A new report from Science Dailysays that watermelon has many similarities to the drug Viagra.
[S]cientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body's blood vessels and may even increase libido.
"The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body," said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station.
"We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study."
Beneficial ingredients in watermelon and other fruits and vegetables are known as phyto-nutrients, naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive, or able to react with the human body to trigger healthy reactions, Patil said.
In watermelons, these include lycopene, beta carotene and the rising star among its phyto-nutrients -- citrulline -- whose beneficial functions are now being unraveled. Among them is the ability to relax blood vessels, much like Viagra does.
Scientists know that when watermelon is consumed, citrulline is converted to arginine through certain enzymes. Arginine is an amino acid that works wonders on the heart and circulation system and maintains a good immune system, Patil said.
"The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes," said Patil. "Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it."
You might keep an eye on those who are ingesting large amounts of watermelon this weekend. Any man who heads for the watermelon display has probably seen this article. Or, he could just be fond of watermelon.
Some of the gadget blogs are reporting that lines have already started to form for 3G iPhone outside the flagship Apple Store in New York City. That's very early since the new iPhone's release date is July 11th. Gear Diary reports that the extremely early iPhone shoppers may be attempting some sort of record or simply out for some publicity for themselves.
"This is the first line forming for the 3G iPhone at the flagship Apple 5th Avenue Store in New York City. About 10 people in line with the first two being a man and woman with a young child. I talked to the security guards and New York police who will allow everyone to stay and indicated that as of yet there are no plans to put out barricades. It appears that most (if not all) of the people in line are part of some group who may be either attempting to set a record for waiting in line or gain some publicity for themselves. It's too early to tell if this is a hoax or whether these folks will stay in line through sun and rain for the next seven days."
Engadget has video footage of some of the early birds here. These people are far ahead of the rush but there are bound to people waiting outside iPhone stores the night before the big release date. CNN says AT&T stores will be opening early to assist customers.
Because you can never have too many fireworks, here's a clip from The Capitol Fourth Concert on Washington's National Mall. Thousands showed up to hear the music and watch the fireworks, although it was a bit soggy. Happy Fourth of July!!
French president Nicholas Sarkozy decorated designer Giorgio Armani as an Officer of the Legion of Honor. The ceremony was held at the Elysee Palace in Paris Thursday. Sarkozy joked that he was ready for his makeover to look like Richard Gere in American Gigolo.
The event, at the tail end of couture week, also saw Italian actress Claudia Cardinale elevated to the level of Commander. In a speech packed with one-liners that had the crowd roaring with laughter, Sarkozy played up his honorees' origins. "As you know, I'm rather close to Italians," he said, alluding to his new wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who did not attend the ceremony. "You are two individuals with great merit," he continued, lauding Armani's capability "of speaking to everyone" with his diverse designs and products that run the gamut from couture to pastries.
Actress Helen Mirren bowed before Armani in offering her congratulations. "The first time I had a posh dress, it was Armani," she related earlier, also recalling how he did the costumes for her 1990 film The Comfort of Strangers.
Armani certainly deserves the honor. But what in the world was Sarkozy talking about? Yes, Richard Gere looked fabulous in American Gigolo and yes the Armani clothes looked stunning, but really. Surely he could have come up with a more current reference? Clearly the president was ad-libbing, because his speech writers would have had a better joke.
John Galliano's Christian Dior show in Paris was fabulously over the top. Eva Mendes, Cluadia Shiffer and Janet Jackson all seemed pretty thrilled with the designs. Take a look.
Food writer Mark Bittman, who writes The Minimalist column at The New York Times, has a great article
for those of you who are stumped by what to make for Fourth of July picnic. He helpfully provides "101 20-Minute Dishes for Inspired Picnics." Here's his first five:
1 BEET SALAD Peel beets and grate them (a food processor will keep the juice contained). Add pistachios or hazelnuts; dress with orange zest and juice, and olive oil. Add bits of goat cheese and chopped parsley.
2 PESTO CHICKEN ROLLS Season and grill chicken cutlets. Brush lavash or any other wrap-type bread with pesto; layer with the chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and arugula; roll up and cut on the bias.
3 CURRIED EGG SALAD Make egg salad with hard-cooked eggs, mayo, curry powder, Dijon mustard, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper, cilantro, red onion and, if you like, diced apple.
4 TOMATOES AND PEACHES Toss together sliced seeded tomatoes and peaches, along with thinly sliced red onion and chopped cilantro or rosemary. Dress at the last minute with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
5 ROAST BEEF AND BLUE Start with whole-grain rolls. Smear blue cheese on one side and prepared horseradish on the other. Add red onion and thin-sliced roast beef, pork or lamb. Pack! lettuce and tomato on the side. Potato chips are mandatory.
He gives you 101 fast, fun recipes for summer picnics. This article is a must read, and a must-keep. Or, perhaps we could just chain him in our kitchen for a few hours? Here he is on The Today Show demonstrating his recipes. He also gives some great tips for what foods work best for picnics.
Giorgio Armani pulled off another coup with his stunning collection shown at Paris fashion week. Kerry Washington and Dame Helen Mirren both sing Armani's praises. As Dame Helen says, if you have a couple of great jackets in your wardrobe (especially Armani jackets), you will always be well-dressed. The evening wear is especially stunning. Oh, and bows are back. Really, they are.
The Chanel Fall 2008 Facette's D'or collection is here. Gold and silver makeup are where it's at these days, so why not brush on a bit of gold highlighting powder and put a bit of Gold Fiction nail polish on your toenails? The color looks fabulous on either fair or dark skin. The collection is already hitting stores, and it's now available online at Chanel.com.
The Gold Fiction nail polish ($30) will definitely sell out.
Giada DeLaurentiis had a great segment on The Today Show about how to take a storybook vacation. The idea is to take a famous children's book that you've read with your kids and then go visit the location in the story. Take a look:
Page Six is reporting
that Rose McGowan and director Robert Rodriguez have broken up. That presumably means that Rose won't be getting the starring roles she was promised in Barbarella and Red Sonja.
But sources say the couple, who we reported last October were engaged, have split, partly over the problems Rodriguez had finding financing for "Barbarella" - the 1968 cult classic in which Jane Fonda played a sexy space adventuress - with McGowan in the title role.
McGowan, best known for her witchy role on TV's "Charmed," wasn't thought to have enough box-office draw for the $70 million remake, especially after "Grindhouse" disappointed with about $25.4 million in domestic ticket sales.
"Too bad 'Grindhouse' didn't gross $100 million. Then, maybe, 'Barbarella' would have gotten the green light," said one source. "Instead, the moguls were saying, 'We need a bigger star, a bigger name.' " Jessica Alba has been touted as a possible replacement.
Rodriguez - who directed the "Spy Kids" movies as well as "From Dusk Till Dawn" and "Sin City" - was wed for 16 years to, and had five kids with, Elizabeth Avellan before he directed McGowan in "Grindhouse."
Jessica Alba as Barbarella? We don't think so. Not in this galaxy.