Lime, lemon juice improve effectiveness of viagra in men —Study (2024)

L IME and lemon are high in vitamin C and antioxidants — both of which may offer health benefits. Consuming lime or lemon or drinking its juice may improve immunity, reduce heart disease risk factors, prevent kidney stones, aid iron absorption, and promote healthy skin.

Lime, along with other citrus fruits, is a great testosterone boosting food. Much like garlic, they help to lower the levels of cortisol and as such testosterone, the male sex hormone can be more readily produced. In fact, a new study revealed that lime and lemon juices could improve erectile function and combining lime juice with sildenafil (viagra) could be very effective in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED).

In the study conducted by researchers from the Federal University of Technology in Akure, impotent laboratory rats were given the drug with the juice of two limes. The rodents were reported to be having sex within 15 seconds instead of the usual half-hour minimum.

In the Journal of Food Biochemistry, they reported that viagra, which is used for treating erectile dysfunction, combined with lime juice increase levels of nitric oxide in the rodents, leading to a better blood flow. Blood tests in the experiment showed a 70% rise in nitric oxide for the rats given lime juice.

According to them, “lime at 1.0 ml/kg (got from 2 lime fruits) significantly improved the therapeutic properties of sildenafil. While, lemon (0.5 and 1.0 ml/kg) and lime (0.5 ml/kg) did not show any synergistic effect. This study revealed that lime and lemon juices could improve erectile function and combining lime juice with sildenafil could be very effective in the management of ED.”

In Nigeria, the use of lemon and lime juices for the treatment of ED is fast becoming common practice, even though there is a dearth of information on the effect of such functional food and drug combination in the management of erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get and maintain an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse. Men who experience ED have decreased blood flow to the penis, which could be caused by many things, from drug side effects to stress or high blood pressure.

Experts in the International Journal of Impotence and Research of 2000 projected that the worldwide prevalence of erectile dysfunction will increase to 322 million men by 2025. Also, the age-adjusted prevalence rate of ED among men attending primary care clinics was found to be 57.4% in Nigeria.

Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that approximately 10% of men aged 40 to 70 have severe or complete erectile dysfunction, defined as the total inability to achieve or maintain erections sufficient for sexual performance.

Age was the variable most strongly associated with ED. The prevalence of ED increased from 67% for men 50 years old to 89% for those 75 years old. The prevalence of moderate and complete ED was 29%, increasing rapidly with age from 12% for age 50 years to 58% at age 75 years.

Previously, researchers said watermelon like lemon is a natural aphrodisiac due to a substance contained within it, particularly in the white part close to the skin. This is citrulline, an amino acid that is converted in our body into arginine, another amino acid that relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

Because watermelon is mostly water, the highest concentrations of citrulline come from concentrated watermelon juice. Men who want to try watermelon as a natural viagra may find better results with watermelon juice.

Research into the effects of citrulline and watermelon is relatively new. Most studies have been small or looked only at animals. As such, it is too early to say there is conclusive proof that watermelon can act as a natural viagra.

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Preliminary research is promising, and there are no risks associated with consuming watermelon, as such most men can safely try watermelon juice or citrulline supplements as an alternative to Viagra.

A 2011 study followed 24 men with mild ED. The men took a placebo for 1 month. For another month, they took a citrulline supplement. Just two of the men taking a placebo saw their erections return to normal hardness levels. But half of the men who took citrulline experienced improvements that brought their erections to normal hardness levels.

Men who took citrulline also had more sex, averaging 1.37 sessions of intercourse per month before treatment, and 2.3 per month after treatment. None of the men experienced side effects.

In another 2014 study, which evaluated male rats treated with watermelon flesh extract, rats who consumed watermelon were more likely to mount females and start intercourse. The study’s author said this increase in libido, might make watermelon a viable treatment for ED. There were no serious side effects, and the rats that ate watermelon extract did not experience an increase in weight.

Also, a 2005 study found that red watermelon was slightly lower in citrulline than yellow or orange varieties. Watermelon rind has higher concentrations of citrulline than the fruit’s flesh. There were no significant differences between seeded and seedless watermelon varieties. So to maximise citrulline intake, people can try blending watermelon rind in a smoothie.

Moreover, watermelon is likely not as effective as viagra, and may not work for men who have not been able to get an erection with viagra. This is because watermelon increases blood flow to the penis, just like viagra.