![cucumber](http://i.imgur.com/Vx4HLeI.png)
Experts claim that Cucumber contains an essential substance, which can be used as a natural Viagra to cure erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to get and maintain and erection.
It is a very common condition, particularly in older men - and it is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 will have it to some degree.
The condition can have a range of causes, including narrowing of the blood vessels, a problem usually associated with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
While there are a number of ways to treat erectile dysfunction, such as lifestyle changes like losing weight or being prescribed statins - men are sometimes prescribed viagra.
However Nat Hawes, author of Nature Cures, said Citrulline-rich foods - such as cucumber - can help to ‘improve erectile dysfunction in men suffering from low blood pressure’ as well as helping the body to overcome fatigue and stress.
Shona Wilkinson, Nutritionist at Superfooduk.com said: "Citrulline in foods and supplements may indeed help with erectile dysfunction.
"Citrulline is converted in the body into another amino acid called arginine, which then converts into nitric oxide.
"Nitric oxide helps the blood vessels to relax, improving blood flow – including to the genitals.
"In a study on 24 men with mild erectile dysfunction, 12 of the 24 men reported a return to normal erectile function after one month of taking Citrulline supplements every day, versus only two of the men when taking a placebo.
"This is a good indication that it can work.
"You may think that arginine itself in supplements or foods would have a stronger effect than Citrulline."
"But in fact, citrulline has been found to be better absorbed than arginine; and whereas arginine is converted into other substances by the liver before circulating around the body, citrulline passes straight through the liver and is converted into arginine by the kidneys, which then circulates around the body.
"So it may be a better and more effective alternative."
Early studies showed that arginine - an amino acid - supplements helped treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with low nitrate or nitrite levels in their blood or urine.
A scientific study in 2011 concluded that citrulline consumption had a ‘significant positive impact’ for people suffering with mild erectile dysfunction.
Researchers gave men with mild erectile dysfunction a placebo for one month and a citrulline supplement for another month recording the hardness of their erection and the amount of times they had sex.
Scientists tested a total of 24 patients, with an average age of 56.
The results showed: "The improvement in the erection hardness score from three - mild erectile dysfunction to four - normal erectile function - occurred in 2 -8.3 per cent - of the 24 men when taking placebo and 12 (50 per cent) of the 24 men when taking L-citrulline."
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