IT’S easy to disregard it as a simple salad staple,but the humble cucumber could be used as a natural viagra and even treaterectile dysfunction.
Experts claim the vegetable boastsproperties which could boost blood flow to the penis.
Erectiledysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to get and maintainand erection.
It is a very common condition, particularlyin older men - and it is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40and 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 withdiabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
While there are a number of ways to treaterectile dysfunction, such as lifestyle changes like losing weight or beingprescribed statins - men are sometimes prescribed viagra.
However Nat Hawes, author of Nature Cures,said Citrulline-rich foods - such as cucumber - can help to ‘improve erectiledysfunction in men suffering from low blood pressure’ as well as helping thebody to overcome fatigue and stress.
Shona Wilkinson, Nutritionist atSuperfooduk.com said: “Citrulline in foods and supplements may indeed help witherectile dysfunction.
“Citrulline is converted in the body intoanother amino acid called arginine, which then converts into nitric oxide.
“Nitric oxide helps the blood vessels torelax, improving blood flow – including to the genitals.