A study has stated that despite watermelon being a summer fruit, it can lower down blood pressure and avoid hypertension.

Food scientists at Florida State University led a study in which it was found that blood pressure in all nine middle-aged people who had prehypertension was lowered by eating six grams of watermelon extract a day for six weeks.

It is now being stated that before prehypertension becomes hypertension, it can be lowered down by eating the fruit and hypertension is also a major risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.

FSU Assistant Professor Arturo Figueroa, the lead researcher said, “Given the encouraging evidence generated by this preliminary study, we hope to continue the research and include a much larger group of participants in the next round.”

Being the richest edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, an amino acid that's essential to the regulation of healthy blood pressure, Figueroa and his team tested watermelon extract.

No adverse effects were reported by the participants as the fruit is well tolerated.

Other benefits of watermelon are abundant vitamins like A, B6, C, and fiber, potassium and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, being provided.