Two weeks ago, I had the privilege to join up with some other like-minded entrepreneurs for a "Maverick Business Adventure" getaway to Aspen, Colorado. We did some whitewater rafting, rapelling, rock climbing, mountain biking and 4×4'ing in the beautiful rocky mountains. We also had some strategic business sessions, sharing ideas and learning new things to help us grow our businesses.

Here's a pic of me rapelling down a cliff with my "Inconceivable" t-shirt on (thanks Mike!):

Here's a pic of me with 3 awesome internet entrepreneurs, Yanik Silver, Mike Hill and Mike Filsaime. I really appreciate these guys, and it was great to be on top of a mountain with some of the internet's smartest thinkers and "doers":

We also had the opportunity to meet with about 75 cool kids in Aspen, in a round-table discussion of being an entrepreneur. We spent a couple hours sharing helpful strategies and ideas to help these kids realize they can accomplish their goals if they set their mind to it and take some risks. This is a pic of me with a 12-year old future-millionaire, Garrett. He's already got an ebay business, and he was taking a slew of notes, which was awesome to see!

One of the most memorable parts of this trip was the opportunity to meet Frank McKinney. He is a maverick by anyone's definition. He builds multi-million dollar mansions on the Gold Coast in Florida - he's about to unveil a $29 million "green" home in February - and then uses the proceeds to help build houses and orphanages in poverty-stricken Haiti. Frank's home office is a treehouse in his backyard, and in February I'm planning to attend his Ultimate Tour of Extremes. If you're looking for a charitable organization to contribute to, I highly recommend Frank's Caring House Project.

The day after I got home from Aspen, I was riding bikes with my kids in the driveway. I told my 7 year old, Sedric, that I'd race him around the driveway. Sure enough, he was beating me… until he wiped out around a turn and unfortunately he broke his leg. It bummed him out for a few days, but now (one week later) he's doing a lot better. He's making the most of using his wheelchair around the house, and we're trying to get him to use his crutches more. School starts Wednesday, so thankfully he had some time to practice. Here's a pic of Sed in the hospital, playing with his new Webkins online. Hey, maybe he'll be the next young entrepreneur of the family!

I hope you enjoyed these pics and another glimpse into the life of an internet entrepreneur. I'm blessed to be able to work from home, and I'm thankful for everyone who visits Barton Publishing and recommends our natural remedy reports to their friends and family.

God bless you & yours!

Joe

By Bob Condor

We are all consumers of nutrition research. Some of us skim the headlines, maybe wave off the latest plus/minus review of, say, the caffeine in our coffee or whether apples really do keep the doctor away (the answer is yes, and there is even a good argument that eating one to three apples daily an hour before a meal keeps the weight down too).

Others among us are sure to read the newspaper or magazine story, maybe clip it out for a loved one or post it on the fridge. Some slice of individuals dig even deeper, looking up the newest study on the net or, ahem, bookmarking favorite health sites and blogs.

What’s less clear is just how we consumers of nutrition research use the information reported. A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine reports an important distinction in how Americans act on scientific findings about herba, vitamins and other dietary supplements. It turns out we are quicker to respond to nutrition research that suggests body harm and don’t waver much if a nutrition shows a supplement is ineffective, yes, but not harmful.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s “bioethics” division analyzed the U.S. sales of five major supplements from 2001 through 2006, then cross-referenced those money figures with positive and negative media reports about the supplements.

Here’s what the federal scientists discovered: For four of the five supplements­–St. John’s wort, Echinacea, saw palmetto and glucosamine­­–there was little or no changes in sales no matter if the news was good (the herb works, helps this disease, products contain what they claim) or bad (the supplement showed no benefit, there is no evidence it works for blank, lab tests show some herb products have less of the active ingredient than promised.

Only in the case of vitamin E were sales adversely affected. In that case, there were widespread media reports and commentaries about a major study linking regular 400 IU doses of vitamin E with increased risk of death from heart attacks and coronary artery disease. There were other studies connecting higher doses of E with potential problems. It was evidently enough to persuade U.S. adults to take less of the vitamin.

More on Do dietary supplements work? It's your call

During his 200-meter butterfly gold medal victory at the Summer Olympics, as he unexplicably out-touched Croation swimmer Milorad Cavic with a thrusting wing-line stroke at the finish, Michael Phelps couldn’t see more than a few meters in front of himself during the last half of the race. His goggles filled with water, a major frustration for any of us doing laps in a pool, much less while you are trying to win gold.

So how did Phelps react to the adversity. He counted strokes to gauge just where he was in the pool, when to anticipate the flip turn for the last 50-meter length, then at what point to hit the after-burners for the mad dash and splash to the touch panel at the finish. Swimmers typically count their strokes during long hours of training, in part to know exactly how they are progressing and in perhaps even larger part because it occupies the mind and eliminates boredom.

Oh, yeah, Phelps set a new world record in that watery-eyed event.

You likely know that Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD ADD as a 9-year-old. He took a stimulant medication for three years. Remember, this was a decade ago when diagnosis typically always followed closely with a prescription. Phelps himself asked him his mom, Debbie, who has received plenty of touching air time in the last 10 days, to go off the meds. Debbie struggled with the decision but Michael’s prowess in the pool was already clear to coach Bob Bowman, so the 12-year-old middle schooler Phelps thrived in a highly structured regimen of practices and meets.

Cure Hyperactivity Naturally and End ADD/ADHD Without Drugs!

More on Gold Medal Secret: Hyperfocus, ADHD ADD and Michael Phelps

By Bob Condor

More Americans are having trouble reading eye charts. That’s the bottom-line finding from a study published earlier this month in the Archives of Ophthalmology medical journal. Nearly half of all U.S. adults have some sort of vision problem, far greater than any previous estimates. One difference is a much larger number of people with nearsightedness or myopia.

Interestingly, the new stat aligns more closely with other countries’ collective adult vision For instance, it’s a straight-on match with people of Chinese origin. Compromised vision is widely connected by scientists as genetic and not associated with, say, reading too long without corrective lenses or watching too much television and/or playing video games.

Sorry about that final point, parents. You will have to find another explanation why you are turning off the set or signing off.

There are some distinct risk factors for vision problems, including cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degneration (when central vision is blurred and peripheral vision is still clear). Smoking and obesity increase risk, and so does inadequate antioxidants in your diet.

An upcoming post will introduce a series of posts related to weight loss, which can not only drop pounds but improve your health in such areas as vision. Smoking? The potential for messing up your future vision, especially developing macular degeneration, seems high motivation to quit.

So let’s talk about antioxidants and dietary supplements. Whether you already struggle with vision problems, don’t want to experience and/or have family history, there are some effective strategies for your food and supplement intake:

Lutein: A number of studies point to this antioxidant and a companion, zeaxanthin, as substances that can prevent or delay eye diseases. Oklahoma State University researchers report that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce cataract risks (especially during post-menopause) and lessen macular degeneraton symptoms.

One vital note about lutein and zeaxanthin: Research shows successful prevention of symptoms only at higher doses, such as 10 to 15 milligrams daily. A lower dose doesn’t appear to have much, if any, effect. In fact, some studies increase the dose to upwards of 40 milligrams per day.

More on Discover How to Protect Your Vision with Food, Supplements

By Bob Condor

The new Barton Publishing “How to Reverse Diabetes Naturally” rightfully devotes a significant number of pages to how your diet can control and even reverse this disease. It’s a report you don’t want to miss if diabetes is a health issue for you or a loved one. There are a number of achievable action steps you can take to control not only blood sugar but your quality of life.

Click here to buy the Report.

And, happily, it’s not all deprivation and dull. Nothing even close.

Three new studies published in a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine support just that point. In one paper, researchers found that low-fat diet doesn’t necessarily lead to a lower diabetes risk. But one caution: The fats in your diet need to be healthy—olive oil, salmon and nuts are examples—rather than overdo it on saturated fats and, worse, trans fats in processed foods.

Another study in the journal linked higher diabetes risk with lower consumption of vegetables and fruits. Don’t interpret the findings as a negative. What’s to be learned here is that eating more fresh veggies and fruits (some ideas: add frozen berries to your smoothies, spread peanut butter on celery stalks, try cherries/raisins/grapes in your salad, routinely add a whole vegetable to any soups that you make from scratch or the can) is a positive step. Aiming for a minimum five servings (basically equivalent to a half-cup per serving) and regularly hitting eight to nine servings can dramatically improve blood sugar regulation.

More on Fresh research: The best diet to control diabetes

Here are some pics from our summer vacation.

From Kansas City:

From inside the St. Louis Arch:

Click this link to see more pictures from our summer vacation:

More on Barton summer vacation pictures!

By Bob Condor

Not surprisingly, the media was quick to report a July study that linked tofu with increased memory loss. As a journalist, I can see the headline is hard to resist. British and Indonesian researchers discovered that older Indonesians (above age 68) who ate high amounts of tofu experienced memory loss at a greater rate than fellow Indonesians who ate tofu moderately.

The study was published in a respected geriatric journal and was funded by an Alzheimer’s research foundation. The researchers pointed out the phytoestrogens or plant nutrients in soy provide “neuroprotection” to the brains of middle-aged individuals (65 and younger) but seem to be potentially too active for the aging brain. More research is needed, said the researchers and the Alzheimer’s officials who commented.

One interesting note that was reported in more complete media reports: Eating large amounts of tempeh, another form of fermented soy that is produced from the whole bean, seemed to actually boost memory in those same older Indonesians. The reason? Probably the higher amount of folate found in tempeh when compared with tofu. Folate or folic acid is B vitamin most widely associated with preventing birth defects when consumed in adequate amounts by expectant mothers. It has been increasingly associated with promoting healthy cell formation (and sustaining the life of cells) in the brain. A daily vitamin B supplement is a feasible protective measure, plus the “B’s” are renowned for fighting off stress.

Here’s the DHB take on tofu: If you are adding some protein to your vegetarian stir-fry, tempeh seems a “safe” choice. But before you skip the tofu option, remember that nutrition research can be more like a marathon than a sprint (to get us in the mindset of this summer’s Olympics in Beijing). You will find lots of warnings about the dangers of soy on the Internet, yet there are plenty of studies that connect soy with healthy immune systems and longevity.

More on Tofu, tempeh and your memory

By Bob Condor

Consider a group of parents with school-age children. Chances are you can generate some lively discussion by introducing the topic of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. You would not only get plenty of opinions about whether it is overprescribed, underdiagnosed and the like, but it’s quite possible you would hear some spirited discussion about whether kids should take drugs when identified with the condition.

“Not drugs, but St. John’s wort would be good,” said one mom to me several months back.

Well, maybe not. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported no difference between an eight-week course of St. John’s wort compared to eight weeks of a placebo when treating ADHD in children and adolescent ages 6 to 17. The controlled, randomized, double-blind research was performed at Bastyr University in Seattle, arguably the country’s leading natural health medical school.

Dr. Wendy Weber, a naturopathic physician and lead researcher for the study, was aiming to find out if the highly common practice of parents giving over-the-counter St. John’s wort to children was effective. There is little research to support the herb for ADHD but Dr. Weber and many health professionals have observed the St. John’s wort-ADHD phenomenon.

Problems with your child's hyperactivity? Click here for the Drug-Free, Natural, ADD/ADHD Remedy Report!

More on Natural remedies for ADHD; Take St. John’s wort off the list

By Bob Condor

Medical researchers are still buzzing about two new studies published earlier this year showing that older, cheaper and generic blood pressure medications featuring "water pills" or diuretics serve as an effective first defense against blood readings of 140 over 90 and up.

Interestingly, another study just released makes a case for the cholesterol-fighting class of medications called statins to be capable of serving double-duty by also reducing blood pressure.

But Dr. Nancy Welliver, a Seattle-based naturopathic physician and faculty member at Bastyr University, says there is good evidence that taking a diuretic will cause your body to stay on the blood pressure drug for life because it actually limits water and fluids. And don’t get her started on using statins to control cholesterol and blood pressure.

"The oldest medicines are really good food, good care, good water and good love," Welliver said.

Now you have to love that sort of answer. She had more to say to the Daily Health Blog, including how dehydration as child might show up again in adult life. Parents take note.

“Drinking lots of water is beneficial for blood pressure,” said Dr. Welliver. “The research literature is interesting. It showed infants who tended to go through some level of dehydration as babies will have higher blood pressure during adult years."

High blood pressure holding you back in life?
Click here to get the High Blood Pressure Remedy Report.

More on Beat blood pressure without drugs, even the meds are cheap

By Bob Condor

And now for something completely different.

No kidding.

It might not exactly be health research, but your quality of life is at stake.

No joke.

New research suggests men hear the most intimate things you say to them best when told through the left ear. It might be romantic words, angry outbursts, even insides jokes. All best heard through the left ear.

But if you are giving directions or reminding a guy of what he needs to pick up at the store, opt for the right ear.

It all comes down to the left brain, right brain reports we have all heard in years past. Strange as it might sound, the right ear is the “entry point” for the left side of the brain, which is more logical and less emotional—in other words, talk into the right to deliver no-nonense messages. Of course, the left ear controls the more creative right side of the brain, so sweet nothings and your anger need to funnel left.

More on Study: Left ear dominates love; right ear is for directions

By Bob Condor

The Beach Boys aren’t the only ones who can claim “good vibrations.” New research indicates that standing on a vibration platform might very well improve muscle and bone strength, especially in adults who are elderly and/or sedentary.

Researchers at the University of Idaho conducted the study and published it in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports. That’s a long way from the back of fitness or men’s magazine. The scientists speculated that the vibration platform, which send impulses through the feet, causes muscle fibers to fire up more efficiently and responsively when to compared the usual contractions we experience during a workout.

While the study points out a benefit for elderly or less active individuals, the authors noted that vibration platforms are frequently promoted as a way to help an elite athlete jump higher or run faster. More impressively, the Idaho scientists reported that preliminary studies indicate the vibration platform appears to increase female bone density in the hip when women stand on the device in a squat position for six one-minute cycles three times a week

Interestingly, studies on elite athletes show that perform squats with weights on a vibration platform helps build muscles a bit more effectively than if the weightlifter was working on a gym floor. Exercise scientists do not dismiss the potential of vibration platforms for elite athletes, but most do add that exerting muscles with a weight load on the platform would greatly enhance the training effect.

Another small study reported that the vibration platform stymied spine and hip bone loss that would normally occur in postmenopausal women who used the device for a year.

Nothing wrong with that vibe.

I tried one out myself, and I can vouch for 2 things - it really helps stretch your muscles, and it greatly increases the efficiency of exercises performed on it (I could only do 18 pushups, where normally I could do 40+) and, I'll be buying the Health Mark VF81003 myself

http://www.amazon.com - Health Mark VF81003 Osci Stadium Whole Body Vibration Therapy Machine

I also recommend the version with handles:

http://www.amazon.com - Crazy Fit Massager Body Vibration Plate Exercise Machine

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"Bob Condor is the Daily Health Blogger for Barton Publishing . He is also the Living Well columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer . He covers natural health and quality of life issues and writes regularly for national magazines, including Life, Esquire, Parade, Self, and Outside. He is a former syndicated health columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of six books, including "The Good Mood Diet" and "Your Prostate Cancer Survivors' Guide." He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two 11-year-old kids.

By Bob Condor

Quick, name the only vegetable that is actually a flower. Got it?

Broccoli, which if you wait too long to harvest it, will become a sturdy, barely inedible yellow flower. Even so, picking the plant at the flowerette stage has never been in more full bloom. The green cruciferous vegetable has been a steady favorite of researchers looking for natural protection against cancer.

Now this: A new study reported July 1 in a major British science journal identifies not only that a few portions of broccoli a week can prevent prostate cancer, but documents just how a chemical in the vegetable sets off hundreds of genetic changes that recruit some genes to fight cancer cells while switching off other genes that otherwise propagate tumors. It is the first such study to show the biological impact of a vegetable on genes.

More fodder for convicing the kids—or maybe a reluctant adult?—to eat their veggies? Especially if it’s broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, arugula, horseradish and watercress.

The British researchers conducting the study divided 24 men with pre-cancerous lesions into two groups. One group ate four extra servings of broccoli each while the other dozen volunteers added four extra servings of peas. The scientists also took periodic tissue samples to study genetic changes—and they hit the jackpot with the broccoli group.

Find Many More Prostate Secrets by Clicking Here.

More on Broccoli fights prostate cancer–and here's how

"Inconceivable!"

One of my favorite actors is Wallace Shawn.

He played Vizzini in Princess Bride.

Wallace Shawn

Joe Barton - obviously we look nothing alike!

Note: This post is for my internet marketing friends who want to learn more about getting more traffic to their websites!

Ever heard of John Reese?

Unless you've studied internet marketing online, you probably don't have a clue who he is.

But I owe him a big debt of gratitude because he has personally helped me become very successful as an online marketer.

Back in 2004, I was just getting started on the internet, and I was devouring anything I could find that taught me about making money online.

I became a big fan of John's Marketing Secrets website, and I remember one particular newsletter he sent out that became a turning point in my life.

After reading about what he called a "brain dump", within a matter of five months I went from being a full-time employee at a CPA firm, to the CEO of Barton Publishing - working from my own
home office full time.

Along with that "brain dump", I spent $997 to buy John's course called Traffic Secrets - which was a series of DVD's, manuals, CD's, and CD-Rom's.

John sold over a thousand copies of that course in less than 24 hours, and became famous for his "Million Dollar Day".

The course itself was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to me, as I implemented what I learned and quickly grew my business and became respected in my industry.

I've met John Reese and he's given me some personal coaching, and all I can tell you is this:

If you do what he says, you will make money online.

He's one of the smartest marketers you could ever meet.

And if you've ever thought about starting a business online, or growing a business - I encourage you to find anything you can from John, read it, devour it, and implement it.

More on John Reese Launches Traffic Secrets 2.0

By Bob Condor

Chinese healers have long believed in the power of the body’s energy or chi (pronounced “chee”). You likely know that it is the object of acupuncture needles, to realign the chi. It’s not all together different than seeing the chiropractor for getting an adjustment for a sore neck or painful back.

Those acupuncture needles, while not anywhere near as unpleasant as you might think—if you have tried it, you know what I mean, patients often doze during acupuncture treatments—are not for everyone. And the treatments can add up on the cost side if your health insurance plan doesn’t cover the therapy.

All of those reasons are part of what the Chinese culture has long practiced the martial art of tai chi, to fortify the chi, feel more vibrant and whole, be stronger and achieve clarity of body, mind and spirit.

Here in the U.S., the most popular form of the ancient Chinese martial art is called tai chi chih. It is practice of slow, gentle movements that has gained a steady following, if not matching the monster numbers of yoga in this country. Researchers have noticed too. Northwestern University’s Timothy Hain, an associate professor of neurology, has conducted a number of studies showing that tai chi chih can improve balance in elderly volunteers, including those with limited mobility. Hain has turned his work with tai chi chih toward individuals with ringing in the ears and other hearing disorders.

Learn How To Put Your Sleep Back Into A Natural Energized State, Which Cranks Up The Healing Force Of Your 'Deep Sleep', Gives You Constant Energy, And Boosts Your Productivity By Letting You Sleep Up To 3 Hours Less Than Before…Click here to find out how!

More on Tai chi practice converts poor sleep into good night's rest

By Bob Condor

John Lennon would like it. Give peace a chance and you might just be happier than most of the world. That is the message of new survey directed by Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

The World Values Survey, conducted regularly by a global network of political scientists and involving 350,000 respondents, named Denmark at the happiest country. Inglehart said the European nation’s happiness derives from democracy, social equity and a “peaceful atmosphere.”

Something tells me the television news is less dreary in Denmark, too.

Not surprisingly, Zimbabwe, the African nation ripped apart by political and social struggles punctuated by violence, graded out as the least happy country. Other countries deemed particularly unhappy include Albania, Ukraine and Georgia.

If you are wondering, the U.S. finished 16th happiest despite being the weathliest.

On the plus side, Inglehart reports that happiness by country and the world overall has increased in 45 of 52 nations in the last three decades.Other countries ranking in the top 10 of happiness: Puerto Rico, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Sweden.

More on Our happiness is boosted by peace and democracy

By Bob Condor

Just in time for the sunniest months of summer, the Environmental Working Group has published an updated report on the effectiveness—make that both effectiveness and ineffectiveness–of sunscreen products. The news is not positive if Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutragena are on the label.

EWG first made its mark rating fruits and vegetables for pesticide residue, publishing a highly viewed list of Top 10 best and worst (let’s just say Chilean grapes did not fare well). The Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group has expanded its research range to include a deep and informative cosmetics database over the last few years, including a monster sunscreen report first published last summer.

While that report and consumer reaction prompted the Food and Drug Administration to release a statement pledging to develop tougher standards for sunscreen makers, not much has changed. Cynics might say it took the FDA 30 years to even look hard at sunscreen products, so who are we to expect action from one red-hot summer to the next?

EWG discovered found that “15 percent of sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from UV rays, or have ingredients that either are known health hazards or have not been tested for safety.” What's more, seven percent of the products (and a larger share of the total market) were deemed to protect only for sunburn and not for the serious long-term skin aging and skin cancer. In an unfortunate twist, EWG discovered that up to half of all sunscreen products break down in the sun. You can check out EWG’s report, including its list of more than 100 recommended sunscreen products at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/ More on Report: Coppertone leads sunscreens not recommended

By Bob Condor

We are long past associating a massage with pampering or strictly a luxury item. But it is always a welcome development to confirm something that feels so, well, relaxing, can be highly therapeutic too.

The newest scientific kudo for massage therapy comes from Louisiana State University researcher Dr. Alan Kaye and colleagues. In a study involving 263 volunteers, one 45- to 60-minute deep-tissue massage reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings by 10 and 5 points, respectively. What’s more, the massage therapy session decreased the volunteers’ resting heart rates by 11 beats per minute, on average.

Publishing the findings this spring in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Kaye did some calculating about what a regular massage would do for life span. He estimated it could add up to six years on your life. He said the positive effects of a massage can last for days—a body phenomenon that exercise researchers have pointed out is the case for weightlifting too—and that “the more you experience the benefits of massage therapy, the more likely your body is to adjust permanently.”

While massage therapists have numerous clients who swear by the healing and rejuvenating capacity of the practice, it is not surprising that detractors are still out there and vocal. That’s why this study is important, along with earlier research showing massage therapy encourages sleep (even under the stresses of hospital care), increases range of motion, accelerates healing from injury, reduces pain and prevents complications from mastectomies. Other studies suggest massage and touch therapy can improve the body’s defenses against cancer, arthritis and autism.

So every study that comes from highly credible sources such as Louisiana State’s Health Sciences Center helps place massage more squarely with “therapy” rather than “luxury.” The DHB is good with that. Now, let me check my calendar for my next massage appointment…

Click Here For More Natural Blood Pressure Remedies

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"Bob Condor is the Daily Health Blogger for Barton Publishing . He is also the Living Well columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer . He covers natural health and quality of life issues and writes regularly for national magazines, including Life, Esquire, Parade, Self, and Outside. He is a former syndicated health columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of six books, including "The Good Mood Diet" and "Your Prostate Cancer Survivors' Guide." He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two 11-year-old kids.

By Bob Condor

One of a summer day’s simple delights is a slice of water. OK, maybe two or three slices. Who knew that watermelon might one of the healthiest items at the picnic too?

If you are like most of us, you would consider watermelon healthy because it is a delicious way to hydrate, given that it is 92 percent water. But food scientists like Penelope Perkins-Veazie have discovered the juicy red fruit is loaded with antioxidants to fortify the body, especially carotenoids that can offset cell damage caused by chemicals and sun.

Oh, even more reasons to bite into watermelon on a July or August day. Watermelon is especially high in lycopene, which is more typically associated with cooked tomatoes. Lycopene first made the news as a protector against prostate cancer in men. It has since been rated as equally potent for preventing heart disease, high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction (see tomorrow's post about ED).

Seeing the potential for the picnic favorite melon, Perkins-Veazie has drilled down even more into the nutrient power of watermelons with recent studies. One project analyzed mini-watermelons available at markets for about the past two years. The fruit is about six inches in diameter and perfect for singles or couples.

Perkins-Veazie tested 15 different lines of mini-watermelons and discovered a good number of them have even more with lycopene than the larger melons we all remember from summers past.

But there is one catch to the lycopene bonanza. Don’t refrigerate the melon. Perkins-Veazie and fellow USDA researcher Julie Collins discovered that icing down a watermelon inhibits the antioxidants while keeping it a room/air temperature optimized the power-nutrient content. More on Watermelon tops tomatoes for lycopene's cancer, heart protection

By Bob Condor

Watermelon, of all things, is good for the blood vessels. It contains substances that relax and open up those blood vessels, which is a major benefit for the body’s heart and circulatory system. In that watermelon slice, no small thing to men who deal with the condition, is potential to reverse erectile dysfunction or ED.

Earlier studies have showed that lycopene concentrations in red-flesh watermelon rival or even outdistance those of tomatoes (see yesterday’s DHB entry). Lycopene has been documented as a protector and fighter against prostate cancer.

What researchers at Texas A&M found in a recent study is that watermelon, despite being 92 percent water, packs a wallop in the other 8 percent. Along with lycopene, watermelon contains other phytonutrients that boost the body. One recent discovered phytonutrient in watermelon is citrulline.

When citrulline is consumed, it converts to the amino acid arginine in the body through the work of selected enzymes. Arginine has long been linked to improved heart and immune function, plus it shows promise as a way to offset Type 2 diabetes.

As for ED, arginine increases the blood supply’s level of nitric oxide that in turn relaxes the blood vessels. Bhimu Patil, director of the fruits and vegetables “improvement” lab at Texas A&M, says the effect is similar to Viagra (used for ED treatments) but not as “organ-specific.” He says regular watermelon consumption might even prevent ED. Another benefit of this nitric oxide reaction is a natural lowering of blood pressure.

More on Watermelon shows potential to prevent erectile dysfunction