the US at all seasons.
Will eating the whole fruit help? i.e the green and the red?
Bernard – I don’t think anyone eats the green part. The red part is however really tasty. And it’s so refreshing when you’re in hot weather.
Amazing to hear that EVERYONE experienced improvements. That almost never happens in studies.
I love watermelons. Will definitely try.
It is the green part the rind that has the citrulline
Can you get the L-citrulline somewhere? Watermellon is readilty available in the summer here in Washington state but not so much the rest of the year and what we can get then is not very good. Also, how much watermelon would a person have to eat every day to help with their BP?
It is really irritating to read something that promises to CURE hypertension, and then it says this May not be sufficient to lower your blood pressure, try these exercises. After reading page after page for half hour , you realize there’s a fee to buy something, not knowing if that is going to work or not.
Where do I get this L-citrulline? Thx.
Really a good information
Nancy and Harris: you can buy L-citrulline as supplement in pretty much any health food store as well as online. Many good brands have it like NOW for example.
When it comes to how much watermelon to eat, you need to approach things in a little different way than medications or herbs/supplement. The main thing is to add this healthy food into your normal diet. Having a few pieces of watermelon after a big meal helps digestion and overall health in addition to lower blood pressure. But how much exact to consume, play that by feel.
Arthur: I understand your frustration. Sure we’re plugging our own programs in the link below the article (that’s how we support the site). The fact is that this supplement seems to be extremely effective in lowering blood pressure (in this study it did cure everyone). It may not bring everyone down to a healthy level but it should improve everyones blood pressure.
When it comes to natural health, the key is not to rely on any ONE solution but rather try to make many overall healthy choices that add up to a great healing. That’s why we write so many article here on Blue Heron Health Health News about different things. Doesn’t mean that this ONE thing (like watermelon) is going to be the cure (although it might) but rather that by combining this with other good choices, you’ll eventually bring your blood pressure down to a healthy level.
That is a very small study.Should test it on a lot more people
6 grams sounds like an awful lot,is that amount safe for extended use?
Nancy: Absolutely right this is a VERY small study. So it should only be taken as indicator rather than fixed truth. Most L-citrulline supplement makers recommend 2-3 grams/day. Oftentimes when studies like these are made, researchers use bigger doze for short time to get boxed-in results. For practicality, I’d rather take smaller doze for longer time and combine it with other lifestyle changes and methods.
Which part of the fruit was the extract taken from? How much should one eat in order to benefit? This is a very interesting article.
Christian, I enjoy reading your articles through Blue Heron Health News. Would this L-citruline supplement be effective in lowering or normalizing high blood pressure from all known causes, or just some? I had a mother who went through hormonal changes and suffered from high blood pressure in her 40’s, contracted type 2 diabetes in her 50’s, suffered a stroke at 62 and died of a heart attack at 63. She rarely exercised, harbored much grief and stress, and had a long history of eating processed food. I have a sister who is 52 and has been vegan for over 14 years, who has struggled with peripheral neuropathy, candida albicans, mercury/lead poisoning. She is on a protocol of medications & natural supplements to deal with her health issues. She has had a long history of low blood pressure but is very concerned with her most recent reading where her numbers were high.
Could L-citrulline help folks like these? What other lifestyle changes and methods would you recommend for people who have a history of high blood pressure, or who have been recently diagnosed with it?
I'm very interested in lowering my blood pressure of late… my mother loves watermelon and eats it often; however, she still takes blood pressure medication. I don't like pills or any medication and just found out by way of paramedics that I too, now have high blood pressure.
to get 6 grams one would have to eat at least 2 kg of watermelon on a daily basis! Aside from the unpleasant task WM is high sugar/fructose/GI food and that amount is likely to kill you.
I absolutely LOVE watermelon…..especially when it’s firm, sweet and cold. HOWEVER, eating it every day would be a problem due to its HIGH sugar content. I have a problem with a lot of these health reports because they always stress eating lots of fruit. Fruit should be eaten in moderation. Watermelon, bananas, grapes are high fructose fruits. I guess one can get pass that by taking this L-citrulline but 6 grams???? What?
l-Citrulline is converted by the body into l-Argenine which then leads to an increase of Nitric Oxide in the body. It is the Nitric Oxide that is responsible for relaxing the walls of arteries which leads to lowering blood pressure. Unfortunately, articles say that the Nitric Oxide generation becomes less reliable as one ages. l-Citrulline and l-Argenine are readily available as supplements either online or at a natural foods store. I have a bottle of l-Argenine, and the recommended dose is 3 tablets of 400 mg each per day. That is only 1.2 grams, not 6. OTOH, I have not noticed a reduction in bp from taking 3, either.
Jut google L-citrulline and you will find it is availible in oral dose.
Nothing helps blood pressure if you process stress in a certain way- have tried everything including citrulline supplements.
The white part of the watermelon is highest in L-citrulline
Stress causes my bp to spike and for decades my “white coat syndrome” was misinterpreted in the doctor’s office. The only thing that I have found that helps is meditation. You need not call it that if you prefer to just become quiet within yourself for even a few minutes a day. Practice purging all outside thoughts. Try to see a blank screen. It is worth learning to do.
i will give it a try