healthbriefs
Friends Can Add Sizzle to Your Romance N
eed to spice up a romantic rela- tionship that’s in the doldrums? A Wayne State University study reveals dating couples that integrate other couples into their social lives are more likely to have happier and more satisfy- ing romantic relationships.
In the study—named When Harry and Sally Met Dick and Jane—Assis- tant Professor of Psychology Richard B. Slatcher, Ph.D., worked with 60 dating couples in a controlled laboratory set-
ting to better understand how couples form friendships and how these friendships affect each couple’s relationship. Each couple was paired with another couple and given a set of questions to discuss as a group. Half of the group, dubbed the fast friends group, was given high-disclosure questions to spark intense personal discussion; the other half received typical small-talk questions. “We discovered that those couples that were placed in the fast friends group felt closer to the couples they interacted with and were more likely to meet up with them again during the following month,” says Slatcher. “We also learned that these same couples felt that these new friendships put a spark in their own rela- tionships, and they felt much closer to their romantic partners.” They also reported learning new things about their partners through this novel experience.
Watermelon Takes a Slice Out of High Blood Pressure S
ummer-sweet watermelon is known to be high in fiber and nutrients and low in calories. Now, evidence from a pilot study led by food scientists at Florida State University suggests that eating watermelon might also help dispel pre-hyperten- sion, a precursor to cardiovascular disease.
“Even better, it may prevent the progression from pre-hypertension to hy- pertension in the first place,” says lead researcher Arturo Figueroa, an assistant professor at the university. A University of Illinois study estimates that as many as 60 percent of U.S. adults have elevated tension levels.
Why might this large-size fruit pose such a benefit? “Watermelon is the richest edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely re- lated to L-arginine, the amino acid required for the formation of [the body’s own natural] nitric oxide, essential to the regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pressure,” says Figueroa. Once in the body, the L-citrulline naturally converts into L-arginine. The scientists caution that consuming L-arginine as a dietary supplement isn’t a good option, because it can cause nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort; watermelon, on the other hand, provides a safe delivery system. It also has been shown to help reduce serum glucose levels. All of this makes watermelon a “functional food,” because it offers health-promoting or disease-preventing properties beyond its delicious taste.
natural awakenings July 2011 17
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