Drinking watermelon juice can relieve the muscle soreness experienced after rigorous exercise, a new study has found.
According to the study published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, watermelon juice may relieve post-exercise muscle soreness due to the amino acid L-citrulline present in the summer fruit.
Previous research had identified watermelon juice's antioxidant properties and its potential to increase muscle protein and enhance athletic performance.
However, scientists had yet to explore the effectiveness of watermelon juice drinks enriched in L-citrulline.
Encarna Aguayo and colleagues tested natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline and a control drink containing no L-citrulline on volunteers an hour before exercise.
Both the natural juice and the enriched juice relieved muscle soreness in the volunteers, researchers said.
L-citrulline in the natural juice (unpasteurised), however, seemed to be more bioavailable - in a form the body could better use, the study found.
